US visa appointments and visas aren't easy to arrange and applicants are left with many questions about the procedures. Our FAQs attempt to answer your questions on how to apply for a US visa or how to arrange a visa interview.
Why is it necessary to have a visa interview to get a US visa?
After 9 /11 the US government introduced various policies in an attempt to strengthen its borders and protect America from further terrorist attacks. The introduction of US visa appointments was one of those policies. US visa interviews allow the interviewing officer to extract more information from non-immigrant applicants to decide if they are eligible for a US visa.
Where is the American embassy in Toronto?
The entry for US visa appointments at the US embassy in Toronto is located at 225 Simcoe Street directly behind the University Avenue entrance. The nearest subway stop is Osgoode. For a list of addresses for all US consulates in Canada click here .
What are the questions at the US visa interview?
The questions asked at the US visa interview vary between US Consulates and interviewing officers. They also depend on the type of visa you need to visit the USA. Below we have listed some of the most frequently asked questions:
- Why do you want to travel to the USA?
- How long will you be staying in USA?
- Are you going to work in the US?
- When will you return from your trip?
- What is your annual income?
- What other countries have you visited in the last 5 years?
- How many children do you have? And where are they? What do they do?
- Who is paying for your trip?
- How much money do you have to cover your trip?
The interviewing officer tries to determine if your travel plans are genuine by checking what ties you have to Canada and whether you can support yourself and any dependents when you are in the US.
Where is the US embassy in Canada?
The US embassy in Canada is located in Ottawa. US visa appointments are held at the consular section located at Consular Section 490 Sussex Drive. For a list of addresses for all US consulates in Canada click here .
How do I apply for a US visa?
If you are applying for a US visa, you must fill out the DS-160 online application form. If you need help filing out the form you can use our specialist services. You then need to book a visa appointment, which you can do on your own or through our company. Depending on the consulate you visit for your interview you will also have to bring along other documents. Immigroup will advise you of these if you book you appointment through one of our customer service agents.
Where can I get the American visa forms?
All non-immigrant visa applications must be filled out online using the DS-160 online form. If you need help filing out the form you can use our specialist services.
How can I find a toll free number for US visa appointment?
There is no toll free number for US visa appointments. You can make an appointment by telephone, but the telephone service is operated by the Visa Information Services Centre, a private Toronto-based contractor that handles the Consulate Generals' appointment system. As this is a private business you must call a user-pays phone service that costs $1.89 a minute. You will be charged as soon as your phone is connected to the call centre.
Who needs a visa to visit USA from Canada?
You need a visa to visit the US if:
- You are not a Canadian citizen
- You are not a citizen of a country, which is a member of the Visa Waiver Program
- You are one of the above but intend on staying in the US for longer than 90 days
- You are a Canadian citizen / from a visa waiver country visiting the US for purposes other than business or tourism.
How can I get a USA visa without an appointment?
You cannot get a US visa without a visa appointment and interview. Since April 2002 the US government have made visa interviews obligatory for all visa applicants.
How can I get an earlier appointment date in Canada?
You have three choices; you can call the government visa appointment call centre or keep looking on the ‘nvars’ online appointment finder or you can call Immigroup who employ a team of appointment checkers to work around the clock every day of the week. If you find an earlier appointment date you must pay another appointment fee of USD $8.40.
How can I apply for an urgent US visa appointment in Canada?
If the reason for needing an urgent appointment is valid (e.g. a relatives death, life threatening illness or accident, unexpected business reason etc) you have three choices; you can call the government visa appointment call centre or keep looking on the ‘nvars’ online appointment finder or you can call Immigroup who employ a team of appointment checkers to work around the clock every day of the week. If you find an earlier appointment date you must pay another appointment fee of USD $8.40. If you book an urgent appointment through the US government call centre you will have to bring documentary evidence to substantiate the need for your urgent visa.
What is the DS-158 and DS-157 visa form?
The DS-157 and DS-158 are old paper versions of the US non-immigrant visa application. As of April 2010 applicants applying for a US visa from Canada do not need to fill out these forms. Instead you must fill out the online DS-160 application form. If you need help filing out the form you can use our specialist services.
How many weeks does it take to get an appointment for a visa?
The time lines for getting an appointment at each consulate are as follows:
Location of U.S. Consulates |
Time lines for obtaining a U.S. Visa Appointment |
| U.S. Embassy in Ottawa |
6-8 weeks for a regular appointment* |
| Toronto |
6-8 weeks for a regular appointment* |
| Montreal |
7-10 weeks for a regular appointment* |
| Vancouver |
6-8 weeks for a regular appointment* |
| Calgary |
8-10 weeks for a regular appointment* |
| Quebec |
4-6 weeks for a regular appointment* |
| Halifax |
3-4 weeks for a regular appointment* |
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*All timelines are just an estimate and can change without notice. |
What happens if I fail to turn up for a visa appointment?
Unless you have a valid reason, for which you can supply documentary evidence and cancel your appointment on the government site, you run the risk of being denied a visa when you reapply however long this make take.
How much are the US visa fees?
There are several fees relating to US visa applications. The government fee for a B, F,M or J US visa is USD $140.00. The fee for H, L, O, P, Q, and R visas is USD $150. These fees must be paid via a branch of Scotia Bank. The US government also charges a fee of $8.40 to book a visa appointment online. Immigroup offer two services for a US visa appointment. The regular service where we would obtain the appointment within 6 to 8 weeks is $225.00 plus tax. If 6 to 8 weeks is too long for you to obtain the visa appointment then we offer urgent filing, where the price is calculated by the number of business days we have to find the appointment, the more business days the cheaper the price.
Are permanent residents in Canada expected to apply for a US visa?
Some permanent residents are exempt from applying for a US visa e.g. if their nationality is one of those that come under the visa waiver program. All other permanent resident card holders must apply for a US visa before they travel to the United States. It is recommend you take your PR card or your landing document with you to the visa interview.
How do I go about booking a U.S visa appointment by telephone from Canada?
You can either call the government call centre where you will be charged as soon as your call is connected or you can call Immigroup’s toll free number 1866 760 2623 and speak to one of our skilled representatives. They will discuss with you where you would like your appointment and how urgently you need it. After we have established where and when your appointment will be we will set up a profile for you with all your details including passport number, date of birth, address etc. We will then send to you the relevant documents you need to take to your appointment along with a list of supporting documents, and then we will be in touch shortly with your appointment date.
How do I get an IMM5455 Form?
You can download IMM5455 Form from our website or you can call the toll free on 1866 760 2623 and speak to a representative and they will email it to you and answer any questions you have. If you don’t have email we can send it by post to you.
How can I see when there are available appointments?
If you want to look for appointments that are open for booking you would need to look on the NVARS site however you will find that there are very rarely appointments available this is where we can help. We have a day team and a night team who are looking for your appointments constantly; we are there to snap them up as soon as they appear which is why we charge a small amount for the service. Unless you have 24 hours a day 7 days a week you are unlikely to find an appointment.
What do I need to take to my visa appointment in Toronto?
Once you become a client of ours we will send you an email that contains all the information that you need to know. You simply need to read it through and check that you have everything and you will be fine on the day of your appointment.non appearance visa to USA.
How can I get a Transit visa from Calgary?
You’re talking about a C1 visa for an alien in transit. You can do this on your own by going on to the government website called NVARS and registering online for an appointment, or you can use Immigroup services. We can get you an appointment to see a US Visa officer in the Calgary consulate who will issue you with the appropriate visa for your requirements.
Can I apply for a US visa in Ottawa if I live in Toronto?
You can schedule a visa appointment at any Consulate of your choice.
Can I change the location of my interview for my US visa application?
Yes, this is not a problem. If you have obtained an interview date already you must either cancel the appointment or reschedule it at the different location. You will be charged another appointment fee if you reschedule. If you need to cancel your appointment you must do so 24 hours before it is due to take place.
How can a Filipino with a Canadian tourist visa apply for a US visa?
A Filipino immigrant would apply for a visa in the same way as anybody else. However the only difference within this is the status in which you are here in Canada, because you are on a tourist visa here in Canada instead of providing ties to Canada you would supply evidence linking you to the Philippines.
What do I need to do to prepare for an American visa?
Once you have secured a visa appointment you need to gather the documents required for your visa interview along with proof that you have paid for your non-immigrant visa application.
How do I apply for a Non-Immigrant us visa if I live in Toronto?
If you live in Toronto you can go to the USA Embassy in Toronto in order to apply for a Non-Immigrant visa for USA. You would not be allowed in the Embassy without an appointment and sufficient paperwork, prepared in advance.
How can I get to the Toronto Consulate from the Union Station?
If you are travelling by car it is a 6 minutes drive. Directions are as follows:
1. Head northeast on Front St E toward Farquhars Ln for 220 m
2. Make a U-turn at Lower Jarvis St for another 220 m
3. Take the 1st right onto Church St travel for 550 m
4. Turn left at Queen St E continue travelling for 1.0 km
5. Turn right at Simcoe St and the consulate is 43 m on your left hand side.
What do I do if I don’t have a PR card from Canada but I have a US visa appointment?
If you don’t possess a valid PR card it can only mean one of two things:
You are not a permanent resident of Canada
Or
You are a permanent resident of Canada but landed before they were mandatorily given out and therefore did not get one and thus since have not applied for one.
If you are the former then you can still obtain a US visa but you have to show your ties to your home country. This means that you need to provide as much documentation as possible to prove you will not abscond once you get to the US. If you have bank details and rental agreements from your home country then these need to be provided. If you have an identity card from your home country you will need that as well.
If you are the latter you can still go for your appointment but you will need to have either your landing documents or your PR card.
What should my personal appearance be when attending the interview?
There are no set rules to appearance when attending the interviews although it is wise to look tidy and smart.
What are the restrictions at the US Consulates?
You should not bring any of the following to your visa interview:
Food, cell phones, pagers, personal organizers, tape recorders, cameras, and other electronic devices. These items are no allowed inside the Consulate and there are no facilities for storing these items.
How many dependants can attend my interview?
You must take all of the dependants listed on your appointment letter. It is easy to add dependants if you do it when you are first applying for your visa appointment. If you have obtained an appointment and want to add your dependants you will need to cancel that appointment and add them before rebooking.
How do I fill out a DS160 for dependents?
Filing a DS160 for dependents is exactly the same way as if you were filling it out for one main applicant, however when completing the DS160 for dependents it would be quicker as some of the questions asked you have to just check the box stating it’s the same as the main applicant.
How do I fill out the I-129 for the P1?
This form is known as a petition for a non-immigrant worker. It MUST be filled out in either black ink or on the computer. The form itself is self explanatory and straightforward to fill out. Just write in the relevant boxes with the appropriate answer!! This form is in downloadable .pdf form on the internet.
What are the I-797 and the I-797a forms?
These forms are required for H1B visa applicants. They contain important information that is required by the US government for the visa application forms.
Do I have to supply evidence of my bank statements?
Yes, it is advised that you do provide you statements from the bank and your credit card company as you have to show that you are financially secure and can support yourself in the USA. This is why you have also to show your ties to your country of citizenship so the officers will see you will not depend on the USA and so they can be sure that you will leave when your visa expires.
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