General Information: Visas: Border Visas
Border Visas
How to apply for a visa at a border post if you are a third country national present in the United States or visiting Canada:
- APPOINTMENTS ARE REQUIRED
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Any third country national (TCN) present in the United States and visitors present in Canada who wish to apply for a nonimmigrant visa at any of our border posts in Canada or Mexico must make an appointment for an interview. U.S. Consular offices are located in Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Quebec City, Toronto, Vancouver, Ciudad Juarez, Matamoros and Tijuana.
Visa information is no longer available by telephone. For visa appointment information and scheduling, please click here.
If you wish to speak to an operator regarding the new appointment system and you are located in the United States, please call 877-341-2441.
If you are located in one of the Canadian local calling areas listed below and wish to speak to an operator, please call the corresponding telephone number.
- Calgary: 403-800-1194
- Halifax: 902-982-2191
- Montréal: 514-400-2591
- Ottawa: 613-800-0917
- Québec City: 418-800-1751
- Toronto: 647-955-3736
- Vancouver: 604-800-2794
If you live in Canada but outside the local calling areas listed above, please call 877-341-2441. This number is toll-free.
Appointments by Internet: Applicants can also book appointments via the Internet at http://canada.usvisa-info.com.
- WHO CAN BE ISSUED A VISA AT A BORDER POST
Individuals who have ever been out of status in the United States because they overstayed their visa are not eligible to apply at a border post. In other words, if you have remained in the U.S. longer than the period authorized by the immigration officer when you entered the U.S. in any visa category, you must apply in the country of your nationality. If you are not certain about your status, check with the nearest U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) office.
Individuals seeking appointments should be aware that applicants may be more likely to encounter difficulties at the time of interview when they apply for a visa outside of their home district. Consular officers at border posts will deny visas whenever they believe there are fraud indicators present, or their lack of knowledge of local conditions and familiarity with documents in the applicant's home country prevents them from properly adjudicating the case.
None of the border posts will accept applications for "E" visas from TCN applicants who are not resident in their consular districts.
- HOURS OF OPERATION
- Operators are available from 7 A.M. to 10 P.M. Eastern Time. Callers may have difficulty getting through if they call during the peak times of 7 A.M., 11 A.M., 2 P.M., 4:30 P.M. and 7 P.M. Eastern Time. Appointments for border posts outside the Eastern Time Zone can only be made after it is 7 A.M. in the post's time zone. The Internet system is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Applicants who are unable to attend their scheduled appointments must cancel them two full working days prior to the appointment by calling toll-free to 1-888-611-6676.
Would-be applicants who do not need a visa to remain in the United States may find it more convenient to apply for a visa elsewhere in conjunction with their next international travel. Those who plan to visit Canada, Mexico or, in the cases of students and exchange visitors, adjacent islands, may re-enter the U.S. within thirty days on expired visas as long as they possess a valid I-94 form.
Visa applicants should take their appointment letters to the interview. They may be admitted without one, but absence of the letter could cause delays.
Certain nationalities require visas from Canadian authorities in order to enter Canada.
