U.S. VISA INTERVIEW BOOKINGS IN CANADA AND MEXICO FOR
THIRD-COUNTRY NATIONALS

This information is subject to change without notice.  Please note that third-country nationals (non-Canadians in Canada and non-Mexicans in Mexico) receive low priority handling at the consulates below and may also need a visitor's visa to gain admission to Canada or Mexico in the first place.  Also, U.S. immigration law requires any alien who has overstayed a nonimmigrant visa to seek visa issuance in his or her country of origin.

The best way to learn about visa interview procedures at a particular U.S. consulate is to visit the State Department website "Links to U.S. Embassies and Consulates Worldwide" and select the appropriate host country from the alphabetical list.  See http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/embassies/embassies_1214.html.  One important item to check is whether electronic or paper submission of form DS-156 is required by the U.S. consulate where you process.  To learn about interview date availability in your home country, Canada, or Mexico, check appointment booking delays at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php.  For general visa processing information, you may call 1-900-656-2222 and receive live assistance.  Your telephone account will be charged for each minute you are on the line. 

The first step in obtaining a U.S. visa is to book an appointment for a visa interview at a U.S. consulate.  Only persons under age 14 and over age 80 are exempt from the interview requirement.  To book an appointment, you will need the CIS tracking number (receipt number) from either your approval notice, your receipt (if the application is still pending), or for some L transferees, from the blanket L approval. 

For U.S. consulates in Canada, you may schedule an interview by calling 1-900-443-3131 (if you are in the U.S.) or 1-900-451-2778 (if you are calling from Canada).  Your telephone account will be charged for each minute you are on the line.  From North America, you may also call 1-888-840-0032, if you wish to charge the call to your credit card.  This may be needed if your telephone line is blocked from calling 900 numbers.  The phone system operates between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday thru Friday.  Callers can expect to have difficulty getting through during 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 that consular post's local time zone.  Alternatively, you may make an appointment at this web site: http://www.nvars.com/.  You will pay $30.00 Canadian for using the service.  Appointments are scheduled at least two weeks in advance.  You will be asked for your passport number and any reference number from prior bookings.  You will then be asked at which consulate you wish to apply and you will be told the available appointments.  You will be mailed the applicable information and forms for your appointment, including a list of what documents to bring with you.  Please note that you must call 1-888-611-6676 (toll-free) if you need to cancel your appointment.  Also note that if you do not cancel 48 hours in advance or do not appear for your appointment, you may be required to wait three months before scheduling another appointment.

For U.S. consulates in Mexico, you must make the interview appointment on-line at http://www.visa-usa.com.mx .  To use this website, you must purchase a PIN number for US$10 payable by Visa or Mastercard.  The PIN will expire 10 days after your appointment date or 90 days after purchase if an appointment has not been made.  The PIN allows for three scheduling opportunities so that you can make an appointment and reschedule twice.  Appointments cannot be cancelled within 5 business days of the appointment date. 

Following the booking of an appointment by web or telephone, the applicant will be mailed the State Department nonimmigrant visa application form (Form DS-156) and an information sheet for the post where the appointment is scheduled.  That paperwork should be taken to the interview.  If the paperwork does not arrive before the interview, go to the interview anyway.  However, there could be a delay.

PLEASE NOTE that persons seeking "E" visas must normally process in their home countries.

Please be aware that a U.S. embassy or consulate has the right to refuse to issue you a visa notwithstanding your USCIS approval.

MEXICO
For up-to-date information on US consulates in Mexico, go to:
http://mexico.usembassy.gov/index.html

CIUDAD JUAREZ.................................................................924N Avenida Lopez Mateos, tel. 011-52-656-611-3000

MATAMOROS............................................................................... Calle Primera #2002, tel. 011-52-868-812-4402

NOGALES....................................................................... Calle San José s/n, tel. 011-52-631-313-4820

NUEVO LAREDO....................................................... Alvaro Obregón #3365, tel. 011-52-477-788-7070

TIJUANA...............................................................................................Ave. Tapachula 96, tel. 011-52-664-622-74-00

CANADA
For up-to-date information on US consulates in Canada, go to: http://www.usembassycanada.gov/content/content.asp?section=travel&document=usconsulates

CALGARY, ALBERTA........................................................615 MacLeod Trail, S.E., Room 1000, tel. 403-266-8962

HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA...........Suite 904, Purdy's Wharf Tower II, 1969 Upper Water Street, tel. 902-429-2480

MONTREAL, QUEBEC...........................................................1155 St. Alexandre Street, tel. 514-398-9695, ext. 213

OTTAWA, ONTARIO......Consular Section, U.S. Embassy, 490 Sussex Drive, tel. 613-238-5335, ext. 301, 302, 303

QUEBEC CITY, QUEBEC.......................................................................2 Place Terrasse Dufferin, tel. 418-692-2095

TORONTO, ONTARIO...............................................................................360 University Avenue, tel. 416-595-1700

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA...................................................1075 West Pender Street, tel. 604-685-4311

For H-1B visa issuance, bring the following items:

-- Consular appointment confirmation letter
-- Form DS-156 (and DS-157 if male and between 17 and 45 years of age) Some U.S. consulates now require an online version of the DS-156 and DS-157.
-- Original approval notice (Form I-797)
-- Passport
-- Attorney-certified copy of visa application and supporting documents
-- Updated letter of employment stating nature of work, duration and salary with recent pay stubs (if H-1B and
approval notice is more than six weeks out of date and you have worked during that period)
-- Originals of degrees and transcripts
-- Cash or credit card for machine readable visa fee ($100 U.S.)
-- Cash or credit card for reciprocity fee (if applicable)
-- Original J-1 waiver approval notice (Form I-797), if applicable
-- Marriage and birth certificates for spouse and children, if applicable
(Rev. 11/05)