These pages are intended to provide general information regarding U.S. Consular Services in Canada available to American Citizens, Canadian Citizens, and Third-Country Nationals. We also provide access to the Visa Information Services Centre for those individuals who require an appointment at one of the U.S. Consulates in order to obtain a visa.
EMERGENCY CONTACT:
In Case of Emergency
If you are an American citizen with an afterhours emergency, please use the links above under Consulates to find telephone contact information for the U.S. consular office in Canada nearest to you.
HAITI EARTHQUAKE – INFORMATION FOR AMERICANS:
For detailed information about the Haiti earthquake situation, including how to inquire about about U.S. citizens in Haiti, please follow the following link to the Bureau of Consular Affair's web site about Haiti: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_haiti_info_number.html.
Please read the State's Department's Travel Warning for Haiti.
Going to the Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games?
For information about visiting Vancouver for the 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, including travel document requirements, please use the following link http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/2010_olympics/2010_olympics_4598.html.
GUIDANCE ON HEIGHTENED AVIATION SECURITY MEASURES:
Information about security measures introduced after the December 25, 2009 incident on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 can be found from the following sources:
U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA)
IMPORTANT NOTICE ABOUT H1N1 INFLUENZA AND CONSULAR SERVICES:
Due to the H1N1 Influenza pandemic, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates General in Canada request that any persons who seek consular services (visas and passports) and who feel unwell or otherwise exhibit flu-like symptoms postpone their visits to our consular offices.
Persons who cannot appear for visa interview appointments or for appointments for other services will be allowed to reapply for those services after their condition improves. Non-immigrant visa applicants should contact the office where they plan to apply in order to reschedule. There is no fee for rescheduling. (Contact information can be found elsewhere on this web site.)
U.S. citizens are welcome to contact the Embassy or the Consulate General in their area by telephone or by e-mail should they need assistance. Please see contact information under the individual office listings on this web site.
The Embassy and Consulates General thank the public for your understanding and cooperation.
INFORMATION ABOUT H1N1 INFLUENZA
Full information about H1N1 Influenza can be found at www.flu.gov (U.S. government web site) or www.fightflu.ca (Government of Canada web site). Note that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends administering both the Seasonal and H1N1 Influenza vaccines as they become available, and this is the policy that will be followed for employees of the U.S. Embassy and Consulates General.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Responds to H1N1 Vaccination Requirement Rumor
(12/08/2009)U.S. Customs and Border Protection would like to address rumors regarding U.S. entry requirements and the H1N1 virus: Travelers do NOT need to present proof that they received the H1N1 flu vaccine in order to enter the United States. No such vaccination requirement exists. Travelers are encouraged to visit the Department of Health and Human Services Flu Web site for current information on seasonal flu prevention, and the "Know Before You Go" section under the Travel tab of the CBP Web site for helpful traveler tips.
New Rules for Traveling to the U.S.: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative:
Starting June 1, 2009, Travelers to the U.S. via land and sea must show a valid passport or WHTI-compliant document. Click here to learn more..
On February 9, 2010 the Department of State published a proposed rule in the Federal Register to change certain consular fees, including those related to U.S. passport and passport card applications, immigrant visas, and other services provided to U.S. and foreign citizens.
The proposed rule to change fees is based on a comprehensive cost of service study completed in June 2009. As demand for passports increased to an average of 15 million per year, the increase in certain fees will help cover actual operating expenses for the Department of State’s 301 consular posts abroad, 23 domestic passport agencies, and other centers that provide consular services to both U.S and foreign citizens. However, improvements in automated systems have also decreased some fees, such as the application fee for determining returning resident status.
Consular services include assistance to American citizens who are victims of crime abroad or citizens who require evacuation during natural disasters overseas, such as those in the recent earthquake in Haiti. The cost of providing such services in fiscal year 2009 was almost 300 million dollars.
This proposed rule to change fees is distinct from the proposed rule to increase non-immigrant visa application fees published on December 14, 2009. The comment period on that proposed rule will end February 12, 2010.
The Department will not begin collecting either of these new proposed fees until it fully considers public comments and publishes a final rule. In order to view both proposed rules and to submit comments, please go to www.regulations.gov.
On January12, 2009, Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) became mandatory by theDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS). This online system is part of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and all nationals or citizens of VWP countries who plan to travel to the United States for 90 days or less for temporary business or pleasure under the VWP need to receive an electronic travel authorization prior to boarding a U.S.-bound airplane or cruise ship.
Effective January 20, 2010, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security initiated a transition to enforced ESTA compliance, and VWP travelers who have not obtained approval through ESTA should expect to be denied boarding on any air carrier bound for the United States.
Note that ESTA is not required for citizens of Canada. Also, ESTA is not needed for entry into the United States via the land border.
To apply for an ESTA approval or for more information, please see www.CBP.gov/esta.
The US Embassy Ottawa now uses Twitter to provide you with short, concise updates from the Embassy, including consular services. Our screen name is usembassyottawa and you can find us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/usembassyottawa.
If you are an American Citizen in Canada, you may contact the Embassy or nearest U.S. Consulate directly. Use the link below for more information about consular services available to you.
If entering the U.S. by air, you must present a valid Canadian passport. If you enter by land or water after June 1, 2009, you must be prepared to present either a valid Canadian Passport or other WHTI compliant document. Persons 18 years and younger need only present a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship.
If you are a Canadian citizen, you do not require a visa to visit the United States for periods of less than 180 days.
Citizens of certain other countries do not require a visa to visit up to 90 days. Use the link below to find detailed information.
- If you do not possess a valid passport from a visa waiver country, or
- If you intend to visit longer than 90 days, or
- If you intend to work or study in the U.S.
Then you must qualify for the appropriate visa outside the United States. Detailed information is provided herein or at the website of the U.S. Embassy in your country of residence. Refer to the complete list of official U.S. Embassy Web Sites.
All visa applicants in Canada are seen by appointment only.
The fee for using this service is CA$8.55 payable by one of the following credit cards:
- VISA
- MasterCard
- American Express
If you require additional information, please call one of the following U.S. Embassy Information lines:
1-888-840-0032 from either the U.S. or Canada - you will be asked to provide your credit card number. CA$1.59/minute
1-900-451-2778 from within Canada - you will be charged CA$1.89 per minute
1-900-443-3131 from within the U.S. - you will be charged US$1.89 per minute
Many office phones and all pay phones are set to block calls to 900 numbers. If the 900 telephone service is not available to you, please use the 888 number above.
If it is not clear where to find the information you are seeking - either by using the main navigation menu at the top of every page or the Site Map then we recommend that you use the Search function linked below. Enter keywords and be directed to the pages which contain those words.
This web site is provided by the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Ottawa to provide comprehensive information on U.S. consular services in Canada. To visit the official U.S. Embassy Ottawa web site, please click below. Please beware of other web sites that purport to offer advice or expedited appointments for large fees. They have no connection with the U.S. government.
