If you hope to work in the U.S. then the type of visa status you need will depend on what type of work you will be doing. Some jobs fall under the NAFTA Agreement. Other jobs require a different status: Business Travel to the U.S.
Either way, most Canadians do not actually need to get a visa in their passports. Most Canadians can just show up at the Port of Entry (either at the border or an airport) with all of their required documents and are handled directly by the Officers of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) - exceptions are noted on the two pages linked above.
- treaty traders (E)
- fiancé/es (K-1)
- and the children of the foreign citizen fiancé(e) (K-2)
- a U.S. citizen's foreign citizen spouse traveling to reside in the U.S. while awaiting final completion of the process of immigration (K-3)
- and the children of a foreign citizen spouse (K-4)
- spouses of lawful permanent residents (V-1)
- and the children of those spouses (V-2) traveling to reside in the U.S. while awaiting final completion of the process of immigration
- Media Representative who are going to work in the U.S. – whether for a U.S. or Canadian media organization. (I)
- foreign government officials (A) - if entering the U.S. for temporary or permanent assignment
- officials and employees of international organizations (G) - if entering the U.S. for temporary or permanent assignment
- NATO officials, representatives, and employees - only if they are being assigned to the U.S. (as opposed to an official trip)
Canadians with any sort of criminal record, including drunk driving, should review the page on Criminal Ineligibility.
Note: In almost all circumstances Canadian citizens do not need visitor, business, transit or other visas to enter the U.S., either from Canada or from other countries. However, if a Canadian citizen believes that there is a need for a U.S. visa, they may apply for one in the normal manner. See Visa Appointment Scheduling below.
The U.S. State Dept. provides detailed information about circumstances where Canadian citizens will require a visa to enter the U.S. at the page linked below.
Canadian visitors present proof of citizenship (Passport / Birth Certificate / Naturalization) and a government issued photo ID (Passport / Driver's License / Provincial Health Card) at the U.S. Port of Entry. A valid Canadian passport is required when arriving in the U.S. by air, or from outside of the Western Hemisphere, and will be required for all air, land and sea entries no later that June, 2009. Unlike some other nationalities, as a Canadian, your passport need not be valid beyond the duration of your planned trip to the U.S. and it need not be machine-readable.
Canadian citizens who believe that they require a visa may not use the on-line booking process, but must contact the Visa Information Services Center by phone to book a visa appointment with the U.S. Embassy or a Consulate. Use the following link for phone number and cost information.
