Get your USA Visitor Visa from Canada

Living in Canada and planning a trip to the United States? Whether you’re a permanent resident visiting family, an international student on a cross-border road trip, or a work-permit holder heading to a conference, you’ll likely need a US visitor visa from Canada — the B1/B2 visa. This guide walks you through the entire process: the DS-160 form, the $185 fee, booking your interview, and the one thing nobody warns you about — Toronto’s interview wait time, currently among the longest in the world.

Who needs a US visitor visa in Canada?

Canadian citizens don’t need a visa for short US visits. But if you’re in Canada on another status, you probably do:

• Permanent residents of Canada — unless your passport is from a Visa Waiver Program country
• International students (study permit holders)
• Work permit holders (including PGWP holders)
• Visitors and other temporary residents

If any of these describe you, keep reading — the process is straightforward, but the timing is not.

Step 1: Complete the DS-160 form

Every B1/B2 applicant starts with the DS-160, the US State Department’s online nonimmigrant visa application. It’s long, detailed, and unforgiving of mistakes — travel history, employment, education, and security questions all in one place.

Practical tips that actually matter:

• Answer exactly as your documents show — name spellings, dates, and job titles must match your passport and employment letters.
• Save your application ID the moment you start. The form times out, and losing 40 minutes of work is miserable.
• Upload a proper US-visa photo (2×2 inch, white background, taken within 6 months). A wrong photo is one of the most common avoidable delays.
• Print the confirmation page with the barcode — you need it to book the interview and to enter the consulate.

Step 2: Pay the $185 MRV fee

The US visitor visa application fee (MRV fee) is $185 USD per applicant. It’s non-refundable — even if you’re refused, even if you never get an interview slot. Pay through the official appointment portal for Canada (ais.usvisa-info.com, Canada section) and keep the receipt.

Step 3: Book your interview — and face the wait

Here’s the part that surprises most people. After submitting the DS-160 and paying the fee, you book an in-person interview at a US consulate. In Canada, your options are Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal, and Halifax.

Toronto’s B1/B2 interview wait has stretched to 16–21 months in 2026 — the longest of any major US consulate worldwide. Ottawa and Vancouver aren’t much better at 10–14 months. This isn’t a backlog that clears in a few weeks; it’s structural demand from the huge number of foreign nationals living in Canada.

What you can actually do about it:

• Book now, travel later. Apply a year+ before you need to travel. Most people apply far too late.
• Check other posts. You can interview at any Canadian consulate, not just the closest one. Ottawa or Halifax sometimes show earlier dates.
• Monitor for cancellations. New slots open when people reschedule. Checking the portal regularly — or having someone do it for you — is the single most effective tactic.
• Expedited appointments exist but are reserved for genuine emergencies (medical, bereavement). “My flight is next month” doesn’t qualify.

Step 4: Prepare for the interview

The interview itself is short — often under five minutes. The officer is testing one thing above all: will you return to Canada? Bring evidence of ties:

• Employment letter and recent pay stubs
• Lease or mortgage documents
• Bank statements (3–6 months)
• Study permit + enrollment letter (for students)
• PR card or work permit

Answer confidently and consistently with your DS-160. Short, truthful answers beat long explanations.

Common refusal reasons (and how to avoid them)

• Weak ties to Canada — new arrivals with no job, no lease, and no history get refused most. If you just landed, consider waiting until you’re settled.
• Inconsistent DS-160 — the officer has your form on screen. Anything you say that contradicts it is fatal.
• Vague travel purpose — “just visiting” with no itinerary, no hotel, no inviter details looks unserious. Have a real plan.
• Previous overstays or refusals — disclose everything. Lying about a prior refusal is far worse than the refusal itself.

How long is the visa valid?

Most B1/B2 visas issued in Canada are multiple-entry, valid up to 10 years. Each visit is typically admitted for up to 6 months at the port of entry — the visa’s validity is not the length of stay.

Should you get help with your application?

You can absolutely do this yourself — thousands do. But the process punishes small mistakes (a wrong DS-160 answer, a missed document, booking the wrong consulate), and with 18-month waits, a refused or botched application costs you years, not weeks.

That’s why we run a dedicated visitor-visa desk in Toronto: DS-160 done right the first time, document checklists tailored to your status (PR, student, worker), appointment strategy across consulates, and mock interviews before the real one. See our US visitor visa services or message us on WhatsApp for a free profile assessment.

FAQs

How long does a US visitor visa take from Canada?

The application itself takes a few hours. The interview wait in Toronto is currently 16–21 months. Plan at least a year ahead.

Can international students in Canada apply for a US visitor visa?

Yes. Bring your study permit, enrollment letter, and proof you intend to return to your studies.

Is the $185 fee refundable if I’m refused?

No. The MRV fee is non-refundable in all cases.

Can I interview in Ottawa instead of Toronto?

Yes — you may book at any US consulate in Canada. Many applicants find earlier dates outside Toronto.

Do I need a visa if I’m a Canadian permanent resident?

Usually yes, unless your passport is from a Visa Waiver Program country. PR status alone doesn’t exempt you.

Disclaimer: This guide is general information, not legal advice. Visa decisions rest solely with US consular officers; no consultant can guarantee approval.