Last updated: June 5, 2023 at 09:42 am EDT
The United States Embassy and Consulates in Canada have resumed routine U.S. citizen services and nonimmigrant visa services. The U.S. Consulate General in Montreal is processing immigrant visas according to the Department’s most recent operating status update, available here: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/visa-services-operating-status-update.html.
While the Embassy and Consulates aim to schedule appointments and process cases as soon as practicable, there are likely to be increased wait times for appointments and processing due to the pandemic and surging demand. Residents in Canada can check wait times here: Visa Appointment Wait Times (state.gov). Applicants that are not resident in Canada can anticipate a wait time of approximately 600 calendar days for an appointment.
| Location | Citizen Services | Visa Services | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Passports | Consular Reports of Birth Abroad | Notary Service | Immigrant and Fiancé Visas | Nonimmigrant Visas | |
| Calgary | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | N/A | 🟢 |
| Halifax | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | N/A | 🟢 |
| Montreal | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🔴 |
| Ottawa | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | N/A | 🟢 |
| Quebec City | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | N/A | 🟢 |
| Toronto | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | N/A | 🟢 |
| Vancouver | 🟢 | 🟢 | 🟢 | N/A | 🟢 |
| Current Service Status | |
| 🟢 | Full Services |
| 🟡 | Limited Services |
| 🔴 | Emergency Services |
U.S. citizens living in Canada are eligible for passport renewal by mail: Visit Passport Services – U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Canada (usembassy.gov) for more information.
Schedule an in-person appointment for a consular service:
Calgary
Appointment Requests for Passport Services: Please use this form.
Appointment Requests for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad: Create a MyTravelGov account and submit your initial application online prior to scheduling an appointment.
Appointment Requests for Notarial Services: Please email Calgary_ACS@state.gov
Nonimmigrant Visas: For appointments, please apply here.
Halifax
Appointment Requests for Passport Services: Please use this form.
Appointment Requests for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad: Create a MyTravelGov account and submit your initial application online prior to scheduling an appointment.
Appointment Requests for Notarial Services: Please email Halifax-ACS@state.gov
Nonimmigrant Visas: For appointments, please apply here.
Montreal
Appointment Requests for Passport Services: Please use this form.
Appointment Requests for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad: Create a MyTravelGov account and submit your initial application online prior to scheduling an appointment.
Appointment Requests for notarial services: Please email Montreal-ACS@state.gov
Immigrant Visas / Nonimmigrant Visas: The Consulate is prioritizing immigrant visas for Immediate Relatives, fiancé(e) (K) visas, and mission critical cases. Nonimmigrant visas are emergency only, please apply here. For immigrant visa information please visit https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/iv.
Ottawa
Appointment Requests for Passport: Please use this form.
Appointment Requests for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad: Create a MyTravelGov account and submit your initial application online prior to scheduling an appointment.
Appointment Requests for Notarial Services: Please email OttawaACS@state.gov
Nonimmigrant Visas: For appointments, please apply here.
Quebec
Appointment Requests for Passport: Please use this form
Appointment Requests for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad: Create a MyTravelGov account and submit your initial application online prior to scheduling an appointment.
Nonimmigrant Visas: For appointments, please apply here.
Toronto
Appointment Requests for Passport Services: Please use this form.
Appointment Requests for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad: Create a MyTravelGov account and submit your initial application online prior to scheduling an appointment.
Appointment Requests for Adult Citizenship Claims: Please email TorontoCRBA@state.gov.
Appointment Requests for Notarial Services: Please use this form.
Nonimmigrant Visas: For appointments, please apply here.
Vancouver
Appointment Requests for Passport Services: Please use this form.
Appointment Requests for Consular Reports of Birth Abroad: Create a MyTravelGov account and submit your initial application online prior to scheduling an appointment.
Nonimmigrant Visas: For appointments, please apply here.
Q) Why can’t I apply for my immigrant visa at a consular section other than Montreal?
- The Consular Section in Montreal is the only post in Canada with staff trained and equipped to process immigrant visas. Relevant law requires that applicants apply for immigrant visas in person. This requirement cannot be waived.
Q) How long will it take to schedule my immigrant visa appointment?
- The U.S. Consulate General in Montreal is actively scheduling new immigrant visa cases in all categories, including Immediate Relative, fiancé(e)s, Family Preference, and Employment. Wait times for all Family Preference and Employment categories continue to be lengthy due to substantial backlogs.
- It is not possible to provide precise wait times for immigrant visa appointments, as facilities, staffing resources, and local conditions all affect capacity and scheduling. As of June 5th, 2023, most Immediate Relative and fiancé(e) visa cases being scheduled for interview in Montreal were documentarily complete at the National Visa Center in March 2023; most Family Preference cases with visa numbers available that are being scheduled for interview were documentarily qualified in December 2022; and most Employment cases scheduled for interview were documentarily complete in January 2021.
Q) Do I need to wear a mask when attending my consular appointment?
- While not required, we encourage all visitors over age two to wear a mask for the health and safety of our staff and visitors.
Q) Is my situation an emergency? I need to go the United States immediately for X.
- Expedited processing is only approved in the most urgent cases.
- For immigrant visas: If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please contact us at Canada.Visas@gdit-gss.com. Please continue to monitor the information for updated guidance in the coming weeks at the Official Website for U.S. Visa Information and Appointments at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/iv/information/contact_us.
- For nonimmigrant visas: If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please follow the guidance provided at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv/information/faqs#need_earlier_appt to request an emergency appointment.
Q) What about my MRV fee that expired while routine services were suspended?
- All nonimmigrant visa application fee (also known as the MRV fee) payments made on or after October 1, 2022, are valid for 365 days from the date a receipt is issued for payment of the MRV fee. Applicants must schedule an interview appointment or submit an interview waiver application during this 365-day period. Please note applicants must only schedule their interview or submit their waiver application within the 365-day period. There is no requirement the interview must occur during the 365-day period. All receipts for payment of MRV fees issued before October 1, 2022, were extended until September 30, 2023, and remain valid until this date.
