One of the advantages of living in Canada is the closeness of United States of America. Picture the world map and focus on North America.
Think of your dream destination in Uncle Sam’s territory. (Yes with imaginary pins of varying colors and meanings. Red for urgency—how about on your next birthday?)
Can you imagine yourself meeting Mickey Mouse (I know you still do) or seeing New York from the Statue of Liberty?
Don’t just imagine. Don’t fret.
If you are a temporary foreign worker or permanent resident you can apply for US non-immigrant visa from Canada.
The online application of US visa is easy (and short depending in your availability and span of attention). You only have to follow three steps.
How to Apply for US non-immigrant visa from Canada
- Apply Online for non-immigrant visa application (DS-160).
- Pay the US visa application fee; online is the quickest option.
- Schedule a US visa interview appointment in Canada.
This is just the first phase. For the second, I’ll write a blog post with some tips about preparing for the US visa interview. The preparation will give you confidence to pass the interview.
Let’s start the first phase, the journey to the United States of America.
Step 1: Apply for DS-160 Online.
Gather the following documents before you fill up the form:
- Valid passport
- Updated resume (for work record)
- Qualified photo. Take note of the photo requirements and show it at the photo shop. Or you can take your own photo or scan an existing photo; either way read the digital image requirements. In editing the photo, I highly recommend Pixlr Editor, a free web-based photo editor if you don’t have Adobe Photoshop which does the job in reducing the file size.
- Applicable US non-immigrant visa types. Before you can apply for US non-immigrant visa from Canada you have to know your visa category through the purpose of the trip such as for business or leisure.
Prepare to answer the following questions:
- Personal information
- Itinerary (date of arrival, length of stay)
- Person paying for your trip (this can be your employer for live-in caregiver)
- Persons traveling with you
- US contact information (the place where you will stay: relatives or friend’s home or hotel)
- Work information (monthly salary, duties)
Why do you have to know all of these?
To increase the word count of my blog post. Of course not—partly.
Seriously, I want you to save time and finish the application in one session (with occasional trip in the washroom). If for some valid reason (watching viral YouTube videos doesn’t count) you have to stop, you can save the application form and finish it within 30 days.
Is everything handy?
Print the confirmation page with your confirmation number and photo after submitting the application.
You have the option of printing the personal copy of (DS-160) with your confirmation number and barcode or saving a soft copy since it is NOT required in the interview.
Step 2: Pay the Visa Application Fee or the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) Fee.
The most common visa categories are visitor visas which cost USD$160: business (B1) and pleasure (B2). Before paying, first you have to create an account at the Official Visa Services of the United States of America in Canada.
Then you can choose how to pay the US visa application fee online through different MRV fee payment options:
- Online with credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express)
- Cash payment with one of the Scotiabank branches
- Interac Online
over the phone (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express)
From the date of purchase the MRV payment is valid for one year. The long validity is definitely an advantage to the next step.
Step 3: Schedule Your Interview Online by Signing In.
The MRV fee receipt number is required to proceed in booking the appointment. Choose carefully the day.
You can reschedule or cancel the appointment until the deadline (a day before the appointment).
Do this several times but never miss a US visa interview.
Scheduling another interview is just as easy as booking the first appointment. Explaining why you didn’t make it is the hardest part. You better have a valid reason.
Don’t think of missing an appointment. Stay Positive.
What’s Next?
As I’ve mentioned, you can apply for US non-immigrant visa from Canada by following the three easy steps.
The last thing to do is to prepare for the US visa interview and once you pass the interview nothing can come between you and Mickey Mouse and cotton candy (hand me over the pink one please).
You are getting closer to your dream. I’m ending the post with a video about application of US non-immigrant visa so you can have a preview of the process my trip in the Jungle Cruise at Disneyland California Adventure as a reminder to keep on exploring.
Hi Carolyn,
Just wonder after I fill out the DS-160 form online for my wife, do I really need to upload the photos on the computer or can she brings it in when she got the interview. Honestly not computer friendly to able upload the photos. Please let me know.
Hi Peter. You have to follow the instructions. If you have a printer and scanner, practice scanning the photos first once you got it right then it is easier to upload the photos. Or ask a friend, relative, or anyone who can help you out. But I’m sure you can do it. 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
Greatly helpful post. I am an new immigrant to Toronto, but I grudgingly booked my visa interview at Ottawa. Simply because I preferred 4 days of wait time which was over 57 days in Toronto, for a visitor visa.
After completing Step 2, it was ‘disclosed’ that the earliest available interview slot was on 12th of June for Ottawa and 17th June for Toronto.
My friend in US has already taken a week off work, and so have I, here in Toronto, to meet on May 20th at his place.
Is it common for the official website to display wait periods that are motivational but not practical?
I just rechecked the wait period for visitor visa for both locations and its still unchanged at 4 days and 57 days. However, the true picture is entirely different.
Just seeking your experience on this issue and any remedy if you can suggest.
Thanks for your patient hearing.
Well, Rajan that’s confusing and unusual. I’m not sure if that was intentional or technical glitch. But I never had any contradicting schedule in different steps. Everything went well. Have you tried contacting the office through email with snapshot. Photos can tell a lot of stories. I’ve sent an email regarding the missed interview and received a positive feedback. You can give it a go and see what happens. Good luck!
You cannot apply for a US visa in Canada or any country if you are visitor in that country. You have to be on a work or study permit or permanent resident.
Jusst wondering if anyone knows whether I can apply US visa in Winnipeg or not. My status in Canada is visitor. As the web site stated, the US consulate Winnipeg is only got US citizen. So do I need to have the interview in other province?
Hello, I’ve printed the confirmation and instructions page from the Visa appointment website but I don’t see any amount anywhere in the document? Please advise. Cheers!
You have to log in and pay online. From there you can get the copy of the receipt.
Thanks carolyn. I will check it online today and let me know if u get to know something about this.
Thanks for your help.
Your welcome Paul. Hope every thing turns out fine.
Hey, i like your article.i have a question to ask. I am an international student in canada and now i want to apply for my usa tourist visa. I was wondering if i really have to go through the interview part since when i was 11 i got my usa TOURIST visa for 5 years which is expired now. I coudnt travel at that point of time. So please help me out if i can fill the form online and dropbox it or is it really have to be the same process..
Thanks
Paul
Try to login Paul and see if there’s a way to apply/renew online. Your question made me also asked what will I do if I have to renew my US visa. That would be a good topic for a blog post. Thanks for the idea.
I find this blog is more helpful than reading through the official US visa office’s instruments and Q&A.
Thank you very much for this great article.
Thanks Cherie. 🙂 Your appreciation motivates me to write more quality content that you and your friends can also learn from so hope you can share it online.
Hello, great article!
Question: if you pay the fee online by credit card upon submitting the DS-160 and scheduling your appointment, do you need to bring any proof of payment to the interview?
My appointment confirmation page on the site shows the MRV receipt number and value, but I have no other proof of payment (other than it appearing on my credit card statement).
I’m asking because the appointment confirmation letter mentions “A non-refundable application fee for each application.” as one of the documents required for all aplicants, but it isn’t clear whether I need to have any proof (other than having scheduled the appointment already, which requires the fee payment).
Thank you for you help.
Hi, Chester.
Thanks for dropping by.
You will have to bring your DS-160 and appointment confirmation page which has the applicant details such as: MRV Fee Amount and MRV Fee Receipt. Don’t forget to bring the other requirements and DO NOT bring unnecessary stuff.
Also once you pay using credit card you will have the option to print the receipt that tells the “Receipt Expiration Date,” a useful information if you missed the interview and need to reschedule.
If you have more questions, just leave a comment. You are always welcome. Before I go, I cannot miss saying you’ve done a great job in your blog. Maybe someday I’ll dabble with Raspberry Pi. 🙂
Hey, thanks for the information (I have both the DS-160 and the confirmation page with the receipt and amount), so I guess I’m all set.
Glad you liked the blog! 🙂
Welcome, Chester.
Good luck to your interview.
Don’t forget to read “Prepare And Pass The US Non-Immigrant Visa Interview In Canada In 5 Easy Steps.” And one last thing don’t miss the interview. If you think you cannot make it, reschedule the interview way ahead of time online.
And please do come back to share tips. We all appreciate your help.