In general, anyone who is visiting the United States needs a visa prior to being allowed entry. In addition, most visa applicants are required to pay a visa application fee. The exceptions are listed below.
Most Canadian citizens can travel to the United States with a valid passport and without a visa unless seeking to enter the United States as an Immigrant, a Fiancé(e), Treaty Trader or Treaty Investor, Foreign government official, Officials and employees of international organizations Visa or NATO officials, representatives and employees.
Some additional exceptions exist. For example, a Canadian citizen who has a criminal record or any other inelegibility might be required to apply for a visa; however, they should first request a waiver from DHS/CBP which should be obtained at the land border crossing.
Landed immigrants (Canadian permanent residents) have to apply for visas based on the country that issued their passport.
For more information, please consult:
http://canada.usembassy.gov/visas/information-for-canadians/canadians-requiring-visas.html
http://canada.usembassy.gov/visas/visas/criminal-ineligibility.html
In addition to a valid passport, Canadian citizens may require additional documentation to travel to the United States. If a Canadian plans to attend school or work in the United States, they are required to have the specific required documents for the appropriate visa category. For example, students require an I-20 form issued by the institution they plan to attend and temporary workers require an I-797 from their perspective employer. Exchange visitors require a DS-2019 from the sponsoring organization. These forms (the I-20, I-797, DS-2019, etc.) must be presented at the port of entry to the United States.
For further information, please visit these Web sites:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1260.html
It is the responsibility of each traveler to determine whether or not a visa is required.
Native American Indians born in Canada are entitled to enter the United States for the purpose of employment, study, retirement, investing, and/or immigration without a visa.
In order to qualify, eligible applicants must provide evidence of their 51 percent American Indian background to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the point of entry to the United States. Generally, this evidence would include either an identification card from the Ministry of Indian and Northern Affairs or a written statement on tribal letterhead from an official of the tribe from which the applicant originates. The written statement must be substantiated by documentary evidence, such as tribal records and civil long form birth certificates that include the names of both parents. In addition, the letter should explicitly state the percentage of Indian blood that the applicant possesses.
For further information, please visit this Web site:
http://canada.usembassy.gov/visas/information-for-canadians/first-nations-and-native-americans.html.
It is the responsibility of each traveler to determine whether or not a visa is required.
The Visa Waiver Program allows travelers to enter the United States without a visa for up to 90 days for business or pleasure. Anyone traveling to the United States for any reason other than business or pleasure requires a visa.
Currently, the following countries participate in the Visa Waiver Program:
| Andorra | Denmark | Hungary | Liechtenstein | New Zealand | Slovenia |
| Australia | Estonia | Iceland | Lithuania | Norway | South Korea |
| Austria | Finland | Ireland | Luxembourg | Portugal | Spain |
| Belgium | France | Italy | Malta | San Marino | Sweden |
| Brunei | Germany | Japan | Monaco | Singapore | Switzerland |
| Czech Republic | Greece | Latvia | the Netherlands | Slovakia | United Kingdom |
All Visa Waiver Program travelers are required to obtain ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) approval prior to boarding a carrier to travel by air or sea to the United States. In order to apply for an ESTA authorization, travelers should visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/ for additional information.
All Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) registration applications or renewals will require a USD$14 fee payment by MasterCard, VISA or American Express at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov. The application will not be submitted for processing until the payment authorization is received. Existing ESTA registrations remain valid through their expiration date.
For more information on the Visa Waiver Program, including passport and other eligibility requirements, visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/without/without_1990.html.
It is the responsibility of each traveler to determine whether or not a visa is required.
The Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program allows the traveler to enter Guam or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) without a visa for up to 45 days for business or pleasure. Anyone traveling to Guam or the CNMI for any reason other than business or pleasure requires a visa.
Citizens of the following countries are eligible:
| Australia | Brunei | Japan |
| Nauru | Malaysia | New Zealand |
| Papua New Guinea | United Kingdom | Republic of Korea |
| Taiwan | Singapore | Hong Kong |
For further information on the Guam-CNMI Visa Waiver Program, please visit:
http://www.dhs.gov/files/programs/gc_1233261948672.shtm.
It is the responsibility of each traveler to determine whether or not a visa is required.
Diplomatic (A), International Organization (G) and NATO visas are issued to diplomats and other government officials for travel to the United States. Generally, the type of visa required by a diplomat or other government official depends upon their purpose of travel to the United States. There are very specific requirements which must be met by applicants to qualify for an A, G, or NATO visa, under U.S. immigration law.
Most diplomatic passport holders and people applying for official visas are exempt from the MRV fee. Applicants applying for these visa categories should not use this service because the MRV fee is nonrefundable, even if paid in error.
For more information please consult with your government or agency's administrative office responsible for visa issues.
It is the responsibility of each traveler to determine whether or not a visa fee is required. If a traveler needs to apply for a visa that requires paying a visa fee, the traveler should use this service to make an appointment to apply for a visa. If the traveler is eligible to travel without paying the MRV fee, the traveler should contact the Consular Section directly.
Please visit this Web site for additional information on Diplomatic and Official visas: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_2637.html#how.
Please visit this Web site for additional information on NATO visas: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_2638.html
Visa applications for diplomatic (official or personal) travel are accepted in the Consular Section at Counter 9 from:
Monday through Thursday between 7.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Friday between 9.00 a.m. to 10.00a.m.
Appearance at the interview is not required.
For personal travel, a messenger may drop off the pertinent documents. Applicant must appear the next business day at 2:00 p.m. for an interview and fingerprinting.
A - Visa Classes
- A1 visas are issued to certain government officials, diplomats, attaches and officials assigned to a foreign government mission in the United States.
- A2 visas can be issued on Special, Official or Regular passports. This type of visa is issued to administrative and lower rank military personnel assigned to a mission in the U.S. An A2 visa is also issued to local military personnel traveling on a U.S. sponsored mission if the applicant is able to provide a Travel Order.
*A1 and A2 visa applicants are exempt from biometrics and interview. - A3 visas can be issued to the domestic employee of an A1 or A2 visa holder. A3 visa applicants need to bring a diplomatic note and the employment contract (this must be scanned into the applicant record), and proof they will be paid prevailing wages in the city where they will reside.
The J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship was established for the purpose of supervising the Fulbright Program and certain programs authorized by the Fulbright-Hays Act and for the purpose of selecting students, scholars, teachers, trainees, and other persons to participate in the educational exchange programs.
Individuals traveling to the United States as Fulbright Scholars or on another U.S. Government grant and their dependents are not required to pay the MRV fee.
To obtain a visa, please consult with the office sponsoring your travel to schedule your interview appointment and provide you with instructions.
