J-1 Visa APPOINTMENTS IN CANADA

If you are a temporary visitor to Canada or are currently working, studying, or visiting the U.S., you must obtain an appointment to apply for a visa.  The fee for this service is CA$8.55 payable by one of the following credit cards:  VISA, MasterCard, or American Express

Schedule your visa appointment online:  https://www.nvars.com/Production/userhome.aspx
If you find that there are no appointment time slots currently available, please keep trying. New slots become available at random intervals throughout each day. (In the past, new time slots became available first thing in the morning but this is no longer the case.)   See also below: Emergency Visa Scheduling

Scheduling Appointments by Telephone
If you prefer to make an appointment by telephone you must call a user-pays phone service. This service is operated by the Visa Information Services Centre, a private Toronto-based contractor that handles the Consulate Generals' appointment system.   See service numbers below.

Click here to download sample  Vancouver, Canada Embassy instructions for renewing your J-1 visa dated March, 2009.

Nonimmigrant Visa Applications:  http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html

• DS-160 (NEW): Coming Soon. The new DS-160 Online, Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application, will eventually replace current nonimmigrant application forms DS-156, 157, 158. The roll-out of the new DS-160 will be gradual. Therefore, not all U.S. Embassies and Consulates will be required to use the form at the same time. U.S. Embassies and Consulates currently using the new form DS-160:
  CANADA: Vancouver and Montreal only,
  MEXICO: Nuevo Laredo, Ciudad Juarez, Matamoros and Monterrey only,
  Hong Kong S.A.R. and Dublin, Ireland. 
  Nonimmigrant visa applicants will need to review U.S. Embassy website how-to-apply instructions for more details, as well as these Frequently Asked Questions for using DS-160 Online. Learn More about the form DS-160. Check back later for implementation update announcements.
   
• DS-156: Nonimmigrant Visa Application
• DS-157: Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application
• DS-158: Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant

• DS-2019: Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. This form cannot be downloaded here. Contact your exchange visitor program sponsor, who is responsible for entering the DS 2019 information into SEVIS, and providing the SEVIS generated DS-2019.
  Important Note: The current DS-2019 form generated with an expiration date of April 30, 2008 remains valid at this time.

For general information on how to obtain visas to visit, work, study or live in the United States, please call one of the appropriate Visa Information Services Centre numbers below:

* IVR (Interactive Voice Response) is Recorded Information. This line offers the caller both the option to listen to recorded information as well as speak to a live agent, whereas the 900 lines are split into two separate lines.

Note: Many office phones and all pay phones are set to block calls to 900 numbers. If the 900 telephone service is not available from your area, please contact: 1-888-840-0032 from Canada and the U.S. You will be asked to provide your credit card number. Or call toll free 1-800-283-4356 for a list of all 1-900 and 1-800 visa information lines.

The per-minute charge applies as soon as your call is connected to the call-center system. Depending on the volume of calls, you may have to wait for connection to an actual operator. We recommend that you avoid peak periods to minimize waiting time. Callers wishing to dispute charges for using this service should telephone 1-800-714-7586.

Call the appropriate telephone number and use the Visa Information Services Centre's automated appointment system. The system assigns a reference number - please write it down - which is used in all future transactions regarding the appointment. You will be offered appointments no sooner than 2 weeks in the future. Follow the instructions on the automated menu to make an appointment at the desired date and time.

In the event you lose or misplace your reference number, call one of the numbers answered by a Live Operator and the representative will be able to assist you.

Click here for Canadian Citizens Bulletin on Passport Requirements