Obtaining a Visa in Canada or Mexico

- WARNINGS

Persons who are refused a visa cannot reenter the United States using their I-94. If you are refused a visa in Canada or Mexico, and your current visa has expired, or your status has changed in the U.S., you cannot use your I-94 to reenter the U.S. from Canada or Mexico. Clients should consult our office before considering a trip abroad for the purpose of obtaining a new visa.

[If you are traveling to Canada or Mexico for a short time, you might not need a new visa. See FAQ - Travel to Canada or Mexico on your old visa ]

YOU MIGHT BE "STUCK" FOR A LONG TIME

You should prepare for an extended stay if you apply for a visa in Canada or Mexico. In most cases, a new visa will be issued within a couple of days of your interview. However, if your application should trigger a security "hit" it may take months to resolve. You might then find yourself unable to return to the U.S. for an extended period of time. You have no way of knowing in advance if your application will trigger a hit and additional delays.

Purpose: This information is provided for clients of the Law Offices of Jay I. Solomon. It applies to individuals who are

citizens of a country other than Canada or Mexico
for whom a petition has been approved for H or L status, or
who have changed status in the United States to E-1 or E-2, and
who wish to obtain a new visa stamp in their passport

Making an appointment: An appointment is required for a specific date before you can apply for a visa from a U. S. Consul in Canada or Mexico. Each consulate determines the number of third country nationals that will be seen each day, and a private company administers the appointment slots. There is a fee for making an appointment.

There are 3 ways to make an appointment in Canada

With a credit card, call 1-888-840-0032. This is a free exchange, but you will be charged for making the appointment.
From a private telephone, call 1-900-443-3131. This is a toll call and a bill of $25 will appear on your phone bill.
Use a credit card and make your appointment online.

To Make an appointment in Mexico, you need to go online.

Special Rule for people from predominately Moslem countries:

In general, men from the following countries cannot make appointments to process visas in Canada or Mexico: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. Neither men nor women from Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria can process visas in Canada or Mexico.

And don't forget......... you might need a visa to get into Canada or Mexico!