CANADIAN VISITORS INFORMATION
FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WISHING TO ENTER CANADA TEMPORARILY AS VISITORS

If you plan to travel to Canada and stay less than thirty days, you may be required to obtain a Canadian visa.  Please view the following on-line list to determine if citizens from your country are required to obtain visas in order to visit Canada: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp

Same day visa issuance for those who apply in person is available for citizens of most countries.  However certain countries may require longer processing times (10 working days).  Those countries are:
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Bosnia, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kosovo, Lebanon, Libya, Macedonia, Montenegro, Morocco, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen. The same waiting period also applies to holders of travel documents issued by the Palestinian Authority. Wait periods may also be required for individuals from countries other than those identified above. 

To obtain a Canadian visa, you may apply by mail or in person during business hours at the Canadian Consulate in either Buffalo, New York or New York City.  Mailing instructions are provided on the reverse side of this information sheet.  Most students find the Consulate in Buffalo more convenient, since it is close to Niagara Falls and the Canadian border.  There is a processing fee of $75.00 for each single entry visa, and $150.00 for a multiple entry visa.  Only certified checks or money orders payable to the “Consulate General of Canada” are acceptable.  Cash, credit cards and personal checks are not accepted by mail; cash will be accepted if you are paying in person.  To apply for a visa in person, you should report to either:

When applying for your Temporary Resident (Visitor’s) Visa, use the on line application form available at:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visa.asp  The form can be completed electronically, saved, and then printed and signed.

When you visit the Consulate, you must have with you, your passport (valid for at least six months into the future), I-94, two passport-type photos taken within the last six months, the Canadian Temporary Resident Visa Application, the application fee, and any other documents which will satisfy the officer that you are entering Canada for a temporary purpose (bank statements, letter of invitation from a friend or relative in Canada, etc).   F-1 visa holders also must have a valid I-20 with a travel signature on page 3 that is less than twelve months old and copies of all previously issued I-20s.  J-1 visa holders must have a valid DS-2019 with a travel signature less than twelve months old and all previously issued DS-2019s. You should also obtain a letter of certification from the Office of International Student and Scholar Services, verifying that you are a student. If the purpose of your visit to Canada is to meet with the U.S. Consulate to change or renew your status in the United States, you will need to present the U.S. Consulate interview/appointment letter. If you have completed your studies and are on post-completion Optional Practical Training, you must also present your Employment Authorization Card and a letter from your current employer.

You do not need a valid U.S. visa to return to the United States, if your trip to Canada is for less than thirty days, nor should you surrender your I-94 when you cross into Canada. If you are a citizen of Cuba, Iran, Sudan or Syria, a valid US visa is required.

Applying for a Canadian Tourist Visa by Mail

Citizens of all countries requiring a Canadian tourist visa are encouraged to apply by mail if they hold valid non-immigrant status in the United States in the following categories: A, B-1, B-2, E, F, G, H, I, J, L, or M.

Applications by mail are usually processed and passports returned within five working days if you are from a country, which does not have a waiting period for processing (see reverse side of this form for a list of those countries with a waiting period).  Allow an additional week for mailing. Be sure to provide ALL required documents.  Incomplete applications will be refused.  Be sure to include a postage paid envelope.  Return certified or registered mail is recommended, or USPS Express Mail.  Documents cannot be returned through courier services.  Documents are returned through regular mail only.

The following documents must be submitted in order to obtain the visitor's visa by mail:
*application for a Temporary Resident (TRV) Visa http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/visa.asp
*processing fee (certified check or money order only) payable to the Consulate General of Canada (see reverse side for current fee
*valid passport or travel document valid at least six months into the future
*valid U.S. I-94 form (entry/departure record)
*valid U.S. DS-2019 if in J status (your most recent original form and all previous DS-2019s).  The most recent DS-2019 must have a travel signature that is less than twelvemonths old.
*valid U.S. I-20 if in F status (most recent original form with current signature from the Office of International Student & Scholar Services on page 3 and all previous I-20s). The most recent I-20 must have a travel signature that is less than twelve months old.
*letter of certification from International Student and Scholar Services, verifying that you are a student
*evidence of sufficient funds to support yourself
*any document which relates to the purpose of your visit, e.g., letter of invitation from a Canadian business, relative or sponsoring organization or conference registration materials, or interview letter with US Embassy or US Consulate in Canada.
*evidence of return transportation (B-1/B-2 holders only)     
*two passport photos taken within the last six months (write your name and date of birth on the back of each photo)
*pre-paid self-addressed return envelope

Mail everything to the address of the Buffalo or the New York City Consulate on the reverse side of this sheet.  Although every effort is made to provide rapid service, that may not be possible in all cases.  The Consulate reserves the right to interview any Visitor Visa applicant.

04/2011