Visit our information center for any questions on your immigrant visa application.
Follow the links below for a step-by-step guide to the immigrant visa process in Canada. Please note that this section does not apply to Fiancé(e)(K) visas.
- Step 1: File a Petition (I-130 or I-140) with USCIS
- Step 2: Immigrant Visa Processing at NVC
- Step 3: The Interview Appointment
- Step 4: The Medical Examination
- Step 5: The Day of the Interview
- Step 6: After You Receive Your Visa
During the entire visa application and interview process, you must tell the truth and give complete and accurate information. If you do not, your visa will be delayed or you may be found ineligible for a visa.
In Canada, immigrant visas are processed at the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal. For general information on immigrant visas, please visit the State Department. For information on applying for an immigrant visa in Canada, please visit our information center and consult the tabs below.
Occasionally, during the immigrant visa process, officers may discover that an applicant qualifies to be an U.S. citizen. (United States citizenship is not only granted to individuals born in the United States. It is possible for U.S. citizen parents to transmit citizenship to their children depending on such factors as when the child was born and when the parents lived in the United States. Additional information on qualification for U.S. citizenship is available on the State Department website. If you feel you or a family member qualifies for U.S. citizenship, please notify the Consular Officer during your interview or communicate with the American Citizen Services Office at the U.S. Consulate General in Montreal at Montreal-ACS@state.gov.
Most immigrant Visa applicants are scheduled for their interview by the National Visa Center (NVC). Please attend the NVC-scheduled appointment in order to avoid delays in processing your case.
If you have previously been scheduled by NVC and could not attend your interview, please click here to reschedule your interview.
Visit our information center for any questions on your immigrant visa application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q) How long will it take to schedule my immigrant visa appointment?
- The U.S. Consulate General in Montreal is actively scheduling new immigrant visa cases in all categories, including Immediate Relative, fiancé(e)s, Family Preference, and Employment.
- Interviews are scheduled based on the date that NVC determines you have paid the necessary fees and submitted all required documents.
- It is not possible to provide precise wait times. Facilities, staffing resources, and local conditions affect all capacity and scheduling of appointments.
- See the IV Scheduling Status Tool for an idea of when you might expect to hear from us about your immigrant visa interview.
Q) Why can’t I apply for my immigrant visa at a consular section other than Montreal?
- The Consular Section in Montreal is the only post in Canada with staff trained and equipped to process immigrant visas. Relevant law requires that applicants apply for immigrant visas in person. This requirement cannot be waived.
Q) Is my situation an emergency? I need to go the United States immediately for X.
- Expedited processing is only approved in the most urgent cases.
- For immigrant visas: If you have an urgent matter and need to travel immediately, please contact us at Canada.Visas@gdit-gss.com. Please continue to monitor the information for updated guidance at the Official Website for U.S. Visa Information and Appointments at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-CA/iv/information/contact_us .
Q) I am a Canadian citizen and need to travel to the United States, but I’m leaving my Canadian passport with you. Am I able to still travel with my Nexus Card?
Canadian citizens with a valid NEXUS card may travel between Canada and the U.S. by land. For air travel, some Canadian airports with U.S. preclearance may allow NEXUS card use. Confirm with your airline and airport.
However, we strongly recommend waiting to receive your passport before you travel. The Department of State cannot assist if you experience delays or complications at the Port of Entry as a result of not having a passport.
Q) My immigrant visa was refused under INA 221g for administrative processing, can I still travel to the United States?
Yes, you may travel temporarily (e.g., as a tourist), however the decision to admit into the United States rests with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. You cannot immigrate until your immigrant visa is issued.
Q) How long will my immigrant visa remain valid?
Immigrant visa validity depends on the expiration of your medical exam, however they can remain valid up to six months from your interview date. A delay in processing will impact visa validity and cause the visa validity to be less than six months. If your exam expires, contact us.
Once your immigrant visa is approved, do not make travel plans until you have your visa in hand., and please use the visa before it expires. Reissuance of an immigrant visa may require repayment of visa fees.
Q) After entering the United States with my immigrant visa, may I return to Canada to bring my belongings into the United States?
Yes, you may re-enter Canada and return to the U.S. during your visa’s validity. Check the expiration date. Note: K-1 fiancé(e) visa holders cannot depart the U.S. until they have an approved I-485 and receive their Green Card.
Q) Is my immigrant visa my Green Card? If not, how do I receive it in the mail?
No. After receiving your visa, please contact USCIS to pay the Immigrant Fee and your Green Card will be mailed to the U.S. address you provided. You can update your address with USCIS if needed.
Q) We were approved as part of a family, do we have to travel together when we are immigrating to the United States?
Ideally, yes. But if you need to travel separately, the principal applicant must enter the United States first. The rest of the family may follow, as long as they enter before their visas expire.
Other Resources Related to the Visa Process
Check out the links below to learn more about how to prepare for your visa appointment.
