PROCEDURES FOR ENTRY INTO CANADA FROM THE U.S. AND RE-ENTRY TO THE U.S.

ENTRY INTO CANADA

Citizens from certain countries who wish to visit Canada are required to obtain a visitor's visa (tourist visa) from the Canadian Consulate General in Los Angeles:

Immigration Section
Canadian Consulate General
300 S. Grand Ave. 10th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90071
Phone: (213) 346-2700
Fax: (213) 625-7154
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions/los-angeles.asp

Citizens of countries such as Australia, New Zealand and different European countries are likely to be exempt from the visa requirement, but to be certain, contact the Consulate in Los Angeles.

Remember, the Consulate in San Francisco does not process visa requests for entering Canada. You should forward your visa request to the Consulate in Los Angeles. The San Francisco Consulate does offer a special "800 number" for the province that you might visit (i.e. for tourist information for Ontario you may call 1-800-668-2746).

San Francisco/Silicon Valley
Consulate General of Canada
580 California Street, 14th floor
San Francisco, CA 94104
Phone: (415) 834-3180
Fax (415) 834-3189
sfran@international.gc.ca
http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/san_francisco/menu-en.asp?lang_update=1

RE-ENTRY INTO THE U.S.

F-I visa international students who visit Canada for less than 30 days, have maintained a lawful non-immigrant status in the U.S., and intend to resume that status upon their return may keep the I-94 form (the small white slip in the passport) when crossing the border PROVIDED it is valid beyond the time of expected return to the U.S. F-1 students must also keep the I-20 form

Please note that at the present time, nationals of Iraq, Iran and Libya are not eligible for "automatic revalidation of visas". Questions about this should be directed to an International Student Advisor.

When you return to the U.S. you will be given a new I-94 form. Upon returning, you must show to the port-of-entry immigration official:

1. A valid passport. Usually required to be valid for at least six months.
2. A current SEVIS I-20. Either a new one or a PROPERLY ENDORSED page 3 - endorsed by an International Student Advisor.
3. A valid F-1 visa. if you are visiting Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days, you can re-enter the U.S. with an expired F-1 visa)
4. Your EAD card if you are on Post –Completion Practical Training (PCPT).
5. A letter from your employer to verify that you have already or will soon start to work (if under PCPT).
6. We recommend that you also take copies of your financial support documents, health insurance coverage, and student ID card in case you are asked to show these documents.
   

If you travel out of the U.S. while you are in F-1 status, your SEVIS I-20 must be signed by one of the International Student Advisors at OIP in order for you to be permitted to re-enter the U.S. To request endorsement of page 3, bring your I-20 to OIP and complete an F-1 document request form at OIP front desk at least 5 business days before your departure. An endorsed page 3 is valid for 6 months from the date of the endorsement for absences of less than five months.

IMPORTANT NOTE

In April 1996, the U.S. Department of State implemented a visa application system for all Third Country Nationals (TCN) who wish to apply for visas in either Canada or Mexico.

All Third Country Nations (TCN), including F holders and their dependents, who wish to apply for a visa at any U.S. consulate or embassy in Canada (Halifax, Montreal, Quebec City, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary or Vancouver ) or in Mexico (Tijuana, Cuidad Juarez, or Matamoros) must obtain appointments via phone or internet in advance.

Phone: If you prefer to make an appointment by telephone you must call a user-pays phone service.

If you are in the U.S. and want to make an appointment, call 1-900-443-3131 for a live operator (US$1.89 per minute).
If you are in Canada or Mexico and want to make an appointment, call 1-900-451-2778 for a live operator (CA$1.89 per minute).

If the 900 telephone service is not available from your area, please contact: (888) 840-0032. You will be asked to provide your credit card number.

Internet:
Appointments in Canada: http://www.nvars.com

The fee for using this service is a non-refundable $9.50 CANADIAN, payable by major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express)

Appointments in Mexico: http://www.visa-usa.com.mx/
*Check website for current charge

When you confirmed an appointment a confirmation package was generated to be mailed to you and should arrive in 5 to 7 business days if you are living in Canada and 7 - 10 business days if you are living in the United States.

To complete the required application forms, all applicants are encouraged to complete the DS-156 at http://evisaforms.state.gov The additional required application forms will also be included in your confirmation package that you will receive by mail. They may also be downloaded from http://www.amcits.com

Additional information on the system can be obtained from the State Department's Consular Services web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html

REMINDERS

-These procedures apply to all international students except those from Canada or Mexico.

-Appointments may be scheduled up to 3 to 10 weeks in advance. We strongly recommend that you follow the procedures outlined above before going to the U.S. embassy/consulate in either Canada or Mexico if you need to apply for a new F visa!

QUESTIONS? E-mail OIP

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Last updated: August 2008