All non-immigrant visa applicants who wish to apply for a visa at a U.S. Consulate in Canada must complete the Form DS-156 Non-immigrant Visa Application on-line. The on-line DS-156 creates a bar code, but your information is not downloaded. You must still print out the completed Form DS-156 including the bar code and bring it along with all other required documents to your appointment.
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Embassy Ottawa
Consular Section
E-mail: ottawacons@state.gov (preferred method of communication)
Phone
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Mail from U.S.
U.S. Embassy / Consular Section
Mail is collected from the U.S. address on
Mail from Canada
PO Box 866, Station B
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The American Citizen Services Section is open weekdays from 8AM to 12PM. This office is closed on Wednesdays and Holidays.
Additional detailed information:
- Attorneys in the Ottawa region of Canada: Legal Services
- Physicians in the Ottawa region of Canada: Medical Services
- All persons seeking U.S. visas require an appointment
- Applications for U.S. visas are taken Monday through Friday mornings 8AM to 12PM, except Holidays.
- In general, all applicants, including infants and children, must appear in person for the visa interview at which time, in addition to an interview, the consular officer will digitally capture the fingerprints of applicants ages 14 - 79. Under very limited circumstances the personal appearance requirement may be waived (medical emergencies) but the applicant must still be physically present in the district where the application is submitted. In the case of applicants under 14 years, a parent or guardian must appear in person to accompany the child.
- Certain applications may require processing of one month or longer and all applicants, even repeat travelers, are encouraged to apply four to six weeks before any anticipated travel. We advise all persons not to make any unchangeable travel plans in advance of actually receiving the visa.
The deposit slip for your visa application fee consists of 3 pages. A separate set of deposit slips is required for each applicant. Take all three pages of the deposit slip(s) to any branch of Scotia Bank and pay the non-refundable U.S. visa application fee of US$131.00. The payment must be made in either $US cash, a $US certified check or a $US money order; incoming mail deposits and wired deposits are not accepted. The bank teller will stamp all three copies of your receipt and should return two copies to you. You must submit two validated deposit receipts with your visa application.
The special pre-coded deposit slip can be downloaded from the link provided below. The Consulate cannot accept applications that do not contain two copies of your deposit receipt.
You should not make any payment until you have successfully been granted an appointment date.
Passports and visas will be returned to the applicants with Canadian addresses by Canada Post, generally within three to five business days after the visa is approved. In person pick up will be available only in a legitimate emergency (as determined by the Consulate).
Applicants must go to a Canada Post office and buy an Express Regional mailer before coming to the consulate. These are not available at the Consulate. Approximate cost is CDN $7.
Each case is different, and only the interviewing officer can make the decision to give or refuse a visa. There is no way to predict ahead of time your chances of receiving a visa.
Please note that all visitors must be screened prior to entry and are subject to inspection via a walk-through metal detector and with a hand-held metal detector. Carried personal items will undergo full inspection by use of an X-ray machine and other equipment.
Any visitor who declines to be screened by U.S. Embassy/Consulate security personnel will be prohibited from entering the Embassy/Consulate.
In order to facilitate your entrance to the Embassy/Consulate and reduce your waiting time at the security checkpoint, we recommend that you leave behind any unnecessary personal items such as purses and briefcases. If you leave them in your car, be sure to put them in the trunk and lock your car; do not leave any personal items in view in the passenger compartment.
Please bring only the documentation required for your appointment.
Please note that the following items are prohibited inside the U.S. Embassy/Consulate and we have no facilities for storing these items, so please leave them at your home, your hotel, or in your vehicle:
- Food and beverages
- Weapons, including mace or pepper spray
- Tools, including any sharp or bladed objects
- Any oil or chemical-based sprays, liquids or lotions
- Backpacks, bags, luggage, or purses
- Electronic or recording equipment of any kind, including, but not limited to:
- Laptop computers
- Mobile phones
- MP3, CD, or cassette players
- Pagers
- Keyless remotes
- and oversized strollers
The following persons may accompany a visa applicant during Consular-related visits:
- Interpreter: Applicants may bring one interpreter if they do not speak English well enough to participate in an interview.
- Special Needs Visitors: Applicants may bring one person to help if they are elderly, disabled, or if the applicant is a minor child applying for a visa.
- Attorney: Attorneys will not be permitted to accompany clients into the waiting room or at their interviews.
- U.S. Citizens: One American citizen may accompany an applicant.
Due to waiting room size, the large volume of applicants and the time required to screen consular clients, other accompanying persons cannot be admitted to the waiting room. Drivers, friends, and extra relatives must wait outside or return to meet the applicant after the interview has been completed - with the exception of applicants with children.
