Between June and August 2016, the U.S. consulate in Toronto will suspend nonimmigrant visa appointments for third-country nationals (TCN) other than those residing in Canada, a consular official has confirmed. Although a limited number of summer TCN appointments in Toronto remain, these are expected to be exhausted quickly. Emergency appointments may be granted on a case-by-case basis.

Foreign nationals who have already scheduled a nonimmigrant visa appointment in Toronto should be able to appear as scheduled.

Toronto is currently the only U.S. consulate in Canada that has announced plans to suspend TCN processing this summer. The embassy in Ottawa and the consulates in Calgary, Halifax, Montreal and Vancouver intend to keep appointments open for TCNs, though, as in years past, they could impose a suspension at a later date if appointment wait times lengthen for Canadian residents.

What This Means for Foreign Nationals

The suspension will primarily affect U.S.-based foreign nationals who wish to renew a nonimmigrant visa in Toronto rather than travel significant distances to their home countries to process visa renewals.

Third-country nationals who want to visa process in Canada but have not yet scheduled an appointment may wish to check other consular posts for availability. Appointments should be scheduled as soon as possible given the possibility of further TCN suspensions at U.S. consulates in Canada.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen Worldwide.

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