IMPACT – HIGH

What is the change? Due to resource constraints and construction work, the U.S. Consulate in Toronto will limit petition-based visa renewal services to Canadian-resident third-country nationals during June, July and August. Individuals who already have visa appointments scheduled may keep them.

What does the change mean? All other U.S. consular posts in Canada will have slots available for third-country nationals,  i.e., nationals of countries other than Canada or the U.S., who are seeking to renew their nonimmigrant petition-based U.S. visas in Canada.

  • Implementation time frame: June through August.
  • Visas/permits affected: Petition-based renewals of U.S. visas.
  • Who is affected: Third-country nationals renewing petition-based U.S. non-immigrant visas in Canada.
  • Business impact: S. companies should remind affected foreign national employees of the limited U.S. consular services in Canada during the summer months.
  • Next steps: Applicants who are not Canadian residents and who are planning to renew theirpetition-based visas this summer in Canada should make an appointment as early as possible at any of the U.S. consular posts except Toronto.

Background: Consistent with the two previous summers, the U.S. consular posts in Canada will prioritize petition-based visa renewals for third-country nationals who are Canadian residents, according to a U.S. State Department official. At this time, the U.S. Consulate in Toronto is the only consulate that will limit petition-based visa renewal services to Canadian residents. All other U.S. consular posts in Canada will have appointments available for third-country nationals who are not Canadian residents.

BAL Analysis: Foreign nationals in the U.S. who plan to travel to Canada to renew their petition-based nonimmigrant U.S. visas in the coming months should be aware that the U.S. Consulate in Toronto will not provide these services from June through August to those applicants who are not Canadian residents. While other U.S. consular posts in Canada will have appointment slots available, applicants should schedule their appointments as early as possible.

This alert has been provided by the BAL U.S. Practice group. For additional information, please contact BerryApplemanLeiden@bal.com.

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