By Tricia Chaves
Unless you are planning to stay more than 180 days, you do not require a visa to visit the
United States as a Canadian citizen. For trips of a longer duration, a visa is necessary. USGC Services is a private company that has a simplified list of the different types of U.S. visas available to the foreign national. Requests to extend or adjust the terms of your stay must be made before six months has elapsed with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service.
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative
In 2007 and 2009, the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative was implemented, requiring all U.S., Canadian, Mexican or Bermudian citizens to show a passport or other acceptable document when entering or departing the U.S. from within the Western Hemisphere.
If you are a Canadian citizen entering the U.S. by air, you simply need to present a valid Canadian passport. If you enter by land or water, either a valid Canadian passport or other WHTI compliant document is required. Minors under 18 years old are required to show a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship.
Visa Types
The following visa types available to Canadian visitors include diplomatic, business travel, tourist travel, transit, air or ship's crew, treaty trader, treaty investor, student, international organizations, temporary workers (ability, nurses, merit, agriculture), trainee, media, exchange visitor, intra-company transfer, blanket L petition, vocational training, extraordinary ability, art/sports/culture, religious and NAFTA professional.
Documents for Family of U.S. Citizens
An I-30 document petition can be filed to grant immigrant visas for a spouse, minor child or parent of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident. The spouse and children of a U.S. citizen can be admitted to the U.S. as a non-immigrant and complete processing for permanent residence in the U.S. Specific requirements and links to applications for each type of visa, 1-30 and non-immigrant entry are easily accessible from the U.S. Embassy.
Notes About Work and School
If your intention is to work or study at the time of your initial entry to the U.S., you must indicate your intention to do so and qualify for that purpose or type of stay at the time. You risk being permanently barred from the U.S. if you enter as a visitor with the intention to live, work or study.
Visa Information by Telephone
More information is available by telephone for a fee through the Visa Appointment Reservation System. They can provide assistance and answer your questions.
(888) 840-0032 in the U.S. or Canada, $1.59 CA per minute
(900) 451-2778 in Canada, $1.89 CA per minute
(900) 443-3131 in the U.S., $1.89 USD per minute
Prices indicated as of July 2009. Once connected, you will be asked to provide your credit card number before being transferred to a live agent.
Resources
About the Author:
After working in advertising and promotions for entertainment publisher "The New Times," Tricia Chaves began writing professionally. In 2005, she earned her real-estate salesperson license from the state of Ohio and certification for leasing and property management from the Northeast Ohio Apartment Association. She was certified as a life and weight loss coach and Master Practitioner of Neuro-Linguistic Programming in 2011.
