Please be advised that the information below is subject to change by the Canadian Government.  It is always best to contact the Canadian Consulate in New York for the latest in travel information.

F-1 students who wish to travel to Canada require a Canadian visitors visa unless they are citizens of countries exempt from Canadian nonimmigrant visa requirements (see below). The Canadian government advises that, at least three weeks in advance of a planned trip to Canada, students submit to the appropriate Canadian consular office a completed Visitor Visa Application form (form IMM 5257), valid passport, I-94 form, two passport-size photographs, proof of adequate funds for the intended stay in Canada, a current I-20 AB form (with a current travel signature from the International Center), and any old I-20 AB(s)  These documents may be sent by certified mail, along with a return envelope with postage paid for certified mail, to a Canadian consulate in the U.S. At the discretion of the student, these documents may be taken directly to a Canadian consulate to initiate the visa request.  Only consulates in Buffalo, New York City and Washington issue visas in our area.

The Canadian government currently charges a processing fee of $75 for an individual "single entry" tourist visa, $150.00 for an individual "multiple entry" visa, and $400 for a "family" visa. Citizens of countries who are not required to obtain a tourist visa to enter Canada are exempt from this processing fee. For citizens of some countries, an interview may be required before a Canadian tourist visa will be issued. Students wishing to visit Canada should telephone the Canadian consulate to ascertain whether or not an interview will be required and the days and hours of the consulate's operation. Students attending the University of Hartford are asked to contact the Canadian consulate in New York City for information or visa requests

Students holding an expired F-1 visa may enter Canada. A new visa is not required so long as the stay in Canada is less than 30 days. However, students must have a valid passport and meet all other requirements for their entry to Canada and their return to the U.S.

All students planning to visit Canada, or any other area outside the U.S., are required to present their immigration documents (I-20 AB form and passport) to the International Center for an authorization signature. Failure to obtain the appropriate signature on the I-20 form may result in the denial of a student's re-entry into the U.S. to continue studies.

Questions regarding travel plans outside the United States should be referred to the International Center. Students requiring authorization for travel should make those arrangements one to two weeks prior to their departure from the U.S.

 

  Where to obtain a visa to enter Canada

Citizens of certain countries (see  listing below) need to obtain a visitor's visa to go to Canada.  Please note that the Canadian Consulate in Boston does not issue visas for visitors and you must secure a visa in either New York City or Buffalo, NY..  You may also visit the Canadian consulate web sites listed below for specific information regarding Canadian tourist visa requirements.  Applications should be made directly to the Canadian Consulate General at one of the following address:

 

Canadian Consulate General Immigration Section, 22nd Floor 1251 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10020-1175 (212) 596-1783   phone (212) 596-1725   fax http://www.canada-ny.org/

Canadian Consulate General Immigration Section 3000 HSBC Center Buffalo, NY  14203-2884 (800) 992-7037  phone (716) 858-9591  fax http://www.canadianconsulatebuf.org/

 

The Canadian Consulate in New York City

Office Type:	Satellite Office
Service Lines:	Immigrants: No Visitors: Yes Workers: Yes Students: Yes
Immigrant Processing Mission:	see Buffalo
Responsible for visitor applications from:	Bermuda, St. Pierre et Miquelon, United States
Office Location:	Consulate General of Canada Immigration Section 1251 Avenue of the Americas Concourse Level New York Click here for map
Mailing Address:	Consulate General of Canada Immigration Section 1251 Avenue of the Americas Concourse Level New York, New York 10020-1175, USA
Internet Site:	http://www.newyork.gc.ca
Telephone/ Facsimile Numbers:	Mission Tel.: (212) 596-1628 Immigration Tel.: (212) 596-1783 Mission Fax: (212) 596-1790 Immigration Fax: (212) 596-1791 or (212) 596-1725
Office Hours:	Monday: 08:00 - 17:00 Tuesday: 08:00 - 17:00 Wednesday: 08:00 - 17:00 Thursday: 08:00 - 17:00 Friday: 08:00 - 17:00 Comments: Open to public Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 10:00 for submission for temporary resident visa. Open to public Monday to Thursday from 13:30 to 15:00 for submission for work permit, study permit, temporary resident or facilitation travel document. Immigrant interviews by appointment.

 

Countries and territories whose citizens require visas in order to enter Canada as visitors.
Citizens of the following countries and territories require a Visa to VISIT or TRANSIT Canada:

A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Angola Argentina Armenia Azerbaijan B Bahrain Bangladesh Belarus Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia-Herzegovina Brazil Bulgaria Burkina-Faso Burundi C Cambodia Cameroon Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Chile China, People's Republic Colombia Comoros Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo (The), People's Republic of Croatia Cuba Czech Republic D Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E East Timor Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia F Fiji G Gabon Gambia Georgia Ghana Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Honduras Hungary I India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel (only Israeli citizens holding valid Israeli orange "Travel Document in Lieu of National Passport") Ivory Coast J Jamaica Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, North Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Lithuania

M Macau S.A.R. Macedonia (former Yugoslav Republic) Malagasy Republic Malawi Maldives Mali Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Micronesia, Federated States Moldova Mongolia Morocco Mozambique Myanmar (Burma) N Nauru Nepal Nicaragua Niger Nigeria O Oman P Pakistan Palau, Republic of Palestinian Authority Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Q Qatar R Romania Russia Rwanda S Sao Tome e Principe Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal Seychelles, The Sierra Leone Slovak Republic Somalia South Africa Sri Lanka Sudan Surinam Syria T Tajikistan Taiwan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Yugoslavia Z Zambia Zimbabwe