Canadian residents who need a visa to visit the United States are currently facing some of the longest wait times globally, as U.S. visa processing delays continue to worsen across Canada. An analysis by CBC News reveals that, while countries like India and Mexico have seen improvements in visa wait times since late 2022, the situation for Canadian residents has deteriorated significantly.
Six out of the ten longest wait times for U.S. visa appointments worldwide are now found in Canada. The most extreme delays are being reported at U.S. embassies and consulates in Ottawa and Quebec City, where applicants seeking a B1/B2 visitor visa face a staggering wait of 850 days. Halifax isn’t far behind at 840 days, followed closely by Calgary with a 839-day wait. Other major cities, including Toronto and Vancouver, also have lengthy wait times of 753 and 731 days, respectively.
Visa appointment wait times fluctuate regularly, and Toronto previously held the title for the longest wait time in the world earlier this month at 900 days.
Other global locations experiencing extensive wait times include Istanbul, Turkey (774 days); Bogotá, Colombia (677 days); Guatemala City, Guatemala (645 days); and Hermosillo, Mexico (576 days).
In 2022, Toronto’s average wait time for a U.S. visitor visa was 464 days, placing it 23rd in the world rankings. Calgary had a wait time of 371 days, ranking 30th. Globally, the average wait time for a U.S. visitor visa appointment was 167 days in 2022. However, the average wait time for Canadian residents was notably higher at 345 days. Fast forward to 2024, and while the global average wait time has slightly improved to 151 days, the wait time for Canadian residents has ballooned to an alarming 810 days.
Warning of Scams Amid Increasing Delays
The extended wait times have led U.S. officials to warn Canadian visa applicants of scammers who promise faster appointments in exchange for payment. The persistent delays are particularly frustrating for Canadian residents, especially given the drastic improvement in wait times in countries like India and Mexico, where wait times have dropped to just over a year. Applicants in China, by comparison, face a much shorter wait of 40 days for a visa interview.
While 109 U.S. embassies and consulates around the world have seen reduced wait times, wait times have increased at 84 locations, including all six Canadian visa processing locations.
The U.S. Embassy in Canada declined to give a direct interview but issued a statement attributing the delays to increased demand. The embassy emphasized that it is processing a record number of visas, with over 230,000 non-immigrant visas issued in Canada in 2023—marking the highest number ever recorded.
The embassy did not provide specific numbers on the volume of applications from Canadian residents in recent years, nor did it comment on whether security checks were a contributing factor to the delays. However, the embassy did express its commitment to reducing wait times and introduced a program allowing applicants to reschedule their appointments to earlier dates at no extra cost. The published wait times on the U.S. Department of State website represent the first available appointment.
According to the embassy, most applicants are securing interviews within 12 months of booking. Additionally, those with urgent travel needs, such as for business, medical, or humanitarian reasons, can request expedited appointments if they meet the necessary criteria.
In January 2024, the U.S. State Department announced that its goal for the year was to bring interview wait times below 90 days at 90% of its overseas posts.
Impact on Canadian Residents and U.S. Tourism
While Canadian citizens do not need a visa to visit the United States, millions of other Canadian residents do. According to Statistics Canada’s 2021 census, 3.1 million Canadian residents do not have Canadian citizenship, and 2.2 million of them are permanent residents. Those from one of the 41 countries in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, including Australia, Israel, and many European nations, only need to complete an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) application to visit the U.S. However, residents from countries that do not have a visa waiver agreement with the U.S.—such as India, China, Mexico, and numerous countries in Africa and South America—must apply for a B1/B2 visa.
In February 2023, six U.S. senators raised concerns with the State Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, pointing out that the long wait times—averaging 25 weeks globally—were having a negative impact on industries, businesses, universities, and families across the United States.
The U.S. Travel Association has also been vocal about the issue, describing the lengthy visa wait times as “outrageous.” The association warned that the delays could hurt the U.S. economy by discouraging international tourism, a key driver of economic activity.
“Excessive wait times severely undercut U.S. global competitiveness and the Biden administration’s national goal for inbound visitation,” the association said in a statement. It urged the U.S. Department of State to prioritize resolving this critical issue.
Staffing Shortages and Increased Applications to Blame
American immigration lawyer Greg Boos, of Cascadia Cross Border Law, pointed to persistent staffing shortages at U.S. consulates as one of the primary reasons for the long wait times. He noted that these issues have been compounded by a surge in applications.
“The consulates are always short-staffed,” Boos said. “In my whole career, they have never had enough staff.” The consulates have been gradually working through backlogs, beginning with family visas and then moving on to business visas, but a significant backlog remains for tourist visas.
Boos also highlighted the role of recent immigration to Canada in contributing to the delays. Many of the new Canadian residents come from countries where a U.S. visa is required before visiting, rather than from ESTA-eligible countries.
To address these challenges, Boos suggested that the U.S. could reduce wait times by expanding the use of interview waivers for certain visa categories, hiring more consular officers, and extending operating hours at consulates.
As demand continues to rise and resources remain stretched, Canadian residents will need to brace themselves for continued delays in obtaining U.S. visas.