Demand for U.S. Visitor Visas from Canada Is on the Rise, and So Are Online Scams

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Demand for U.S. Visitor Visas from Canada Is on the Rise, and So Are Online Scams

American officials are noticing a sharp increase in the demand for U.S. visitor visas from Canada. Unfortunately, along with this surge, there’s been a rise in online scams promising faster access to visa appointments for an extra fee.

“Every day, we get inquiries from visa applicants who’ve fallen victim to these scams,” said Aaron Luster, the consul section chief at the U.S. Consulate General in Vancouver. “We estimate that thousands of people have been caught up in these scams, where their accounts are extorted.”

According to U.S. officials, fraudulent agents advertise that they can expedite visa appointments for a fee. However, once they gain access to the applicant’s U.S. visa application account, they take control and block the person’s access altogether.

“It’s a fee for something that offers absolutely no value,” Julie Stufft, the U.S. State Department deputy assistant secretary for visa services, told the Star. “It’s a complete scam.”

Authorities explain that these scams thrive in areas with long visa appointment waits. This issue isn’t unique to Canada, though; for instance, the department’s website indicates that it can take up to 900 days to get an interview for a visitor visa in Toronto, 777 days in Vancouver, 872 days in Calgary, 840 days in Halifax, and 850 days in Ottawa.

The demand for U.S. visitor visas in Canada has notably increased post-pandemic. Last year, the U.S. embassy in Ottawa and its consulates across Canada processed a record-breaking 230,000 visa appointments, exceeding pre-COVID levels.

Stufft pointed out that Canadian citizens don’t actually need a visa to travel to the U.S. However, Canada has emerged as one of the largest U.S. visa-adjudicating posts worldwide.

“Typically, there’s not such a huge demand… but this is something we’ve seen change over the years,” she said. “The current demand we’re witnessing in Canada is new, especially considering how freely Canadians and Americans have historically traveled across our shared land border.”

Stufft wasn’t certain what caused the spike in applicants needing a visitor visa from Canada. She declined to comment on whether it’s related to the increase in permanent and temporary residents in Canada, who do require visas to travel south for leisure, to visit family, or to attend conferences and meetings. The duration of visas can vary.

Canada’s intake of permanent residents has grown significantly, from 341,000 in 2019 to 471,771 last year. Meanwhile, the number of temporary residents, including study and work permit holders, has surged from under a million to nearly 2.8 million as of June.

Luster mentioned that U.S. visa offices in Canada have ramped up staffing to handle the growing demand and introduced a new system to improve the scheduling of visa appointments.

“We’ve developed a way to reach out to applicants who’ve been waiting the longest,” said Luster, referring to cases involving cancellations or increased staffing. He emphasized that the publicly posted wait times reflect the worst-case scenario for the next available appointment at a given location.

“We’re prioritizing those individuals for any new capacity we’ve created… This greatly shortens their wait time,” Luster added.

Earlier this year, officials also launched a pilot program allowing visa holders already in the U.S. to renew their visas without leaving the country. This initiative aims to spare them from having to exit the U.S. to reapply for the document. The pilot is currently available to those who initially applied in Canada and is expected to become permanent in 2025.

“They were able to stay in the U.S., mail in their visa, and get it back quickly, ensuring they could leave the country again with a valid visa,” Stufft said.

It’s important to note that not all visitor visa applicants are approved. Some who are denied may attempt to enter the U.S. illegally.

In 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 191,602 “encounters” with migrants caught entering the U.S. without visas or proper travel documents at the northern land border from Canada, up from 135,607 in 2022 and just 37,186 in 2021, when travel restrictions were still in place in Canada and globally.

The U.S. and Canada have different visa requirements depending on the country of origin. A traveler might need a visa to enter the U.S. but not Canada, or vice versa. This inconsistency has led to irregular migration patterns, with some individuals flying into the country that doesn’t require a visa and then attempting to cross the land border illegally.

Stufft didn’t comment on whether there’s a need to better align the visa requirements between the two countries to address this issue.

“There’s incredible collaboration between our two governments at these border crossings, with our colleagues doing an amazing job managing a very challenging task along our extensive land border,” she said.

“From the visa process standpoint, our job is to screen those who want to enter the U.S. with a visa and ensure they do so legally.”

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FAQs

1. Why is there such a long wait for U.S. visitor visa appointments in Canada?

• The demand for U.S. visitor visas in Canada has surged, especially post-pandemic. This high demand, combined with staffing challenges, has led to extended wait times for visa appointments.

2. Are all Canadian citizens required to obtain a U.S. visitor visa?

• No, Canadian citizens generally do not need a visa to visit the U.S. However, individuals who are permanent or temporary residents in Canada may require a visa to travel to the U.S.

3. How can I avoid online scams when applying for a U.S. visa?

• Be cautious of any service or individual claiming to expedite your visa appointment for a fee. Always use official U.S. government websites for visa applications and scheduling appointments to avoid falling victim to scams.

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