United States (B1/B2) — verified 18 August 2026

Canadian citizens do not normally need a B1/B2 visa. Residents of Canada on another passport usually do.

A Canadian permanent resident card does not by itself let you enter the United States without a visa — what matters is the passport you travel on. If you hold a passport from a country whose nationals need a visitor visa, you apply on form DS-160, pay the US government's application fee, and attend an interview at a US consular section in Canada. Toronto is one of them.

A Canadian passport does not need a B1/B2 visa. Another country's passport, held by a resident of Canada, usually does.

If you are a Canadian citizen you almost certainly do not need a B1/B2 visa. If you live here on a study permit, work permit or PR card and hold another passport, you probably do — and that is the application we prepare.

When it is worth using us

  • You live in the GTA on a study permit, work permit or PR card, hold another country's passport, and need a B1/B2 to visit the United States.
  • The DS-160 is long and unforgiving, and it asks detailed questions about your work, address, family and travel history. We prepare it carefully with you and check it against your documents.
  • You need a compliant US visa photo to the exact digital spec — taken in our office, in one visit.
  • You want the appointment booked correctly, with the confirmation number matching the application used to schedule it.

How it works

  1. 1.We confirm whether you need a visa at all

    If you are a Canadian citizen the answer is almost always no, and we will tell you that before you pay us anything.

  2. 2.We prepare the DS-160 with you

    Section by section, checked against your passport and your Canadian status documents. This is the part where mistakes are made and where care pays.

  3. 3.We handle the photo and the appointment

    A compliant digital photo, the government fee paid on the official system, and the interview booked so the confirmation number matches the application.

  4. 4.You attend the interview yourself

    The interview is yours to attend and the consular officer's decision alone. Nobody can attend it for you, and nobody can promise you an outcome. We prepare you for it honestly.

What you need

  • Your passport, valid for the period the consulate requires
  • Proof of your status in Canada — PR card, study permit or work permit
  • Completed DS-160 confirmation page
  • US-spec digital photograph
  • Evidence of your ties to Canada: employment, studies, family, residence
  • Your travel plans and, where relevant, details of who you are visiting

Government fee. The United States charges its visa application fee directly on the official booking system, in US dollars, and it is not refundable. We never mark it up, and we will show you the current amount on the official site before you commit.

Apply direct, if you prefer

These are the official government sites. They are the only places you should enter your passport details, and they charge the real fee with no markup. We would rather you use them and come back to us when the paperwork is genuinely hard.

Frequently asked questions

Do Canadian citizens need a B1/B2 visa for the United States?

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Generally no. Canadian citizens are normally admitted as visitors without a B1/B2 visa. The requirement applies to people travelling on other countries' passports.

I have a Canadian PR card — is that enough to visit the US?

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No. A PR card does not by itself grant visa-free entry to the United States. What decides it is the passport you hold. If your nationality needs a visitor visa, you need one even though you live in Canada.

Can I apply from Canada rather than my home country?

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Third-country nationals resident in Canada can generally apply at a US consular section here, including Toronto. Where you apply from can affect wait times, so it is worth checking before you book.

Can you guarantee my visa will be approved?

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No, and neither can anyone else. The decision belongs to the consular officer at your interview. What we can do is make sure your application is accurate, complete and consistent, which is the part that is actually in your control.

Can you advise me on my status in Canada?

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No. Advice about Canadian status is regulated work, and we refer those questions to a licensed RCIC or lawyer rather than answering them ourselves.

Talk to us about your United States (B1/B2) trip

We are not selling United States (B1/B2) online yet — we only put a buy button on a service once we have run it end to end ourselves. Call or come into the Markham office and we will tell you honestly what your trip needs, including when the answer is nothing.

Mon–Fri, 9:30am–5pm

Checked against official sources on 18 August 2026: U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Canada — visa information. Entry rules change without notice — confirm on the official site before you travel.

Markham Visa & Document Services is a private company. We are not affiliated with any government, embassy, consulate, or official visa application centre. We provide visa application assistance and document services only.