Canada/Mexico
Canada/Mexico
Travel to Canada
Material on this Web site is general and for informational purposes only. It does not constitute or replace professional legal advice, and you should not rely on it soley when making decisions about your immigration status or reporting requirements.
If you are an international student in the USA and you want to make a quick trip to Canada , you need to ask two questions:
- What travel documents to I need to enter Canada?
You may need a Canadian Entry Visa to visit our neighbor to the north. The “Citizenship & Immigration (CIC) Canada ” website provides a list of citizenships that require a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) to enter (or even travel through) Canada . You can also print the TRV application from the site.
Submit your application for a TRV at least one month prior to your intended entry date. It is possible for students from some countries to apply in person and get the visa right away (the Buffalo Office is “on the way” between Wooster and Niagara Falls). Check the website to see if this applies to you.
You may apply for a single entry visa (approx. $75), or a multiple entry visa (approx. $150). NOTE: A single entry visa is valid for repeated entries if you will enter from the US within 6 months of the issue date and do not enter any other country in that time.
Canadian Embassy website
Canadian Consulate General in Detroit , MI : (313) 567-2208 Fax: (313) 567-2125
Canadian Consulate General in Buffalo , NY : (716) 858-9500 Fax: (716) 858-9562
- What travel documents will I need to return to the USA?
To reenter the USA you will need to present valid passport, a current I-20 endorsed for reentry, and your F-1 visa. Citizens of many nations (but not all) are allowed to present an expired F-1 Visa when crossing the border from Canada to the US . This is called “automatic revalidation.” If you have an expired visa, visit the OISA to confirm your eligibility for reentry based on automatic revalidation.
Other Things to Think About
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Transit Visas: If you are traveling through Canada on a flight path, and will be there for less than 48 hours, you probably do need to secure a Temporary Resident Visa for transit. This is free if you have a plane ticket.
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Travel To / From Mexico: The automatic revalidation process is also valid for reentry of the US from Mexico . Log onto the Mexican Embassy website to find more information. Contact the Mexican Embassy by phone to request an application for a visa to visit to Mexico.