|
|
Visa Update
|
B-1:
Visitor for
Business
|
|
As a part of ongoing measures to strengthen the
security of the United States' borders, a change in visa
regulations has been implemented. This change requires
that as of March 17, 2003, all landed immigrants in
Canada to possess both a valid passport and a
non-immigrant visa to enter the United States. This new
requirement does not affect Canadian citizens nor does
it affect those whose citizenship is from one of the
countries on the visa waiver program (Andorra,
Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland,
France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan,
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore,
Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United
Kingdom. Starting October 1, 2006, travelers attempting
to enter the United States under the Visa Waiver Program
must have a machine-readable passport. Any traveler
without a machine- readable passport will be required to
obtain a visa before coming to the United States. This
requirement is mandated by the USA Patriot Act of 2001.
Immigration inspectors may deny entry to any traveler
attempting to enter on a visa-waiver basis without a
machine-readable passport after October 1, 2006.
On June 30, 2008 the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced it
intends to implement an Electronic System for Travel
Authorization (ESTA) for travelers entering the US on
the visa waiver program. ESTA will be available
beginning 1 August 2008 and is planned to become
mandatory on 12 January 2009. If this applies, you
should review the information at http://www.ilynx.ca/ESTA.htm Note that even without a visa
requirement, visitors from visa waiver countries will be
required to participate in the US VISIT fingerprinting
and photographing progam.
While applications
for B-1 Business Visitor visas
may be submitted by mail,
applicants residing in the
Toronto, Vancouver,
Montréal and Ottawa areas
must apply
in person at the consulate through a scheduled
appointment. You can obtain an appointment either by
telephoning 1-900-451-2778 (CDN $2.00 a minute) or by
credit card online at
http://www.nvars.com or 1-888-840-0032 for a flat fee of CDN $10.00.
Application forms and instructions are available on the
United States Embassy website at
http://www.usembassycanada.gov (select your local consulate section from the
green menu bar at the top of the page for full details
on your consulate's hours and location) or from
http://www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov/
Employees should
take with them an employment
letter, such as the following,
when applying for a Business
Visitor Visa
|
|
(on your
company letterhead)
(Today's
Date)
Bureau for
Citizenship and
Immigration Services
Consulate General of the
United States of
America
(Local consulate
address)
To whom it
may concern,
The purpose
of this letter is to confirm that (employee's
name) is employed by (your Company Name) as a
(position title) in our (division and/or group
name, if applicable) and is at a salary of (
$XXXXX CAD). (He/She) is an employee in good
standing with (your Company Name) and started with
our company on (start date [if from a merger
company, please use the previous start date]
).
As a part of
his/her job responsibilities, he/she is required
to travel to different cities, including cities in
the United States of America so that he/she may
participate in business and technical discussions
and, on occasion, to receive training. Following
completion of his/her trips, he/she will return to
Canada, where he/she will resume his/her position
with (your Company Name). While on these trips all
salary and travel expenses will be paid by (your
Companty Name) in Canada.
Very truly
yours,
|
|
|
|
(Manager's
Name)
|
|
|
|
(Manager's
position title)
|
|
|
|
(Manager's
division name)
|
|
Other required documentation
includes:
|
DS 156
(application form) should be obtained from
http://www.state.gov/m/a/dir/c4456.htm
|
|
Valid
Passport (at least 6 months).
|
|
Proof of
legal status in Canada/Mexico: original or
certified copy.
|
|
1
Passport-size photo taken within last 6 months, 2"
x 2", color on white/light background, showing
full face, no head cover. There is a photo machine
at the consulate but it may not be reliable. Full
specifications for photo can be found at
http://www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov/visa_photo.asp
|
|
Any older
passports containing previous
visas.
|
|
Documents
substantiating any previous legal status in
U.S.
|
|
US$100
non-refundable application fee (In Toronto, the
fee must be paid in advance, at the Bank of Nova
Scotia - in Montreal it must be paid in cash)
Deposit slip can be found at
http://www.consular.canada.usembassy.gov/visa_fees_canada.asp
|
|
Proof of
sufficient funds to cover all expenses while in U.
S. (bank statement and the above
letter)
|
|
Proof of
ties/residence in Canada (eg. mortgage, lease,
utility bills) showing you have no intention of
abandoning
Canada.
|
NOTE: As a B-1
Business Visitor you are permitted to attend meetings,
attend conferences, and receive formal training only. If
you will be performing productive work while in the
United States, contact InterLynx for the required forms,
documents and approvals. If you already have a work visa
for the United States (L-1 Intracompany Transferee Visa
for example) you do not need to apply for a Visitor's
Visa.
|
If you have any
questions about these
regulations or your
particular situation,
contact InterLynx
Relocation Management
Limited
905 882-2266 or
1-800-561-5957, or by
email at
visa_info@ilynx.ca
|
|
|
|
