canada visit visa application status

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Client Application Status

Identification number.

Each identification type will have its own unique identification number. To find this number on your correspondence or official document(s), refer to the identification type below for assistance in locating the identification number.

Client ID Number / Unique Client Identifier

You will find this number, also referred to as a Unique Client Identifier , on official documents issued to you from a Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office, Case Processing Centre or visa office where you submitted your application. Your Client ID Number/Unique Client Identifier has four (4) numbers, a hyphen (-), and four (4) more numbers. (Example: 0000-0000).

Application Number/Case Number

You will find this number, also referred to as an Application Number , on any official document issued to you from the visa office where you submitted your application. Your Application Number/Case Number starts with a letter and is followed by a combination of nine (9) numbers or letters. (Example: B000000000 or EP00000000).

Citizenship File Number/Group Number

You will find this number on all correspondence (except for the initial acknowledgement letter) mailed to you by the Case Processing Centre in Sydney or by the local Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office processing your application. This number is all digits. (Example: 0000000).

Permanent Resident Card number

Your Permanent Resident Card number is located in the top right corner on the back of your card. The Permanent Resident Card number starts with two (2) letters followed by ten (10) numbers (Example: RA0302123456) or two (2) letters followed by seven (7) numbers (Example: PA0123456).

Receipt Number

You will find this number on the acknowledgement letter that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada sent to you. This number is all digits (Example: 000).

Receipt Number (IMM 5401)

You will find this number on the document that was filled out and stamped when you paid your fees at a financial institution or on the official receipt you obtained when you paid your fees on the Internet. Your Receipt Number (IMM 5401) ; starts with a letter, followed by nine numbers. (Example: B000000000).

Record of Landing (IMM 1000) number

You will find this number in the remarks ; section on the bottom right of the Record of Landing document issued to you by a Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office or by the visa office where you submitted your application. Your Record of Landing number starts with a W ; followed by nine numbers. (Example: W 000 000 000).

Confirmation of Permanent Residence number (IMM 5292 or 5509)

You will find this number in top right corner of your Confirmation of Permanent Residence document issued to you by a Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada office or by the visa office where you submitted your application. Your Confirmation of Permanent Residence number starts with a "T" followed by nine numbers. (Example: T100000000).

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PRD Version 6.11.0_b1 Date: 2023-10-18 10:03

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Visitor visa:  Supporting documents for visitor visa applicant

• 1. About the document
• 2. Steps to apply
• 3. Who can apply
• 4. Supporting documents
• 6. After you apply

Supporting documents for a visitor visa applicant

The documents you need to submit with your visa application depends on why you’re traveling to Canada.

Why are you visiting Canada?

• To visit as a tourist
• For business

What is your family member’s status in Canada?

• Canadian citizen
• Person registered under Canada’s Indian Act
• Canadian permanent resident
• Temporary resident in Canada
• For compassionate reasons

Do you plan to visit your children or grandchildren for more than 6 months?

Documents to submit with your visa application and bring when you travel

About the documents listed.

• Not all documents listed below are required – some are optional.
• This is not an exhaustive list of acceptable proof to support your visa application.
• Only submit the optional documents that can prove you’re eligible for a visa.
• Even if you submit all the documents listed, there is no guarantee that we’ll approve your application.
• We may request more information from you outside of what is listed here.

Business visitor

Visit family (canadian citizen, person registered under canada’s indian act, or permanent resident of canada), visit children or grandchildren. super visa option., visit family (temporary resident of canada), visit for compassionate reasons, did you find what you were looking for.

If not, tell us why:

You will not receive a reply. Don't include personal information (telephone, email, SIN, financial, medical, or work details). Maximum 300 characters

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Request status of your application

We’re getting a high number of status requests. In some cases, it may take us longer than 3 days to process them.

Your passport application’s status is usually available 10 business days after you submit it . If you applied in person at a Passport Program Office, the status is usually available in 5 business days.

You can also check the status of your child’s application .

In most cases, we process these requests within 3 business days. If we get an unusually high number of requests in a short time, it may take us longer.

If you’ve already made a request, do not submit another one . Resubmitting may cause more delays.

Details of the application

Applicant information.

By filling out this form, you are providing information voluntarily. We collect this information to help us better respond to your comments and requests. This information is protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act . The Act ensures your right to access your personal information.

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Application status

View all answers for this topic (print version)

• How can I check the status of my application?
• When can I check my application status?
• What does my status mean in the application status tracker?
• Why can’t I create an account in the application status tracker?
• How can I update or ask about an IRCC application in progress?
• Why can’t I see my application status in the Client Application Status (CAS) tool?
• What types of applications can I follow through Client Application Status (CAS)?
• What does the progress bar in my application status mean?
• Why did the processing time and estimated date change on my progress bar?
• Why isn’t there a progress bar for my application?
• Why is there a difference between my progress bar and my application progress?
• I sent my application a while ago, but there is no record of my application online. Why?
• Can I see my application status on CAS if I have appealed a decision on my sponsorship application?
• My family and I applied for permanent residence. Why can’t I see the application status?
• I am sponsoring a member of my family and cannot see the status of my application. Why?
• Why can I no longer use CAS to see the status of my application to sponsor a family member?
• I paid for a family member’s citizenship application even though I was not applying. I got a letter, so can I use CAS?
• What do I enter in CAS if I have more than one surname or family name?
• I have changed my surname or family name recently. What name should I use to access CAS?
• If the name of my place of birth has changed, what place of birth should I enter in CAS?
• What does the CAS case status in process mean?
• Why has the status of my immigration application on CAS not changed, even though I sent it a long time ago?
• How often is the information on the Client Application Status (CAS) service updated?
• What if I do not want my immigration application status information to be available in CAS?
• I have removed my application status from CAS by mistake. How can I put it back on?
• If I applied to immigrate to Quebec, can I see my application status on CAS?
• Is the information on CAS my official confirmation from Citizenship and Immigration Canada?
• I have followed all these instructions and I still can’t see my immigration application status in CAS. What can I do?
• What does it mean when my CAS session times out?
• Which browsers can I use with the Client Application Status (CAS) tool?
• Why do I need to clear my browser cache?
• How do I upgrade my browser?
• What does encryption mean and is it safe to use Client Application Status (CAS)?
• What is Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)?
• How do I log out of Client Application Status (CAS)?
• What are processing times?
• I’m a Canadian citizen living outside Canada. I mailed an application to the Sydney, Nova Scotia office. Who can I contact if I have a question?
• Why are there differences between the status I see in the Check application status tool (CAS) and in my account?
• The application / profile details in my online account have changed. Why are the details different?
• Why have processing times changed for some application types?
• How long will it take to process my application?
• When does my processing time start?
• Why do some application processing times change and others do not?
• What is the difference between processing times and service standards?
• How are processing times calculated?
• What is a complex permanent residence application?
• Why are there differences in processing times among regions and offices?
• What is a complete application package?
• How can I avoid delays or refusals in processing my application?
• How long will the adoption process take?
• Where can I find out the status of my citizenship application and the processing time?
• Where are IRCC’s visa offices?

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Visitor Visa checklist: Everything you need to apply and visit Canada

A visitor visa is needed to come to Canada as a tourist, or on a quick trip to visit family, or do business for individuals of many countries.

Anyone who is not a permanent or temporary resident of Canada (those with a work or study permit) will need a visitor visa to enter the country. However, citizens of certain countries do not need a visitor visa and can instead pursue an electronic Travel Authorization (eTA). eTAs are a more streamlined form or travel authorisation available to nationals of countries that have visa-free travel agreements with Canada. For answers to common questions on eTAs, click here .

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

What is needed to get a Canadian visitor visa?

1. Complete the needed forms

Depending on whether you are applying inside or outside of Canada, you will need to fill in different forms. Those applying outside of Canada will require:

• Application for temporary resident visa (IMM 5257);
• Family information form (IMM 5707);
• Statutory declaration of common-law union (IMM 5409);
• Use of representative (IMM 5476)—Note this is only required if you have used the services of a representative, or if you are appointing or cancelling use of a representative; and
• Authority to release personal information to a designated individual (IMM 5475)—Note this form is only required if you authorise Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) or the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) to release information from your case file to someone other than yourself (i.e.: a representative or authorised relative).

2. Collect the needed documentation

In addition to the above forms, applicants for a visitor visa will need to following documentation in support of their request:

• Receipt of fee payment;
• A photocopy of the information page of your passport, including: the passport number, issuance and expiry dates, and your photo, name, issue date, and place of birth;
• Two photos meeting the requirements of the visa application photograph specifications . On the back of these two photos applicants must write their name and date of birth. If applicants are required to provide biometric fingerprints and photo they do not have to attach these photos;
• Proof of financial support, proving that you can support yourself and any family member accompanying you while you are in Canada;
• Photocopy of your marriage license or certificate (if relevant);
• Letter explaining the purpose of your travel;
• Photocopy of your current immigration status (if your country of residence differs from the country of citizenship listed on your passport, you must provide proof of legal status in your country of residence);
• Minors travelling alone or with one parent must provide custody documents or a letter of authorisation from the other non-accompanying parent of a letter of authorisation signed by both parent or legal guardians; and
• Any other additional documents required by the responsible visa office in your region.

Note that application forms completed online must be completed and validated with the generation of a barcode. If completed on a computer, these barcodes will be automatically attached to the immigration forms, otherwise they must be printed and placed at the top of an application if applying by paper.

How to pay required fees and prove fee payment to IRCC

There are two kinds of fees that applicants for a visitor visa may need to pay. These are application processing fees, and biometric fees. Those who do not need to provide biometrics may be exempt from the second set of fees—find out if you need to give biometrics here .

Application processing fees for visitor visas are $100 CAD per person, and $500 CAD for a family (five or more people).

Biometrics fees on the other hand are $85 CAD per person, and $170 per family (two or more people).

These fees may be subject to change and cannot be refunded regardless of the decision reached on your application. In addition, the only accepted method to pay these fees is online.

After following the given instructions and completing the process, you must wait until an official IRCC receipt is issued with a barcode. Applicants are advised to save this file and attach a copy of it to their application.

How to provide proof of financial support

There are several documents that you can use to prove that you can support yourself and any dependents that accompany you while you are visiting Canada.

Some examples include cash, certified cheque, bank draft, or money order in a large enough amount to cover all reasonable expenses incurred during your stay in Canada.

In addition, written or verbal statements (which can be verified) can also be used, provided that they satisfy an officer that sufficient financial support from friends and/or family has been arranged and can cover reasonable incurable expenses during your stay.

Other documents include bank statements, a letter of employment or previous tax filing information,

How to write a “purpose of travel” letter

All foreign nationals entering Canada must be able to satisfy an officer at their time of entry that they have legitimate reasons to enter and reside in Canada. In the context of a visitor visa, this can often also include proving that you (the foreign national) will leave Canada once the period of your authorised stay expires.

In some cases, visitor visa applicants may also need a letter of invitation from a Canadian citizen or permanent resident .

Applying with family members

Visitor visa applicants wishing to bring their family with them on their trip to Canada must complete an application form for each family member. All applications may be submitted together online or at the VAC where you will send your application on paper. A single receipt may also be given for all included applications.

Lastly all family members and dependents must meet all requirements for temporary residence in Canada.

• immigration refugees and citizenship canada
• visitor visa
• Do you need Canadian immigration assistance? Contact the Contact Cohen Immigration Law firm by completing our form
• Send us your feedback or your non-legal assistance questions by emailing us at [email protected]

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• Family Sponsorship
• Citizenship
• Life in Canada

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How to check your application status

Select your application type to find out how to check your application status.

What did you apply for?

What kind of immigration application?

Express Entry

Other immigration programs.

Who are you sponsoring?

Which application process?

• Outside Canada
• Parent or grandparent
• Adoptive child or other relative

Which citizenship application?

Select the application type:

Have you received your acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter or email?

You’ll get this letter or email after we receive your application and check that it’s complete . It can take some time before you receive it.

Do you have a permanent residence (PR) tracker account ?

How did you apply?

• Online (digital)

Where did you apply from?

You’ll get your AOR after we receive your application and check that it’s complete. It can take a while before you get it.

Did you provide your email in your application?

Do you have your client ID number or your unique client identifier (UCI)?

If you didn’t include an email address on your application, you won’t automatically get your UCI and the confirmation that we received your application. Contact the office where you mailed your application to get your client ID or UCI.

• Canada or the United States
• Outside Canada and the United States

Resuming Canadian citizenship

Giving up canadian citizenship (renunciation), electronic travel authorization (eta), visitor visa, work permit, study permit.

• Permanent resident card (PR Card)

Verification of status (VOS) or request to amend

This includes applications for

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC)
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)
• Federal Skilled Workers
• Federal Skilled Trades

You can check the status of your application in the Application status tracker (opens in a new tab)   .

You  must  create a  new account  if

• this is your first time checking your application status in the application status tracker
• You  can ’t  use your CAS username and password.

To register, you need your

•   unique client identifier (UCI) or client ID (opens in a new tab)  
•   application number
•   first and last name
•   date of birth
•   place of birth

If you’re a representative or designated person, you also need your

•   party ID (opens in a new tab)  

Status updates will  only  show up  after  you get an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter or email.

Until then, you may be able to see

• the date we got your application
• the name of the sponsor
• your contact information

If you applied on paper, you can

• create an online account
• link your paper application to it

You’ll see any updates to your application status there.

This includes applications for the following:

• Agri-Food Pilot
• Atlantic Immigration Program
• Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
• health-care workers permanent residence pathway
• humanitarian and compassionate cases
• out-of-status construction workers in the Greater Toronto Area
• protected persons
• Quebec-selected skilled workers
• Quebec investors
• Quebec entrepreneurs
• Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot
• self-employed persons
• start-up visas
• temporary resident permit holders

There are 2 ways to check your application status online.

Option 1: Use the Client Application Status tool

This online tool is updated daily .

Option 2: Check your application status in your online account

You can create a secure IRCC online account and link it to your existing application. If you applied online, this is a different account to the one you used when you applied.

Find out which applications you can link to an online account .

In your online account, you get

• status updates
• messages about your application online instead of by mail

• update or ask about an application in progress
• check our processing times to see how quickly we’re processing your type of application these days  Updated weekly

Spouse, partner or dependent child: In Canada process

We’re still accepting family sponsorship applications.

Let us contact you online or by email

If you’re the person being sponsored, you can create an online account and link your paper application to it. Through this account, we will

• send you alerts and messages about your application
• ask you for other documents or information we need to process your application

Check your application status

You can check the status of your application through the application status tracker (opens in a new tab)   .

You must create a new account if

• this is your first time checking your application status
• you cannot reuse your CAS username and password

To register, you’ll need your

• unique client identifier (UCI) or client ID (opens in a new tab)  
• application number
• first and last name
• date of birth
• place of birth

If you’re a representative or designated person, you’ll also need your

• party ID (opens in a new tab)  

Status updates will only show up after you get an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter or email.

You need a Chrome (opens in a new tab)   , Safari (opens in a new tab)   or Firefox (opens in a new tab)   web browser to access your account.

Create an account

Sign in to check your status, spouse, partner or dependent child: outside canada process.

If you’re an Afghan national or someone looking to sponsor one, learn about

• what special programs and measures may be available to you
• how we’re prioritizing applications for faster processing
• Canada’s response to the situation in Afghanistan

Check your status

Adopted child or other relative.

If you’re the person being sponsored, you can

• a detailed application status in real time
• alerts and messages about your application by email and online instead of by mail
• use the online tool , which is updated daily

The person sponsoring you can check the status of your application by using our online tool .

Parents and grandparents

This includes:

• tourist visa
• transit visa
• business visa

There’s a new way to check your application status

Use the application status tracker (opens in a new tab)    to get updates about your application. To create an account you need your

• unique client identifier (UCI)

 Online application

If you applied for your visa online, sign in to your account to check your application status. Click “Check status and messages” under View my submitted applications or profiles .

Sign in to your account

 Paper Application

If you applied for your visa on paper, you can link your application to an online account. In your account, you can see the status of your application and receive messages about your application.

Link your paper application to your online account

• study permit
• study permit extension
• work permit for student

Study permits

Our Client Support Centre agents  do not  have more information about your application than what’s in  your account .

 Online applications

If you’re applying to extend or change the conditions of your study permit, you can’t use the application status tracker. Sign in to your account to check your application status. Click “Check status and messages” under View my submitted applications or profiles section.

 Paper applications

You can link your application to an online account. In your account, you can see the status of your application and receive messages about your application.

This includes

• convention refugees
• humanitarian protected persons
• group of five
• sponsorship by agreement holders and constituent groups
• joint assistance program
• sponsorship agreement
• community sponsors

  How to check your application status

The Client Application Status tool allows you to securely view the status of your application online. It’s updated daily .

Before checking your application status you will need to

• gather all the documents you have received regarding your application and
• have your identification numbers from these documents to log in

Check the client application status tool

Processing times

If you cannot use the check application status tool, you can check processing times to see how long it normally takes to process your type of application.

Check processing times

Permanent resident card (PR card)

• initial PR card
• replacement

  Client application status Updated daily

The check application status tool allows you to securely view the status of your application online.

Before checking your application status you will need to:

• have your identification numbers from these documents to log in.

Check application status

 Processing times

If you cannot use the check application status tool, you can check processing times to see how long it takes to process your type of application.

You can get online updates on pending applications and the expiration date or status of existing eTAs.

Check your eTA status

Adult or minor applicant has an AOR and a PR tracker account: Becoming a Canadian citizen (grant of citizenship)

We’re still accepting new applications for citizenship.

We can’t give you more information than what is already available in the Citizenship Application Tracker.

Find out what your application status means (opens in a new tab)  

This online service will be unavailable from 3:30 a.m. to 5:30 a.m. Eastern time, on Tuesday August 14, 2018 , in order to perform system maintenance.

This online service is currently unavailable

Please try again later. Thank you for your patience.

You need a Chrome (opens in a new tab) , Safari (opens in a new tab) or Firefox (opens in a new tab) web browser to access your account.

If this is your first time checking a citizenship application status, you can sign in with the same PR tracker information, such as your

• unique client identifier (UCI) (opens in a new tab)   (applicants) or
• party ID (opens in a new tab)   (representatives)

Have an existing citizenship tracker account? You may continue to sign in.

We updated the tracker on October 13, 2022. If this is your first time signing in since that date, you must reset your password (opens in a new tab)   if you

• have an existing citizenship tracker account or
• sign in with your PR tracker information

Sign in (opens in a new tab)  

If you can’t use your PR tracker information (for example, your UCI or party ID is now different), you must create a citizenship tracker account.

In addition to your UCI, you’ll also need the following to create an account:

• your application number (opens in a new tab)   (in your AOR letter or email)
• the email address in your application

You need a party ID to create an account. If you don’t have a party ID, find out how to get one (opens in a new tab)   .

Register (opens in a new tab)  

Your email address

When you create an account, we’ll send a verification code to the email address you provided in your citizenship application. You need this code to create a password for your account.

Contact us (opens in a new tab)   if you

• change your email address
• couldn’t provide an email address

If you have a representative (opens in a new tab)  

• we’ll email them the code
• you need to ask your representative to check your status for you

Adult or minor applicant has an AOR, but no PR tracker account: Becoming a Canadian citizen (grant of citizenship)

• this is your first time checking the status of your citizenship application
• You cannot re-use your CAS username and password.

You need the following to create an account:

• your unique client identifier (UCI) or client ID (opens in a new tab)  

To create an account, you need a party ID (opens in a new tab)   .

We updated the tracker on October 13, 2022. You must reset your password (opens in a new tab)   if

• you have an existing citizenship tracker account and
• this is your first time signing in since October 13

You can sign in only after you’ve created your account (whether you’re an applicant or a representative).

Wait until you receive your AOR

Last updated: October 30, 2023

You can only check your application status after you receive your AOR letter or email.

We’re now sending AOR letters or emails for paper and online applications received

the week of September 9, 2023

If you still haven’t received your AOR, your application may be

• incomplete and on its way back to you, or
• going through further review before we start processing it

When we’ll receive your application

Paper application.

• You have to wait for us to receive your application by mail.
• If you have a tracking number with a courier or postal service, you can check if they delivered your application to us.
• After we check that your application is complete , we’ll send you the AOR.

Online application

We’re currently testing a new online citizenship application with some applicants.

• If you’ve already applied on paper, do not apply online.
• We’re working to make sure that more people can apply online in the future.

We receive your application right after you submit it.

• You immediately get an email that confirms you’ve successfully submitted your application.
• This email is not an AOR.
• We need time to check that your application is complete .
• You’ll get an AOR after we check that your application is complete.

Wait until you receive your AOR (Minor)

We’re now sending AOR letters or emails for applications received

Becoming a Canadian citizen (Canadian Armed Forces member)

The Client Application Status tool is  updated daily .

Before checking your application status, you’ll need to

• gather all the documents you have received regarding your application

If you can’t check your status online

• find out why you can’t see your status
• we’ll let you know as soon as there are updates to your application

Wait until you receive your AOR (Canadian Armed Forces member)

You can check your application status online only after  you have received your AOR letter or email.

Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)

The Client Application Status tool allows you to securely view the status of your application online.

Before checking your application status, you will need to

Check the Client Application Status tool

Becoming a Canadian citizen (Adoption)

We can’t give you more information than what is already available in the Client Application Status tool.

The Client Application Status tool is updated daily .

Wait until you receive your AOR (Adoption)

Client application status updated daily.

If you cannot use the Client Application Status tool, you can check processing times to see how long it takes to process your type of application.

Search of citizenship records

If it’s been longer than the normal processing time (opens in a new tab) or you need more information

• contact the  Client Support Centre if you’re inside Canada
• use the  Web form  to contact us if you’re outside Canada

This includes work permit applications:

• submitted inside or outside Canada
• for asylum claimants
• submitted through the Global Skills Strategy (GSS)

Use the application status tracker (opens in a new tab)   to get updates about your application. To create an account you need your

If you applied to extend or change the conditions of your work permit, you can’t use the application status tracker. Use one of the methods below to check your status.

Sign in to your account to check your application status. Click “Check status and messages” under View my submitted applications or profiles .

• confirmation of permanent residence
• replacement of visitor record
• amendment of visitor record
• work permit

Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship): Submitted online

Sign in to your account to check your application status.

Under View my submitted applications or profiles , click Check status and messages .

• how we process your citizenship certificate application
• how to check our processing times to see how quickly we’re processing your type of application these days Updated weekly

Wait until you get your AOR

You can only check your application status after you get your AOR.

After you apply online, you immediately get an email that confirms you’ve successfully submitted your application. This email is not your AOR.

We need time to check that your application is complete. If it is, you’ll get your AOR.

Our Client Support Centre agents do  not  have more information on processing times or how long it will take for you to receive your AOR.

• our processing times to learn how quickly we’re processing your type of application these days Updated weekly

Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) in Canada or the United States: Submitted by mail

You can use the client application status tool to check the status of your application online. It’s updated daily. To sign in to the client application status tool, you need your

• unique client identifier (UCI) or

You can find your UCI and application number in your AOR.

Applied on paper for a citizenship certificate from outside Canada and the United States: Wait until you get your AOR

You can only check your application status after you get your AOR. You’ll get your AOR after we

• receive your application
• make sure your application is complete

If you haven’t received your AOR, your application may be

• incomplete and on its way back to you or

Our Client Support Centre agents do not have more information on processing times or how long it will take for you to receive your AOR.

Applied on paper for a citizenship certificate from within Canada or the United States: Wait until you get your AOR

Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) outside canada and the united states: submitted by mail.

To get your UCI and application number, contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate (opens in a new tab) where you sent your application.

Contact us to get your application number or unique client identifier (UCI)

When we receive your application, we won’t automatically send you a confirmation.

Contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate where you submitted your application to

• confirm that we received your application
• get your unique client identifier (UCI)  (opens in a new tab)

Our Client Support Centre agents do not have additional information on processing times or how long it will take for you to receive your AOR.

Search of citizenship records: Submitted online

Sign in to your account to check your application status. Under View my submitted applications or profiles , click Check status and messages .

• how we process your search of citizenship records application

Search of citizenship records in Canada or the United States: Submitted by mail

You can contact our Client Support Centre to get an update on your application status. Our Client Support Centre agents

• can give you information about your application status
• do not have more information on processing times and can’t tell you how much longer it will take to process your application

Search of citizenship records outside Canada and the United States: Submitted by mail

To get an update on your application, you can either

• contact us using our web form or
• contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate where you submitted your application
• do not have more information on processing times and can’t tell you how much longer it will take us to process your application

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U.S. Chamber Letter on H-1B Nonimmigrant Visa Renewals

240415 comments h 1 b pilot state final.

Jon Baselice Vice President, Immigration Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

April 16, 2024

April 15, 2024

Jami Thompson Senior Regulatory Coordinator Visa Services Bureau of Consular Affairs U.S. Department of State 

Re:   Notice, Pilot Program to Resume Renewal of H-1B Nonimmigrant Visas in the United States for Certain Qualified Noncitizens (88 Fed. Reg. 88,467-88,470, RIN 1400-AF79, December 21, 2023)

Dear Senior Regulatory Coordinator Thompson: 

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce appreciates the opportunity to comment on the above-referenced notice. We were pleased when the State Department announced its intentions to launch this much-anticipated pilot program last February and our members welcomed the publication of the notice that created the program last December. Feedback from member companies has been very positive. When a company’s workers can obtain an H-1B extension without leaving the U.S., it provides both the employer and the employee with additional certainty that business disruptions can be avoided, deliverables can be completed in timely fashion, and companies are in a much better position to meet their business needs.

The Chamber is thankful for the State Department’s engagement with us as it designed the program’s contours and implemented it over the past several months. However, our members have conveyed to us that there are several ways in which this program could be built upon and improved. While we heard from many companies that had employees who have taken advantage of this pilot program, there were many other companies whose employees could not meet the eligibility criteria set forth under the pilot. In addition, several member companies that utilized the pilot informed us that some of the annotations made on their workers’ visas were sources of confusion for their businesses. We urge the State Department to rectify those issues by providing more guidance to the regulated community regarding how these annotations should be interpreted by the companies. Last, but certainly not least, the primacy that companies place upon workforce certainty cannot be understated and we believe it would benefit the State Department, our member companies, and their workers if this pilot program were made into a permanent program and the eligibility requirements were extended to cover several other visa classifications.

The Benefits of Expanding the Pilot Program and Making it Permanent

The Chamber appreciates the methodical approach the State Department took in reinstating domestic visa renewal capabilities for non-diplomatic, nonimmigrant visa holders. The launch of this pilot program represents the first time in roughly two decades that the State Department is performing this type of function for any type of nonimmigrant worker classification. Our members whose employees took advantage of this program understand that the Department’s decision to “start small” with strict eligibility criteria and only 20,000 application slots was driven by a desire to ensure that the program’s rollout was not afflicted by any significant processing hurdles. By that measurement, the rollout of the pilot program during this year has been a success, as the member feedback we’ve received has been overwhelmingly positive.

Nevertheless, there are many ways in which the State Department can build upon its successes and make this program much more beneficial not only to the American business community and the U.S. economy, but also to our nation’s security. The Department should make the pilot program permanent and extend eligibility for domestic visa renewals to applicants in many other classifications before the end of this calendar year. Making this program permanent will ensure that this tool can help the Department make the best use of its limited consular resources over an extended period of time. This is particularly important, considering the processing backlogs that it is currently confronting and the serious national security mission of the Department. Having the ability to redirect processing away from busy consulates will help improve their processing times and provide more consistency in adjudications. More importantly, it will free up consular resources that can be directed towards interviewing and investigating visa applicants that potentially pose a greater threat to the safety of the U.S. than foreign nationals that are already in the country and have oftentimes already undergone background checks on multiple occasions.

In addition to making the program permanent, the Department should expand the eligibility criteria of the current pilot program to include applicants for visas in several other visa classifications beyond the Department’s current limitations. As stated before, we understand the Department’s reasons for limiting eligibility to a subset of H-1B applicants whose visas were issued by Mission Canada or Mission India. However, allowing visa applicants from other countries and in different visa categories who do not pose a security risk to renew their visas in the United States will provide more companies with much-needed additional certainty as it pertains to their business operations. The State Department should expand this pilot program to cover as many visa classifications and as many individual applications as is practical.

Given that the pilot has been operating for only a few months, we can appreciate if the State Department desires to continue its methodical approach regarding any potential program expansion. If that is the case, we recommend that the Department consider the following categories in any future effort to expand the program’s eligibility constraints to the following cohorts of foreign nationals:

• The dependents of all eligible principal H-1B nonimmigrants;
• H-1B nonimmigrants that obtained their prior visa from other countries beside Canada and India, and expanding the issuance date eligibility criteria to cover more individuals, and;
• Nonimmigrants possessing different visas in different classifications, such as F, E, J, L, and O, as well as any dependents and individuals accompanying the principal nonimmigrant to the U.S.

Feedback and Suggestions for Improving Domestic Visa Renewal Operations

As stated above, the Chamber received significant positive feedback from our members on the experience that their companies and their employees had in using the new pilot program. In fact, many of the companies conveyed to us that their employees that utilized the pilot obtained their new visas in a timely fashion. However, there were several suggestions that companies have for the State Department to improve the program’s operations moving forward.

One common refrain we heard from several companies was on the restrictive eligibility criteria preventing their employees from being able to renew their visa domestically. Multiple companies told us that the strict criteria prevented many of their workers from taking advantage of their program. Other businesses cited the inability of the principal nonimmigrant’s dependents to renew their visas domestically as a key factor in their worker’s decision to forego seeking to renew their visa domestically. These issues would be solved by the State Department expanding the program in the manner suggested above.

Another issue that has caused a significant amount of consternation for our members and their workers is the inclusion of an annotation of “not valid until ten days before the petition validity date” being included on the new visa stamp in the foreign national’s passport. Several companies have informed us that their workers spent a significant time worrying over what this meant for their status in the U.S. and whether it would inhibit their ability to return to the U.S. if they needed to travel internationally. The Chamber acknowledges that this language is included in the relevant section of the Department’s Foreign Affairs Manual (“FAM”), but it would behoove the Department to either revisit this section of the FAM or create a Frequently Asked Questions document that can help provide additional guidance to applicants. This additional information will provide individuals with a better understanding of what this annotation means for them and their ability to remain in the U.S., which in turn will help encourage more people to take advantage of the program.

Conclusion ​

We very much appreciate the State Department’s engagement with the Chamber throughout the process of reinstating this domestic visa renewal program. We hope the Department finds our feedback helpful as it seeks to expand the opportunities for hard-working foreign nationals to renew their nonimmigrant visas without having to the leave the U.S. More importantly, we look forward to working with the State Department to expand this pilot program in a manner that enhances business certainty and improves our national security.

Thank you for considering our views.

Jonathan Baselice Vice President, Immigration Policy U.S. Chamber of Commerce

About the authors

Jon baselice.

Jon currently serves as the Vice President of Immigration Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He joined the Chamber in June 2014. He works with Chamber member companies to form Chamber policy positions on various issues and he advocates for sensible immigration policies before Congress and the executive branch agencies.

• Employment Policy
• Immigration

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