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Ottawa · Canada

Visa issuances and wait times at the U.S. post in Ottawa

Monthly tables Mar 2017 to Sep 2025 · 60th of 217 posts by nonimmigrant issuances in Sep 2025 · wait times read 1 Jul 2026

The reports below contain preliminary data which are subject to change. Beginning with FY 2020, individual monthly issuance reports should not be aggregated, as this will not provide an accurate issuance total for the fiscal year to date. Instead, refer to our annual Report of the Visa Office for final full Fiscal Year statistics. On wait times the Department says: "New appointments are added regularly, so you may get an appointment sooner" and "The average wait times we report do not guarantee a visa applicant will get an appointment within a specific time."

The U.S. embassy or consulate in Ottawa, Canada, issued 2,491 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the most recent month in the State Department's monthly tables, up 23% on September 2024 (2,021).

The largest classes that month were B1/B2 (temporary visitor for business and pleasure) with 2,227, 89.4% of the post's issuances, H1B (temporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse) with 67, 2.7% of the post's issuances and G4 (international organization officer or employee, and immediate family) with 28, 1.1% of the post's issuances. Among the 211 posts that issued B1/B2 visas in September 2025, Ottawa ranks 48th by count; for F1 student visas it ranks 158th of 184.

The immigrant visa table for September 2025 lists no issuances for this post; many posts handle only nonimmigrant applications.

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; this site does not add monthly reports together, so the month-by-month table below is read one month at a time.

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table read on 1 Jul 2026 listed the next available appointment as 14.5 months for a visitor (B1/B2) interview, under ½ month for students and exchange visitors (F, M, J) and 5 months for petition-based workers (H, L, O, P, Q). For visitor visas that is longer than the 11.5 months listed about six months earlier (2 Dec 2025). The average wait actually experienced by B1/B2 applicants interviewed in the previous month was 14 months.

Appointment wait times

Visitor B1/B214.5 monthsnext available appointment; median post 1 month
Student F, M, Junder ½ monthnext available appointment; median post under ½ month
Worker H, L, O, P, Q5 monthsnext available appointment; median post under ½ month

under 2 months2 to 6 monthsover 6 monthsnot listedRead from the Department's table 1 Jul 2026.

B1/B2 applicants interviewed in the previous month had waited an average of 14 months from fee payment to interview, per the Department's table; it publishes this average only where the next appointment is more than three months away. Crew and transit (C, D, C1/D): under ½ month.

2,491nonimmigrant visas, Sep 2025+23% vs Sep 2024 (2,021)
2,828nonimmigrant visas, Aug 2025-12% month on month
0immigrant visas, Sep 20250 in Sep 2024
0.3%share of worldwide nonimmigrant issuances, Sep 2025median post: 909 that month

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office; monthly reports are not summed on this site.

Monthly issuances by broad class, last 36 months

01,9853,970VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classesOct 2022Apr 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Oct 2024Apr 2025Oct 2022: 2,690 (Visitors 2,177, Students and exchange visitors 52, Temporary workers 386, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 63, Transit and crew 12, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2022: 3,147 (Visitors 2,655, Students and exchange visitors 55, Temporary workers 369, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 56, Transit and crew 12, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2022: 2,477 (Visitors 2,097, Students and exchange visitors 86, Temporary workers 255, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 31, Transit and crew 8, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2023: 3,296 (Visitors 2,861, Students and exchange visitors 87, Temporary workers 292, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 46, Transit and crew 10, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2023: 3,131 (Visitors 2,764, Students and exchange visitors 44, Temporary workers 248, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 72, Transit and crew 2, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Mar 2023: 3,185 (Visitors 2,770, Students and exchange visitors 69, Temporary workers 265, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 76, Transit and crew 5, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2023: 3,058 (Visitors 2,554, Students and exchange visitors 122, Temporary workers 288, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 84, Transit and crew 10, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2023: 3,326 (Visitors 2,964, Students and exchange visitors 87, Temporary workers 145, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 126, Transit and crew 2, Other nonimmigrant classes 2)Jun 2023: 2,483 (Visitors 1,755, Students and exchange visitors 146, Temporary workers 331, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 240, Transit and crew 11, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2023: 2,452 (Visitors 1,954, Students and exchange visitors 93, Temporary workers 217, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 171, Transit and crew 17, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2023: 2,323 (Visitors 1,856, Students and exchange visitors 84, Temporary workers 222, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 139, Transit and crew 22, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2023: 2,147 (Visitors 1,778, Students and exchange visitors 61, Temporary workers 214, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 65, Transit and crew 29, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Oct 2023: 3,277 (Visitors 2,683, Students and exchange visitors 41, Temporary workers 438, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 73, Transit and crew 42, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2023: 2,426 (Visitors 1,930, Students and exchange visitors 47, Temporary workers 320, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 67, Transit and crew 62, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2023: 2,604 (Visitors 2,211, Students and exchange visitors 73, Temporary workers 254, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 44, Transit and crew 21, Other nonimmigrant classes 1)Jan 2024: 3,750 (Visitors 3,340, Students and exchange visitors 70, Temporary workers 272, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 50, Transit and crew 18, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2024: 3,508 (Visitors 3,172, Students and exchange visitors 44, Temporary workers 235, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 47, Transit and crew 10, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2024: 3,655 (Visitors 3,277, Students and exchange visitors 57, Temporary workers 251, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 51, Transit and crew 19, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2024: 3,938 (Visitors 3,410, Students and exchange visitors 73, Temporary workers 310, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 135, Transit and crew 10, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2024: 3,970 (Visitors 3,406, Students and exchange visitors 103, Temporary workers 274, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 176, Transit and crew 11, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2024: 2,826 (Visitors 2,251, Students and exchange visitors 103, Temporary workers 261, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 210, Transit and crew 1, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2024: 2,046 (Visitors 1,402, Students and exchange visitors 115, Temporary workers 288, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 239, Transit and crew 2, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2024: 1,471 (Visitors 1,045, Students and exchange visitors 37, Temporary workers 260, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 126, Transit and crew 3, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2024: 2,021 (Visitors 1,592, Students and exchange visitors 44, Temporary workers 306, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 77, Transit and crew 2, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Oct 2024: 2,982 (Visitors 2,438, Students and exchange visitors 41, Temporary workers 411, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 90, Transit and crew 2, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Nov 2024: 3,362 (Visitors 2,970, Students and exchange visitors 45, Temporary workers 248, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 94, Transit and crew 5, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Dec 2024: 2,284 (Visitors 1,986, Students and exchange visitors 36, Temporary workers 198, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 64, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jan 2025: 3,561 (Visitors 3,102, Students and exchange visitors 53, Temporary workers 329, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 77, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Feb 2025: 3,332 (Visitors 3,025, Students and exchange visitors 22, Temporary workers 226, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 58, Transit and crew 1, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Mar 2025: 2,706 (Visitors 2,339, Students and exchange visitors 15, Temporary workers 215, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 134, Transit and crew 3, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Apr 2025: 3,208 (Visitors 2,906, Students and exchange visitors 10, Temporary workers 146, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 142, Transit and crew 4, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)May 2025: 2,445 (Visitors 1,996, Students and exchange visitors 63, Temporary workers 241, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 143, Transit and crew 2, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jun 2025: 2,544 (Visitors 1,969, Students and exchange visitors 75, Temporary workers 265, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 235, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Jul 2025: 2,834 (Visitors 2,325, Students and exchange visitors 22, Temporary workers 322, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 164, Transit and crew 1, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Aug 2025: 2,828 (Visitors 2,436, Students and exchange visitors 7, Temporary workers 315, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 70, Transit and crew 0, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)Sep 2025: 2,491 (Visitors 2,233, Students and exchange visitors 3, Temporary workers 186, Diplomatic, official and international organisation 67, Transit and crew 2, Other nonimmigrant classes 0)
Nonimmigrant visas issued at Ottawa by month, stacked by broad class group.

VisitorsStudents and exchange visitorsTemporary workersDiplomatic, official and international organisationTransit and crewOther nonimmigrant classes

Groups follow the Department's visa symbols: visitors (B), students and exchange visitors (F, M, J), temporary workers (H, L, O, P, Q, E, R, TN, I), diplomatic and official (A, G, NATO), transit and crew (C, D), other. Hover a month for its counts. Each bar is one monthly report.

Compared with Canada and the world, September 2025

Sep 2025OttawaAll 7 posts in CanadaAll posts
Nonimmigrant visas issued2,49117,338823,557
Change on Sep 2024+23%—-11%
Immigrant visas issued070945,966
Visitors share89.6%—82.5%
Students and exchange visitors share0.1%—2.9%
Temporary workers share7.5%—9.4%
Diplomatic, official and international organisation share2.7%—2.1%
Transit and crew share0.1%—2.9%
Other nonimmigrant classes share0%—0.2%
B1/B2 next appointment14.5 months—median 1 month
F, M, J next appointmentunder ½ month—median under ½ month

All figures are from the September 2025 tables. The country column adds the posts located in Canada (Calgary, Halifax, Montreal, Quebec, Toronto, Vancouver and Ottawa) within that one month; it is not the count for nationals of Canada, which is on the Canada nationality page.

Visa classes issued, September 2025

ClassDescription (State Department)IssuedShareRank among posts
B1/B2Temporary visitor for business and pleasure2,22789.4%48 of 211
H1BTemporary worker of distinguished merit and ability performing services other than as a registered nurse672.7%21 of 163
G4International organization officer or employee, and immediate family281.1%7 of 137
E2Treaty investor, spouse or child241%23 of 68
H4Spouse or child of H-1B/B1/C, H-2A/B, or H-3220.9%30 of 137
L1Intracompany transferee (executive, managerial, and specialized personnel continuing employment with international firm or corporation)200.8%57 of 144
P1Internationally recognized athlete or member of internationally recognized entertainment group200.8%28 of 110
NATO2Other representative of member state to NATO and immediate family; dependents of member of a force entering under the NATO agreements; members of such a force if issued visas190.8%11 of 29
L2Spouse or child of intracompany transferee180.7%47 of 133
A2Other foreign government official or employee, or immediate family100.4%99 of 169
E1Treaty trader, spouse or child70.3%13 of 27
G2Other representative of recognized foreign member government to international organization, and immediate family60.2%125 of 157
A1Ambassador, public minister, career diplomat or consular officer, or immediate family40.2%60 of 128
R2Spouse or child of R140.2%10 of 42
B1Temporary visitor for business30.1%89 of 128
B2Temporary visitor for pleasure30.1%18 of 50
F1Student in an academic or language training program30.1%158 of 184
C1/DCombined transit and crewmember visa20.1%160 of 171
TDSpouse or child of TN20.1%13 of 23
O1Person with extraordinary ability in sciences, arts, education, business or athletics10%123 of 132
R1Alien in a religious occupation10%86 of 96

Ranks are among posts in the same month's table. Earlier months are linked from the month-by-month table below.

Seasonality

Jan104
Feb100
Mar113
Apr108
May100
Jun90
Jul101
Aug82
Sep84
Oct116
Nov106
Dec105
Which months are busiest at Ottawa. Index over 7 complete calendar years; 100 is an average month, darker is busier.

Wait-time history

0457913202220232024202520264 Nov 2022: B1/B2 280 days; F/M/J 10; H/L/O/P/Q 901 Dec 2022: B1/B2 346 days; F/M/J 21; H/L/O/P/Q 11417 Jan 2023: B1/B2 327 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 911 Feb 2023: B1/B2 463 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 896 Mar 2023: B1/B2 477 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 8917 Apr 2023: B1/B2 601 days; F/M/J 5; H/L/O/P/Q 899 Jun 2023: B1/B2 696 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 8931 Jul 2023: B1/B2 745 days; F/M/J 120; H/L/O/P/Q 891 Aug 2023: B1/B2 745 days; F/M/J 120; H/L/O/P/Q 8920 Sep 2023: B1/B2 750 days; F/M/J 120; H/L/O/P/Q 8012 Oct 2023: B1/B2 750 days; F/M/J 120; H/L/O/P/Q 805 Nov 2023: B1/B2 609 days; F/M/J 35; H/L/O/P/Q 15017 Dec 2023: B1/B2 698 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 906 Jan 2024: B1/B2 705 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 901 Feb 2024: B1/B2 762 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 906 Mar 2024: B1/B2 803 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 909 Apr 2024: B1/B2 877 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 908 May 2024: B1/B2 913 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 9017 Jun 2024: B1/B2 850 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 906 Jul 2024: B1/B2 850 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 907 Aug 2024: B1/B2 850 days; F/M/J 38; H/L/O/P/Q 8614 Sep 2024: B1/B2 850 days; F/M/J 28; H/L/O/P/Q 812 Oct 2024: B1/B2 850 days; F/M/J 28; H/L/O/P/Q 8112 Nov 2024: B1/B2 735 days; F/M/J 3; H/L/O/P/Q 1601 Dec 2024: B1/B2 459 days; F/M/J 1; H/L/O/P/Q 1606 Jan 2025: B1/B2 710 days; F/M/J 13; H/L/O/P/Q 2087 Feb 2025: B1/B2 710 days; F/M/J 13; H/L/O/P/Q 2085 Mar 2025: B1/B2 710 days; F/M/J 13; H/L/O/P/Q 20816 Apr 2025: B1/B2 171 days; F/M/J —; H/L/O/P/Q 1291 May 2025: B1/B2 240 days; F/M/J —; H/L/O/P/Q 1204 Jun 2025: B1/B2 180 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 1202 Jul 2025: B1/B2 180 days; F/M/J 0; H/L/O/P/Q 1203 Aug 2025: B1/B2 300 days; F/M/J 90; H/L/O/P/Q 1207 Sep 2025: B1/B2 360 days; F/M/J 90; H/L/O/P/Q 1053 Oct 2025: B1/B2 360 days; F/M/J 435; H/L/O/P/Q 1201 Nov 2025: B1/B2 360 days; F/M/J 435; H/L/O/P/Q 1202 Dec 2025: B1/B2 345 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 1356 Jan 2026: B1/B2 345 days; F/M/J 60; H/L/O/P/Q 1358 Feb 2026: B1/B2 300 days; F/M/J 45; H/L/O/P/Q 1957 Mar 2026: B1/B2 420 days; F/M/J 210; H/L/O/P/Q 454 Apr 2026: B1/B2 345 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 16514 May 2026: B1/B2 315 days; F/M/J 195; H/L/O/P/Q 1507 Jun 2026: B1/B2 315 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 1201 Jul 2026: B1/B2 435 days; F/M/J 7; H/L/O/P/Q 150

Visitor B1/B2Student F, M, JWorker H, L, O, P, Q

Next available appointment at Ottawa over time. Days to the next available appointment as listed on each reading date (44 readings, 4 Nov 2022 to 1 Jul 2026). From 1 May 2025 the Department publishes the estimate in half-month steps; those are shown as 30 days per month.

Month by month

MonthNonimmigrantImmigrantvs same month prior year
Sep 20252,4910+23%
Aug 20252,8280+92%
Jul 20252,8340+39%
Jun 20252,5440-10%
May 20252,4450-38%
Apr 20253,2080-19%
Mar 20252,7060-26%
Feb 20253,3320-5%
Jan 20253,5610-5%
Dec 20242,2840-12%
Nov 20243,3620+39%
Oct 20242,9820-9%
Sep 20242,0210-6%
Aug 20241,4710-37%
Jul 20242,0460-17%
Jun 20242,8260+14%
May 20243,9700+19%
Apr 20243,9380+29%
Mar 20243,6550+15%
Feb 20243,5080+12%
Jan 20243,7500+14%
Dec 20232,6040+5%
Nov 20232,4260-23%
Oct 20233,2770+22%

One row per monthly report; the rows are not added together. Each month links to the post's class breakdown for that month. Global totals for any month: September 2025.

OttawaCalgaryHalifaxMontrealQuebecTorontoVancouver
Location of the U.S. post in Ottawa.This post Other posts in the country Outlines: Natural Earth.

Other U.S. posts in Canada

Questions and answers

How many visas did the U.S. post in Ottawa issue last month?

2,491 nonimmigrant visas in September 2025, the latest month in the State Department's monthly issuance tables. In September 2024 the post issued 2,021 nonimmigrant visas.

What is the wait for a visitor visa interview in Ottawa?

The Department's Global Visa Wait Times table, read on 1 Jul 2026, listed the next available B1/B2 interview appointment as 14.5 months away (over 6 months). The Department updates the table monthly and says new appointments are added regularly, so an applicant may get an appointment sooner.

What is the wait for a student visa interview in Ottawa?

The next available F, M or J appointment was listed as under ½ month away on 1 Jul 2026. Student appointments are scheduled separately from visitor appointments at most posts.

Which visa classes does Ottawa issue most?

In September 2025: B1/B2 (2,227, 89.4%), H1B (67, 2.7%), G4 (28, 1.1%), E2 (24, 1%) and H4 (22, 0.9%). 21 nonimmigrant classes appear in the post's table for the month.

Is visa volume at Ottawa rising or falling?

September 2025: 2,491 nonimmigrant visas, up 23% on September 2024 (2,021). The month-by-month series on this page shows the path one month at a time; the Department notes that monthly reports are preliminary and subject to change and should not be added together.

How many visas does Ottawa issue in a year?

The Department publishes annual totals separately, in its Report of the Visa Office, and says its monthly reports should not be aggregated, so this site shows no yearly figure for a post. The annual tables by nationality are on the nationality pages.

What does the issuance count for Ottawa not tell you?

It is the number of visas issued, not the number of applications received or interviews held, and it says nothing about the outcome of any individual application. The Department publishes refusal rates only for B visas by nationality, not by post.

Where does this data come from?

The State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs publishes monthly nonimmigrant and immigrant visa issuance tables by post and visa class, and a Global Visa Wait Times table. Issuances on this page run March 2017 to September 2025; wait times are read from the Department's table and kept as dated snapshots (44 readings for this post).

Provenance

Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs. Monthly Nonimmigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class and Monthly Immigrant Visa Issuances by Post and Visa Class (latest NIV table, latest IV table), public domain; Global Visa Wait Times table, read on the dates shown. Issuance data through 30 Sep 2025; site generated 30 Sep 2026. Errors in processing are corrected at the next build; see corrections.