According to the Toronto Consulate visa chief, the U.S. consulate in Toronto has resumed processing E-2 visa applications. An E-2 visa can be a great visa option for an investor who wants to buy or start a business. You can find out more about the E-2 visa requirements by clicking here.
Back in March, consulates around the world paused processing in person applications as a response to COVID-19. Since July, consulates have started to resume processing some visas, usually starting with student and immigrant visas.
Currently, Toronto is focused on getting through the backlog of new and renewal E-2 applications, starting from applications interviews that were cancelled back in March. E-2 applications for investors must be processed at the Toronto consulate however applications for E-2 employees and independent spousal and children applications can be processed at one of the other consulates in Canada. The Toronto consulate is asking applicants to use one of the other posts if possible.
Toronto have claimed that they are processing 15 to 20 visa interviews a day, which given the backlog of hundred of applications, means that the wait for new applicants can still be a couple of months long. The consulate was not able to provide a time frame for getting an appointment for a new application filed now.
Please note that the Canada and U.S. land border restrictions are still in place. Canadians entering the U.S. on their visas should except higher scrutiny from border officers on their purpose of travel.
