Consulate General of Canada in New York City Review

horrible service. im 82 and not computer savy. to apply for a visa i cant walk into the canadian embassy... non sense

It was definitely difficult at first and specially when I read the reviews I was scared. But I will give you best advice to all the visitor visa applicants. Just walk to CSC and apply in person. Its much faster and feel priority service form (if applicable). I got my visa in 3 days.

Hope this info is helpful.

I came here last Wednesday at 11:00 am and was told the consulate was closed. I was so so surprised because I even didn't look up the working time since I thought 11:00 am on Wednesday was such a normal working time. However, I was wrong, they only work from 8:30 am to 10:30 am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Surprise? Not finished yet.

Ok, I understand that different countries have different lifestyle. This morning I went there at 8:40, there was a pretty long line outside the building. I waited until 9:00 am to get in. It was raining when I was waiting on line outside the building. They told us they were gonna work from 8:30 am, but they weren't. So a lot of people had to wait in the rain without an umbrella before 9:00 am after 8:30.

Oh, by the way, I applied for the visa online 2 months ago, I just got an email to let me hand in my passport last Wednesday. They took 2 whole months to review my several papers. Really fast.

This is the worst consulate in the world ever!

my daughter passport is expired...does she need to renew her passport to go to Canada?
where planning to go tomorrow morning and coming back on Thursday night.

Slow processing, wish it could a little bit faster. And I could not get to know when my passport will be sent back. Its kind of inconvenience.

The agents were very cordial, helpful and understanding. Open during normal business hours. Wait period was about half hour.

They refused my visa because I wasn't bring my I-20 and they don't ask me about it herrobull service. Please make sure to bring I-20 for non immagrante visas

Totally Satisfied

I did fill my form online and after couple of days was requested to submit visa. I was bit scared at first after reading the reviews online, so had decided to submit my passport myself for the Tourist visa to Canada. Following the process time they took in the complete transaction.

Week 1
Monday - Application Submitted online
Wednesday - Requested to submit the passport
Friday - Passport Submitted

Week 2
Wednesday - Email received for passport collection
Friday - Passport Collected.

I was totally impressed with the processing of my case. One of the reasons I think is I had uploaded all the relevant/required documents exactly as per the requirement mentioned.

Great Work !!

I applied a visitor visa online almost 2 months ago, guess what, even didn't request my passport yet, feel so helpless

Most horrible! They do not accept phone calls and would never response to emails.

any one give more than one star lost their mind! Can you point me a worse consulate in United State?

guards are very rude, if you're young pretty woman, they will smile to you, if you're old man, they won't help you at all, if you're normal man ask for any help, they will refuse for sure, even the officer inside consulate will definitely help you.

email reply is helpless, no phone line to call, most urgent request would get back to you 3-4 days after your emails been send millions of time.

after send my visa application and application for 30 days, I still can't get my visa back, no way to talk with officer, since there's no hotline no direct way, also no way to step in to consulate talk with them face to face, since the guard would call POLICE for an applicant without passport! do I look like a terrorism?

worst consulate ever!

I filed my visitor visa online application nearly FOUR months (113 days) ago and was confirmed right away the application was complete. I haven't heard anything from them since. The average processing time for this type of visa at this consulate is 42 days. They never replied to my case-specific enquiry and my complaint also went unnoticed. There is utterly no way of getting in touch with them. This is the most dysfunctional consulate I have ever dealt with. It is in fact even worse than immigration services in some war-torn countries. It's not worth the try.

I am no longer interested in visiting a country that is so irresponsive to visitors/guests and so inept in handling regular services. I could keep trying, but I won't. I feel extremely uncomfortable sending them my passport, even if my case does finally get processed, for you never know how long it takes for the passport to be mailed back, which may affect my international travel plans.

For people who are considering applying to Canadian visitor visas, here are some tips. (1) If you are planning sight-seeing in Canada, look for alternatives--for instance, the US has plenty to offer as far as sight-seeing goes. Or if you have immigration plans (not to Canada) in the future, you can first become a resident or citizen of a country that Canada doesn't require visas. (2) If you have to go to Canada, let's say, attending weddings or seeing friends, be patient, I mean really patient, and be psychologically prepared. (3) Plan far far ahead, say 6 months at least. (4) Don't take the average processing time seriously (as my case testifies). (5) Try not to fly airlines that have stopovers in Canada, as this requires a transit visa, whose processing may take just as long as a visitor visa. Finally, good luck!

This is the worst consulate I have ever been to. This consulate is open only on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 AM to 10:30 AM. They have not listed down this information on their website. How the heck anyone knows about it, unless it is not provided in their official website.

This is effective from Jan 7th 2013. There was paper struck to the door indicating it.

I have applied for visitor visa 2 months back and my passport is struck with them. They don't respond to E-mail or phone calls. This is shame to canada government. They wasted my time and money.

I applied for a Visa by mail and their website is user friendly on how to apply. You have to browse about 10 websites to know how to apply and sometimes they have different information. Also they take an extremely long time to process applications which makes it very unfortunate to people who use their passport as an identification. In comparison to other application processes I have experienced, this is the worse by far. Also when I called the reception the receptionist was neither professional nor helpful, when asked questions she would just tell you to look at the website and if you tell her this is not enough then she gets annoyed and hangs up the phone.

I have been writing to them for a month now and no response. I called the 'secretary' and she didn't even let me explain what my problem was. To say that our taxes pay for their jobs and they can't even do it write. Public Servant my ass.

I m Canadian living in States . This office assist me in past . My experience with the Canadian who work here was helpful and awesome Thank you Service Canada

The worst experience I ever had in the US. They are very unprofessional and the most racist set of people I ever met. I will never go back to that location.

I have applied for a tourist visa to go to canada over two month ago, they say that the processing time is around 30 to 40 days for a tourist visa which is already a lot of time to process a tourist visa!!
I am a professional, I work and live in the united states, I have visas to all the countries in the world that require a visa and had visas previously for canada so it can not be my application, it is their inefficiency and whatever trip in bureaucracy they are in!!
They are withholding my passport, they don't answer the phone and if you retrieve the passport, you retrieve the application.
I think it is pathetic and specially a canadian embassy!! This is discrimination, racism, disrespect and I am really disappointed from the inefficiency of the people representing a great Nation or at least that is what I used to think. I hope some canadians can read that review because they do answer the phone for Canadians.

My experience was terrible. After 5 months, my visa was approved and also stamping duration was so long. One day before my take off, i received my passport by over night shipping. (also I paid for it more because I did not trust them.)

World class Canadian civil servant. No questions they provided top tier service when we visited there this week. Unbelievable.

The absolute worse! Honestly, they don't even deserve one star. I submitted my visa application and did my biometrics 2 months ago and they are yet to get back to me. Meanwhile, the processing time is supposed to be 3 weeks maximum. They don't accept calls. I personally went there since I tried calling and the voice message says they don't accept calls and apparently, they don't attend to you in person either, they only attend to Canadians in person was what I was told. I went to the visa application office and they told me to email the consulate. I've sent 2 emails explaining the urgency of the situation and what I got back each time was an automated email stating they only reply to emails about visa application that has exceeded processing time and that was exactly what my email was about. I sent another email and I got the same automated reply. If they can at least reply accordingly to emails since it's the only means of communication, that would be nice because as it is now I don't even know what to do anymore. I definitely don't recommend them at all.

My application was processed really fast after putting all the info online and going over to get finger print taken. I got a notice to send in my passport in less than a week. Sent my passport the next day with next day delivery. 1 week later and they haven't put the return envelop back in the post. How long does it take to stick a visa into a passport??? Don't get me started on the convoluted online application process, disjointed information and third-rate software. Ok I will miss the trip it seems right now. My worry is I have another trip in 10 days to another country. I need my passport. Now where is the cancel button on the web application system? None.Things were certainly better than this for the 3 times I have been to Canada.

Worst experience dealing with them. I lost my passport and need a sealed letter from the consulate in order to be able to file a police report and every time I go there for it, they give me blank stares and tell me they have no idea what I m talking about. Even though the NYPD has confidently told me that the only place that can provide this letter is the consulate. I have to wonder what they do when Canadians living abroad come to them with these situations.

Worse experience ever. If you can avoid going through Canada, do so. You will regret.

Not giving any notification of application status. Have to email them only to get a reply 2 or 3 days later. No live calls in an Embassy? It's ridiculous! what happen's if there's an emergency? I have to wait 2 days patiently for a response? Be careful people, if you don't provide a return mail when you send them your passport. They will use regular mail and send it back. It's been 20 days and mine hasn't even return yet. THIS PLACE SUCKS

As a Canadian reading these reviews sadens me that technicalities and red tape is discouraging our American brothers and sisters from wanting to visit the embassy and perhaps even Canada itself. If your reading this skip right to a trip to Canada. Avoid the beaurocracy at the embassy.

Responsive & Helpful! I left a phone message requesting information, it was returned in 1 day, and the information provided was precisely what I needed. Thank you!

I even don't want to give any star to it. Canada is not a developed country, its behavior pretty much like a third developing country. It's not worth to spend 150 for it.

The worst!!!! The security guard didn't even allow me in!!! I was wearing a fine suit and tie. The most most bizarre experience ever. I had to get info from the security guard... Lol funny

Terrible service. I applied for a transit visa and they asked for my passport which they have kept with them beyond the date of my flight. I was willing to catch my flight from outside of Canada but there is no way for me to get my passport back. They asked me to write them an email which I did to which they also have not responded. As an international in the US your passport is an extremely important document. How can they just keep it without having an expedited process in place to get it back.

WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH THIS EMBASSY ? Do you not want visitors in your country? It is absolutely appalling that you will not answer requests online or via phone, that you do not have a call center and that you take months to process a simple visitor visa.

I applied online and its been way past the normal processing times but you do not have anyone I can contact (online, phone or in person) about my case. What is one supposed to do? I am going to suffer monetary loss because of the slow and terribly un transparent visa process of this country. Hope you can read this review and all the other wonderful reviews out there and take some action.

I applied for my tourist visa online, and despite the process being a little tricky, it still seemed efficient and relatively easy as far as visa applications go. The main problems had to do with the site logging me out several times and malfunctioning every now and then. The processing time for submitting my application, getting it approved, submitting my passport and receiving it, was also rather speedy. I received my passport within about 8 or so days of submitting it. So points for efficiency.

Only real complaints I encountered had to do with visiting the VAC office, and even that wasn't a big deal. I visited the VAC only to find that the office that deals with non-citizen Canadians was closed, with a sign redirecting enquiries to a location on Madison avenue, about a 20-minute walk away. This was only mildly inconvenient, but it would help if the Embassy alerted guests to this change of location either by updating the info on their website and/or google maps, or making a note of this when liaising with clients. The only information provided on their website about this says that the VAC in NYC has "reopened". It would be less ambiguous if the notice said that the VAC office had "changed location". "Re-opened" just suggests that it was at one stage previously closed. When one clicks on the notice, you are redirected to a page with instructions and then a picture of the map of the new VAC office location. Once again, it would be nice if the web page emphasised the change of location and said something like "Please note that the VAC office has changed to this location, and is no longer at the Canadian Consulate address". I tried phoning the consulate to confirm the location of the VAC office but unfortunately there was no human liasion only prompt messages, and the prompt message that specified location did not refer to the new location at Madison avenue. As for the new VAC office that was set up on Madison avenue - it was a bit chaotic and disorganised. Of course, some 'user-error' could be blamed for this misdirection, but I'm sure some steps could be taken to ensure this doesn't happen as frequently. Simply adding the additional location on Google maps would help, for one.

Putting this review in just because we believe the consulate deserves a positive review. We got our visas in 2 weeks flat.. from online application to collection of stamped passports from VAC office in NY. We too read the reviews and were really really worried because we had a fast closing window of travel dates. Guess its all case specific and one shouldn't be quick to draw conclusions on the basis of a few negative reviews.

the most difficult experience in my life was getting the canadian visa for my kids. There is absolutely no way of communicating with any employee of the General Consulate.
I asked for a multiple entry visa and they gave me one for three months! It was not my plan to go to Canada multiple time in that period!
I have many doubts regarding my status and wasn't able to ask anybody... just go to the web page or listen to recorded messages!
I don't think they welcome tourists! and it's a shame because it's a beautiful country.

Worst Consulate in the World-Ever! Nobody knew what they were doing, very rude, very disorganized.

They say they open at a certain hour and they open 30 min later.

No employee seemed to know the answer to simple questions. Some d****s with an accent out of the boones didn't even know the visa requirements, and he worked there!

I mean what more can I say other then go there yourself and see that I'm not lying. I am not surprised this Consulate gets bad reviews. I feel sorry for the Canadian people because its these workers who are representing them OUTCAN.

wow!!! no idea what to do?? I was going to apply for a visitor visa to celebrate the New Year wit h my friends in Vancouver!! but after I read most the reviews and how long it took them to get it, I guess I changed my mind!!! God, I hate that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is one the worst consulate ever. They dont provide any status on anything and they have no phone numbers to call and they dont respond to fax nor mails. God only knows what they think about themselves. Every country in this world has some kind of tracking system but this is the only country which has no such things and this is frustrating. I really have no respect.

I applied online for a stupid tourist visa 5 weeks ago!!! finally got the "please send us your passport" email and was in good hopes that the 22 days processing time posted on the official CIC website for the NY consulate would be sufficient to return my passport in a few days......oh hell no 10 days have passed on no update. I send my letter in via certified and trackable and can confirm that they got it two days later, so its at the embassy in NY. How many people and how many days does it take to put in a sticker?

I traveld the world and got visas from third world countries in less then one hour!!!!! The US embassy issued me my last visa in one !!!!!!! day.

Slowest country in the world!!!!

This place is closed. Application processing center has moved. I get to the new location and was told to sit n wait. Waited for about 30 minutes o ly to find out that the person who told me to sit down was supposed to give me a number. What a waste of time.

I want to talk with sombody and dont have chance. They dont aswer the phone

Horrible Service. I was there about 4 years ago to pick my passport on a very cold December morning. Long line, you can imagine a lot people waiting to get their visas etc. and travel back home for the holidays. The consulate was supposed to open at 9 am. I SAW the staff behind the counters at 9 am, not working, they were just casually hanging around in there, about 15 mins later, the first window opened. The line moved slowly, I was quite worried that they won't get through these people that day. And it was true, after a while, they just had a guard out, picked one stop point in the line, and told the rest of the line that they are closed. At that time, there were still people waiting outside the building out there on the plaza. People were not happy. I did not get to be serviced that day, although I got up at 4 am, took a bus from Philly, began to wait in the line before 7:30 am at the plaza, still did not get serviced.

I understand they have their work hours - however, for one thing, they should have know about the holiday demands, and adjust the hours according, or have some other mitigation - they are there to provide service, and they got paid for that. Second, they did not start working on time, even 15 mins could serve a couple more persons. Worst consulate I have experienced.

Now I just want everyone to know they also have good reviews. My application was treated and approved in just 8 days.

What's wrong with the security guard? I have been there twice, and in both situations the security guard was impolite, rude and annoying. In my experience as a Canadian citizen this has been the worse consulate ever. I am so mad, I keep asking myself why I have to deal with that kind of people.

Terrible experience ever. I had submitted my application 4th of jan 2019 and went to biometric 7th of jan 2019. Its 22nd jan no answer from consulate. Are you guys sending applications to Mars for verification. Lmao
I guess canadian consulate doesn't have internet.

the phone number is useless....it only says some non sense and has no actual person service....tried for so long and I still havn't been able to contact anyone about this.

I've never had to deal which such rude incompetent people. Absolutely unbelievable.

They got back to me in less than three weeks and told me what i needed to complete my application to get into canada i mailed back what they needed and now i am waiting for a answer

The most annoying consulate I ever come across. They don't respond any emails and messages and take forever to process application. My application has been with them for more than 20 days now and they haven't bothered to respond.
Worst communication .

I don't even feel like giving 1 star as my trip is in less than 32 hours and I have still not got my tourist visa. I can see on their website its approved and application is closed since 2 days but still my passport has not been dispatched to me. I am so disappointed. I have applied for visas to other countries before and it has never taken so long.

The worst embassy ever!!! And I get visas to different countries all the time. Me and my husband booked a trip with transfer in Toronto airport, and we need a visa to get out of one airplane and get right into another. Now three weeks late, we have heard nothing from the embassy, and we have to cancel our tickets.

Why is the website so terrible? I could not find a place on the website to log into our account. I finally gave it up after many tries. Simply put terrible and not user friendly.

Visited more than 30 countries. This is the WORST visa application process I've ever seen!

Extremely slow in processing documents. They give excuse of Christmas and holidays for delays. Last time I checked, it is a 2000 year old holiday that happens each year at same time. Entitled, tax payer funded inefficient scums of the world.

Do not apply for VISA with these incompetants and liars. To flee to visit something else.

I just wanted to thank you everyone for helping me out to get my passport back on time on priority basis for holiday travel.
I don't have words to explain but in short its good service as usual and I had great experience with you guys.
Thank you thank you very much. I would be really appreciated for your efforts and prompt reply on my concerns.
Thanks a lot and HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU GUYS.

Thanks

The online visitor visa process was swift and efficient. The decision was arrived in a timely manner. However there is no way you can get a straight reply from the Consulate staff. The receptionist is good enough to reply in general terms and advises to email but absolutely no one bothers to reply at any given point of time.

I got a reply back within a week from them requesting my passport. This is the only positive from my experience with the consulate.

I sent the passport to the Canadian consulate in NY, and it reached on the 19th of March (~20 days ago). I have not received any acknowledgement from them about my passport. I tried to call them and they do not entertain visa / immigration inquiries on phone (What!?). I use the web form and the response time is apparently 28 days or more. I have mailed them and not received any reply from them yet (5+ days). I had to tweet and all I got was a generic response asking me to mail at a certain email.

I am international student studying in the US and as such, the passport is practically the only document that acts as a valid ID. So at this point I cannot travel back home in the coming summer if they do not return my passport soon. I would have gone to NY (which would be a costly affair) but the uncertainty that I would be allowed to enter the consulate is a key deterrent. Hope someone at the consulate sees this and expedites the process.

Can't be worse! They ask me to take chest X-ray in their assigned hospital (very expensive), but I just took one within 10 days. I have latent TB instead of active TB, which is totally nothing harmful. I sent my doctor's report, but it doesn't help. Totally foolish!

Horrible person who interviewed me when I had applied for migrating to Canada via Montreal. I did not speak French very well so he said I am not eligible to migrate there. When I asked for my documents back he angrily took the documents and put them on the other side of the table. He was French Canadian. Whites in Canada are pretty racists. My brother had gone to Vancouver and when he went to get his passport from the post office they were not willing to give his passport back. He had given them 2 proofs of residence. After running around the post office and finally getting a third proof of residence. The person was yelling at my brother.

Nothing but great service at this consulate.

I had issues with my passport renewal in Gatineau, QB which caused a delay and possibly me losing out in work overseas.
From the people at the window to the lady who saw my case, Grecia, were super friendly and helpful. My passport was sorted in a speedy matter and was able to travel as planned.

Thanks Grecia!

So terrible! I applied twice for the visitor visa and got refused with the same reason - not sufficient docs to prove my current status. However, I have already submitted my visa, i94, i20, enrollment verification and even transcript at school. How could?! What's worse, there is no access to appeal. They do not accept phone calls and do not reply to emails. I believe that I will never go to Canada in my life!!!!!!

Horrible horrible service. Called and got redirected to all kinds of agencies and never got the answers I needed regarding hiring a company in Canada to contract our developing outsourcing. The menus on the phone we get put through is probably akin to being jailed at Rikers Island. After much frustration I decided to take my business elsewhere and contracted with a company in KY after all. Stayed in the US. A little pricier but well worth the aggravation. Too bad, I used to enjoy visiting Canada. BTW, the embassy in DC is just as bad. Impossible to actually get someone on the phone. If I could add a negative star rating I would. (-5)

cant call them because press 1 for english or press 2 for french doesnt accept a response....tell you they're gonna do something on a day and its been 4 days later and still nothing...

Hei, does any one knows this case: I am Hong Kong resident with Chinese PR Passport, I've got an V-1 visa in Cananda Hong Kong consulate and i am personally in USA., I am planning to fly from USA directly to Canada, but some travel agency told me I have to fly back to Hong Kong then to Canada or I have to re change my Visa at Cananda consulates in USA, is that true?and what is that visa/application? I booked my flight tickets already, please any one could help???
I have no quick way to know from the canada webiste or telephones.

i applied for the visitor visa. i got a req. for passport to submit in a month. i sent them right away.. and after 5 days they said you dint submit in a month so we closed ur application... though they get my passport on 3rd day of the request.

looks like they work with bunch of idiots... illiterate ppl. No idea how they run their country.

The most inefficient visitor visa application process I've ever seen!

When I read the reviews online, I was a bit worried that my application would not be processed in time. I applied online and provided all the documents they asked. After 24 days my application was completely processed and my passport was requested. After submitting my passport through VAC, it took only 2 days for them to return it back.

My advice to all who plan to apply for a visitor visa is that try to apply at least a month (or maybe 2) ahead and it should be fine.

So first of all people don't get scared reading the reviews.. I applied for a visitor visa at the VAC in NYC (address is 290 Madison Ave between 40th and 41st, not the consulate building) and got it a day over a week later. The staff were great at explaining everything and even showed me options for places to type and print out forms. Now you have to understand the process of submitting it takes a couple hours but overall easiest and fastest visa process I've experienced!

It took them three weeks to send my passport back. It took less than a week for my friend. Mind you, you only send your passport in once it's already approved. So it's not that they had a backlog, they just process applications randomly. Worst consulate in the world.

I was little apprehensive when I saw that processing time is around 52 days for New York office for visitor visa. But I decided to go for it as I saw one user got it under one week. My timeline is as below.
Applied on August 26
Request to Passport submission on August 28, passport submitted in person on that day
Passport pick up on Sep 3 at VAC.
That was really fast, only 6 business days!

TERRIBLE. Took them far longer than average processing time listed on their website to deny my temporary resident permit request. Directions on their website for obtaining TRP are a confusing labyrinth. Cannot be contacted by phone or email. Now they are refusing to send back my original legal documents, because they are part of their file on me. If you are attempting to obtain a TRP, I would plan on allowing AT LEAST 6 months. To get one APPROVED takes even longer, I would imagine.

The lady here forgot to give me back my photo ID. How do I get it back though

I applied for a visitor visa from WHITHIN CANADA given that I am an international student currently living inside Canada. It's been 30 days still no passport request letter sent to me yet. I emailed CIC in Ottawa to inquire, they told me my application is being processed in New york (a further review is needed). I emailed New york processing center through a webform begging them to expedite it and got no reply. The processing times from inside Canada are 60 days for a study permit extension and 10 days for visa. It's been 115 days for me and still didn't send my passport yet! I lost $500 of my plane ticket (cancellation fee). I couldn't go back home for vacation. Apparently, I'm not going to make it on time for my Sister's wedding (September 1st). This is absolute complete bullshit. Why would my application be processed outside Canada if I applied from within Canada!!!!! Why does it take forever like that! Incompetent ignorant officers. International students pay double and triple tuitions in Canada. Some cities' economies solely rely on international students. That's the service we get: Get stuck in Canada or go back home apply for a visa there, get stuck there 6 months, potentially get refused and lose everything. Canada is the worst choice for international students.
Free tuition for international students in Germany, 10 times cheaper living expenses, never get stuck there because they renew your study permit in 5 minutes and issue you a permission letter to leave and enter Germany (and the entire European union) as many times until you get the actual physical study permit letter mailed to you.
I don't even have any motivation to pursue my studies here anymore :@

worst embassy is ever.... Do not send any document or passport to process here. I have been waiting for almost 2 months. They do not help for anything when you call or email them even it is the only way that you can communicate with them. worst embassy is ever....

My experience with them was quite different. I admit that gathering all the necessary documents were time consuming (I mean it should be, if they want to let you into their country they need to know some details of your life), though after I submitted my application it took only 6 days for my visa to be approved. I guess they have changed their procedure and now it is pretty decent.
I can only complain about they slow running website.

The worst visa application process I've ever seen. It's been almost a month and there's no update yet. Sent an email, the auto-reply said they won't reply. Called the consulate, the auto-message said they won't take calls. I'm not even going to visit Canada (not likely I'll ever now). I need a transit visa for changing planes. It's likely that I would need to buy a new plane ticket and I can't even complain about this situation to anyone.

most useless embassy i have ever worked with. trying to get in contact with them over the phone to find out whats taking so long and why the process is taking for ever. have a better chance of being assigned space travel!! my american visa ends on the 3rd of August and Canadian embassy have my passport and aren't answering any phone calls or questions, i started the application over 2 months ago and sent my passport 5 weeks ago and still nothing!!! utter uselessness!!!

Although a lot of people had extremely bad review for this place, I need to say I might be the lucky one. The average lead time to get your passport back since the online application submission date, according to the official website, is 38 days. However I got mine back for only 21 days, and it gave me multiple entrance until my passport expires. As a Chinese working and living in USA with a work visa I think it is pretty impressive.

Would give it zero stars if I could. They use third party companies and call centers that are completely useless.

They will not reply to e-mails or phone calls, shame on you Canada.

Worse experience ever, if you don't have a spare passport don't apply for Visa, they hold your passport even if you have an emergency and just want your passport back they don't give it to you, so plan carefully before sending your documents. And they don't answer phones or emails.

Visa processing takes longer than said. Also, the visa office is impossible to contact via phone and emails have a waiting period of about a lifetime. To make matters worse, they deny applications and ask you to reapply with a new fee if they're unsatisfied with supporting documents rather than ask for whatever else they'd want since the online instructions weren't super clear to begin with.

Summarily, one shouldn't have to deal with this sort of service after paying an application fee.

All done within 3 weeks. I applied for visitor visa online. The application got approved within 10 days, then i submitted passport same day overnight. The passport was accepted at CSC VAC and send to Canada visa office in couple of days. Canada visa office processed in 2-3 days and send back to CSC VAC. They sent passport to USPS same day and it got delivered very next day to me.
Earlier i was scared after going through so many negative review. I am happy with the processing time.

Great job !

This embassy, like most if not all Canadian embassies, are tax draining monstrosities. They offer little in the way of services. Want a Criminal background check from home? You'll be doing all the foot work and paying hundreds of dollars. Want a new passport? 260$ please. Want to apply for a simple spousal visa? you'll be waiting 2.5 + years for these bureaucratic sloths to look at it.

The only people who like this place are the people who work there, and I can't say I blame them. Higher wages than the average New Yorker great benefits, double holidays (USA and Canada), and you are answerable to no clients. If I could, I would work there in a heartbeat.

Man, I just need a transit visa! I'm not even going to stay in Canada how can they be so slow!? And how come they don't give you ONE freaking option to speak to anyone that can help. I'm going to the embassy in NYC right now try any kind of communication with the immigration people. My flight is this Sunday (26th) and I applied march 30.