Appointment at USA Embassy Toronto: Information Needed

[ABmercy&Gr8s]

Hello Everyone,

I will be having an appointment at the USA Embassy in Toronto next week. My appointment is around 7 a.m. Toronto is approximately four hours' drive from where I live in Ontario. The options available for me to get there are either through a share ride (poparide) or driving myself down there. There is no option of coming the previous day and staying somewhere overnight (a hotel or whatever).

These are my enquiries:

(1) Is there a public building, such as a train station, or any available building where I can wait (reasonably close to the US embassy) before leaving for the embassy? I'm asking because the Ride Share I intend to book will arrive in Toronto around 4 a.m., and I still have more than 3 hours to wait. So, my concern is where I can hang out (inside, not outside due to the cold) before taking a taxi/Uber to the embassy in the morning. Please let me know if you know of any.
(2) If I drive myself down there, are there any parking lots nearby (not far from the embassy) with low hourly rates? I don't want to spend more than $15 for a parking spot that will be available for less than three hours. Anyone in the know in this respect should please give me a lead. Thanks everyone.

 

[steaky]

Hello Everyone,

I will be having an appointment at the USA Embassy in Toronto next week. My appointment is around 7 a.m. Toronto is approximately four hours' drive from where I live in Ontario. The options available for me to get there are either through a share ride (poparide) or driving myself down there. There is no option of coming the previous day and staying somewhere overnight (a hotel or whatever).

These are my enquiries:

(1) Is there a public building, such as a train station, or any available building where I can wait (reasonably close to the US embassy) before leaving for the embassy? I'm asking because the Ride Share I intend to book will arrive in Toronto around 4 a.m., and I still have more than 3 hours to wait. So, my concern is where I can hang out (inside, not outside due to the cold) before taking a taxi/Uber to the embassy in the morning. Please let me know if you know of any.
(2) If I drive myself down there, are there any parking lots nearby (not far from the embassy) with low hourly rates? I don't want to spend more than $15 for a parking spot that will be available for less than three hours. Anyone in the know in this respect should please give me a lead. Thanks everyone.

From what I saw in google map, there is a 24 hrs operate Tim Hortons on 438 University Ave which is reasonably close to the US embassy. I think you can hang out there for coffee and breakfast.

There's also a Impark public garage at 393 University Ave (across the road from Tim Hortons).

 

[steaky]

Go to Impark.com for more options about the parking and their rates nearby.

 

[scylla]

Hello Everyone,

I will be having an appointment at the USA Embassy in Toronto next week. My appointment is around 7 a.m. Toronto is approximately four hours' drive from where I live in Ontario. The options available for me to get there are either through a share ride (poparide) or driving myself down there. There is no option of coming the previous day and staying somewhere overnight (a hotel or whatever).

These are my enquiries:

(1) Is there a public building, such as a train station, or any available building where I can wait (reasonably close to the US embassy) before leaving for the embassy? I'm asking because the Ride Share I intend to book will arrive in Toronto around 4 a.m., and I still have more than 3 hours to wait. So, my concern is where I can hang out (inside, not outside due to the cold) before taking a taxi/Uber to the embassy in the morning. Please let me know if you know of any.
(2) If I drive myself down there, are there any parking lots nearby (not far from the embassy) with low hourly rates? I don't want to spend more than $15 for a parking spot that will be available for less than three hours. Anyone in the know in this respect should please give me a lead. Thanks everyone.

Have you read the instructions carefully that were given to you by the embassy?

If you do with option #1, you of course know (if you have read the instructions) that you cannot take your phone into the embassy so you would need to figure out where you are going to leave your phone while you attend your appointment.

 

[canuck78]

Parking downtown for that length of time in a lot will be over $15. Street parking starts after 10am unless you have a permit

 

[ABmercy&Gr8s]

Thanks everyone for your contribution. I think I will go for the second option. I won't be able to see were to keep my phone and other stuffs. Thanks, @scylla for pointing my attention to this.
@canuck78 , thanks for letting me know that the rate might be more than $15. When I read your comment at first, I thought it might not be. However, having gone through the website shown me by @steaky (thanks for this), I realized Toronto is truly damn expensive!
Please, everyone, do I need to book the space before getting there or after arrival? I am asking because I could not read anywhere in their website.. Thanks everyone for your comments.

 

[scylla]

Thanks everyone for your contribution. I think I will go for the second option. I won't be able to see were to keep my phone and other stuffs. Thanks, @scylla for pointing my attention to this.
@canuck78 , thanks for letting me know that the rate might be more than $15. When I read your comment at first, I thought it might not be. However, having gone through the website shown me by @steaky (thanks for this), I realized Toronto is truly damn expensive!
Please, everyone, do I need to book the space before getting there or after arrival? I am asking because I could not read anywhere in their website.. Thanks everyone for your comments.

Book a space where? The parking lot?

 

[ABmercy&Gr8s]

Book a space where? The parking lot?

What I meant is if it's possible to pay online. I do have issues with my card most times with those parking meters(machines). I wouldn't know also if it's only coin , credit/debit card or if it accepts paper bill.

 

[scylla]

What I meant is if it's possible to pay online. I do have issues with my card most times with those parking meters(machines). I wouldn't know also if it's only coin , credit/debit card or if it accepts paper bill.

I don't know. I imagine the website provided earlier would give you that info.

 

[ABmercy&Gr8s]

Thanks, @Sylla. I just placed a phone call to their office (Impark public garage at 393 University Ave ) and I was told the only way I can make payment is using the machine by using the card. I hope my card(s) will not dissapoint...lol.. Thanks everyone. Now, every thing is clear!

 

[ABmercy&Gr8s]

In some other parts of the world ( my home country), some people get a good gig by helping people to keep their items during an appointment at USA embassy. Individuals with appointment go to them, drop their stuffs, and pick them up within few hours. Every country has their uniqueness, though.

 

[ABmercy&Gr8s]

Just to provide an update for others who might be in my shoes in the future. Though I have not left for my appointment, I had to search if any business like what I described above exists in Toronto, and I am glad to discover one. I have called them, and they confirm the price of keeping my back pack would be $10, which is very okay for me. Now, I don't need to go through the hastles of option 1, and paying $25 for parking and all. The name of the convenience store is called 'Convenience Locker Storage Passport Photo'. It's very close to the USA embassy as well; in the same street.
I am sure this information would be of tremendous help to people after me who don't know.You can check the reviews of people who have used them. I am not in any way or shades related to the business; I'm just trying to help because people will always be in my situation, and getting to know that services for this'challenge' exist can reduce a whole lots of stress. Have a good one everyone!

 

[bellaluna]

I remember using a nearby convenience store near the Tim Hortons to keep my phone during my Embassy appointment and it was fine. I think it might have been that same one.

 

[Hummingbird89]

Hello Everyone,

I will be having an appointment at the USA Embassy in Toronto next week. My appointment is around 7 a.m. Toronto is approximately four hours' drive from where I live in Ontario. The options available for me to get there are either through a share ride (poparide) or driving myself down there. There is no option of coming the previous day and staying somewhere overnight (a hotel or whatever).

These are my enquiries:

(1) Is there a public building, such as a train station, or any available building where I can wait (reasonably close to the US embassy) before leaving for the embassy? I'm asking because the Ride Share I intend to book will arrive in Toronto around 4 a.m., and I still have more than 3 hours to wait. So, my concern is where I can hang out (inside, not outside due to the cold) before taking a taxi/Uber to the embassy in the morning. Please let me know if you know of any.
(2) If I drive myself down there, are there any parking lots nearby (not far from the embassy) with low hourly rates? I don't want to spend more than $15 for a parking spot that will be available for less than three hours. Anyone in the know in this respect should please give me a lead. Thanks everyone.

There's a parkade (multilevel) on the intersection where the embassy is.

 

[Rosanna123]

There's a parkade (multilevel) on the intersection where the embassy is.

Hello, Did you get your passport back after your interview? My husband's interview was on March 27th and CEAS shows "Refused" same status as from March 27th. No change since. The officer approved his visa during the interview and confirmed that he will get the passport back in 5 -7 business days. It is already past 10 business day and there are no status changes. We have an emergency travel coming up this April 20th and we don't know what to do. Any one on the same boat as ours? Is there an email or contact number to get a status update or to request the passport back? We called all numbers on the website and getting no help at all