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Automatic Revalidation
If you have an expired non-immigrant visa stamp in your passport (for example F or J) and you have a valid I-94 card stating your current status, your visa will be considered automatically revalidated when you re-enter the U.S. from Canada as ALL of the following are true:
Requirements
- you have only been in Canada for less than 30 days
- you have with you a current I-94 card stating your valid status
- you do have an expired non-immigrant visa in your passport
- you do not apply for a U.S. visa while in Canada
- you are not from one of the countries currently considered by the U.S. federal government to be state sponsors of terrorism (as of 08/07/2003 this includes Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea and Cuba)
I-94 Card
For automatic revalidation to apply to you, you must be careful to keep your I-94 card when leaving the U.S. When you re-enter the U.S., present your I-94 card along with your valid passport, expired visa and your valid immigration document (I-20, DS-2019 or I-797 in the case of someone in H1B or O visa status).
Changes of Status and Automatic Revalidation
The automatic revalidation will also work for someone who originally entered the U.S. in one non-immigrant status (such as F1) and has since changed to another non-immigrant status (such as H1B). The expired F1 visa will be considered to be revalidated and changed to H1B for the entry from Canada. Check with an International Program Coordinator in the ISS office
if you plan to re-enter the U.S. using automatic revalidation. It is also a good idea to stop by our office before you go to be sure your documents are in order. |
