Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) to enter USA

[gprawtap]

No impact on AVR . you are good.

Regarding visit, you are still good considering you are vaccinated ,filling arrive CAN app and covid negative test, but just be prepared with the proper reason for your travel.

I'm not sure about AVR. I learnt from an immigration attorney that if the DS-160 is submitted, you can't do AVR.

 

[AnkithaP]

I'm not sure about AVR. I learnt from an immigration attorney that if the DS-160 is submitted, you can't do AVR.

Any official source/link for this ?

 

[swan0206]

I'm not sure about AVR. I learnt from an immigration attorney that if the DS-160 is submitted, you can't do AVR.

That was a pre-pandemic situation but now Cbp has been considering travel till the day before your Visa appointment. Many have been already travelling with an appointment already scheduled. For one person in the group, there has been a check if the travel is within 30days of appointment date and he wasn't allowed(this is a rare situation though).

 

[Anks86]

I am on a H1B visa living in New Hampshire. My wife’s job recently moved to Toronto. I am planning to live near Niagara Falls with her and commute to US side of Niagara Falls daily to work (my employer needs me to work out of US). I have an approved I797 till 2023 but no visa stamp on my passport. Will the CBP allow me to enter US everyday using AVR?

 

[Anks86]

Thanks @harirajmohan .....
I didn't start...I'm in early stages...gathering all the information regarding daily commuting....I need to take decision about the employer change based on those...

Hi this is a long shot, hoping you respond because I am in a similar situation and need some good guidance.
I am on a H1B visa living in New Hampshire. My wife’s job recently moved to Toronto. I am planning to live near Niagara Falls with her and commute to US side of Niagara Falls daily to work (my employer needs me to work out of US). I have an approved I797 till 2023 but no visa stamp on my passport. Will the CBP allow me to enter US everyday using AVR?

 

[ca2021]

Hello, I thought to take an appointment for my dependent and submitted DS160 for H4 stamping along with soft landing, but interview dates are available after July 2019. Now i am thinking to use AVR option travel by Road via Niagara but need to know as per AVR criteria to use AVR option, a visa must not be applied -
1. Do submitting ONLY DS160 and no interview /no payment of fees means I have applied for visa.
Please suggest thanks!

Hi ,

Can you please confirm if submitting DS 160 and no interview appointment makes me ineligible for AVR or means applying for a new visa
??

Appreciate your help
Thanks.

 

[ca2021]

I am on a H1B visa living in New Hampshire. My wife’s job recently moved to Toronto. I am planning to live near Niagara Falls with her and commute to US side of Niagara Falls daily to work (my employer needs me to work out of US). I have an approved I797 till 2023 but no visa stamp on my passport. Will the CBP allow me to enter US everyday using AVR?

Hi,
My spouse in similar condition
He has expired F1 stamp and new H1B status,
Can he reenter under AVR?

Appreciate your help.
Thanks.

 

[swan0206]

Hi ,

Can you please confirm if submitting DS 160 and no interview appointment makes me ineligible for AVR or means applying for a new visa
??

Appreciate your help
Thanks.

No, you are not ineligible. You can still use AVR even after making an appoiintment and submitting DS160.

 

[CanucksRajiv]

What are current restrictions in place for re-entry to US for H1B using AVR and F1 student with OPT and H1b COS pending from Oct 1? What documents are required?

Do we need to produce negative RT-PCR test?

 

[dehemnani]

Hello.. Is there any recent experiences with AVR from a Canada land border? I live in the US, have Canada PR and planning to visit for 10 days in September. I would like to know if there are any recent challenges.
Additionally, I booked visa stamping appointment in India during April, which subsequently got cancelled due to Covid. I have not rescheduled since then. Does that impact AVR eligibility?

Hi RJ16.
did you end up travelling yet ? With the ban in place are they still allowing Indians to enter back based on AVR ?

 

[dehemnani]

Hi,

I'm planning to soft land through Peace Arch bridge NY border crossing in July. I plan to use AVR since my H1B stamp expired on my passport. Last year in Apr 2020, I booked a visa appointment In India and cancelled it due to covid restrictions. Haven't travelled outside the US since then. Will I still be able to use AVR option. Please help.

Thank you

Were you able to complete the soft landing process ?

 

[harirajmohan]

What are current restrictions in place for re-entry to US for H1B using AVR and F1 student with OPT and H1b COS pending from Oct 1? What documents are required?

Do we need to produce negative RT-PCR test?

Rules change multiple times during this pandemic. Its better to go with recent rule changes based on your travel date range.
https://travel.gc.ca/travel-covid/travel-restrictions/wizard-start

 

[harirajmohan]

Hi RJ16.
did you end up travelling yet ? With the ban in place are they still allowing Indians to enter back based on AVR ?

Ban is only for the people traveling from outside of the continent(that is, traveling directly from India without any exemption).
People are landing and coming back to US without any issue throughout the pandemic.

 

[Absii]

No, you are not ineligible. You can still use AVR even after making an appoiintment and submitting DS160.

Even I have the same doubt . When I checked with my office immigration team they told that once you fill out DS-160 you may not be allowed to travel back to US . Did anyone travelled in this situation by flight ?

 

[harirajmohan]

Even I have the same doubt . When I checked with my office immigration team they told that once you fill out DS-160 you may not be allowed to travel back to US . Did anyone travelled in this situation by flight ?

Immigration is always confusing sometimes at some stages.
Technically it appears like we are applying but this is not like submitting DS160 and get your visa directly(like how we send our DS160 for the dropbox).
But its not the case. You need to appear for interview. If interview doesnt happen then there is no review of your application by the officer at all(or if interview get cancelled or if you miss the interview).

So thats why it will confuse some of the lawyers too since there is no clear cut clarity on all rules and on all stages. So its up to the interpretation of the individual/lawyer.

We commuters submit DS160 weeks/months ago(since we dont get appointments quickly or no walk-in) and do commute to US for weeks/months.
I dont think that the border gets notified just with the interview booking or by just submission of DS160(because interview might not even happen as we noted).