Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) to enter USA

[re2020]

*You are in the wrong forum*

However, people have flown using AVR from Canada. But you cannot get answers regarding mexico stuff here.
Try asking the questions in immihelp or trackitt or any FB pages.

Thanks. Found this post very helpful and explains the additional hassle at the airport. I hope someone else finds it helpful too.

 

[sk2701]

Those are of specific conditionals additionally applicable for F. There is no additional condition for H4.

Hi,

I have my (first) H1B approved with valid i797A/i94(till sept 2022) but not stamped on passport.
My i140 application is filed and still under process.
CBP website mention's below point should i140 be regarded as new VISA?

• Applied for a new visa which has not yet been issued;

I wanted to softland tomorrow I am worried if I am eligible for AVR?

Thanks in advance!

 

[harirajmohan]

Hi,

I have my (first) H1B approved with valid i797A/i94(till sept 2022) but not stamped on passport.
My i140 application is filed and still under process.
CBP website mention's below point should i140 be regarded as new VISA?

• Applied for a new visa which has not yet been issued;

I wanted to softland tomorrow I am worried if I am eligible for AVR?

Thanks in advance!

Are you coming to apply for visa? No. So thats not applicable for you.

 

[sk2701]

Are you coming to apply for visa? No. So thats not applicable for you.

Thanks a lot for the response. I have booked a visa slot in India for H1B stamping in Jan 2022 but I have cancelled it yesterday. Would this cause any issue?

 

[harirajmohan]

Thanks a lot for the response. I have booked a visa slot in India for H1B stamping in Jan 2022 but I have cancelled it yesterday. Would this cause any issue?

No, even if its open, it wont affect your avr(as its nothing to do with stamping within continental US).

 

[sk2701]

No, even if its open, it wont affect your avr(as its nothing to do with stamping within continental US).

Thank you very much.

 

[sm07]

I got Permanent Residency Canada and I have to visit Canada for landing. I am a F1 PhD student at USA. My wife is also F1 PhD student at USA. My wife's F1 visa got expired few days ago. But her I-20 is valid till Dec 2022. We are planning to travel by air. Our probable entry airport will be Vancouver and exit port will be Toronto.

I have heard about automatic revalidation. How could I do automatic revalidation of my wife while returning back to USA? What kind of documents do I need? Currently my wife has her valid I-20, expired F1 Visa stamp, valid passport, I-94. Will it be okay to pass through automatic revalidation?

I am confused about following line from CBP website: (https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1218?language=en_US)

" Nonimmigrants with a valid (unexpired) admission stamp or paper from I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, endorsed by Department of Homeland Security (DHS)."

1. What does it mean paper form I-94?
2. Is I-20 considered as valid admission stamp?

Please share your valuable experience. I will be glad and will be really helpful. Is there any possibility that my wife could not enter US?

@legalfalcon

Thank

 

[legalfalcon]

I got Permanent Residency Canada and I have to visit Canada for landing. I am a F1 PhD student at USA. My wife is also F1 PhD student at USA. My wife's F1 visa got expired few days ago. But her I-20 is valid till Dec 2022. We are planning to travel by air. Our probable entry airport will be Vancouver and exit port will be Toronto.

I have heard about automatic revalidation. How could I do automatic revalidation of my wife while returning back to USA? What kind of documents do I need? Currently my wife has her valid I-20, expired F1 Visa stamp, valid passport, I-94. Will it be okay to pass through automatic revalidation?

I am confused about following line from CBP website: (https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1218?language=en_US)

" Nonimmigrants with a valid (unexpired) admission stamp or paper from I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, endorsed by Department of Homeland Security (DHS)."

1. What does it mean paper form I-94?
2. Is I-20 considered as valid admission stamp?

Please share your valuable experience. I will be glad and will be really helpful. Is there any possibility that my wife could not enter US?

@legalfalcon

Thank

THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE

If you have a valid stamp, i.e. a valid I-20, I-94 (issued when admitted into the US on B1/B2) and if they leave the US, they can return back even if the Visa has expired, as long as they travelled to any country within continental North America.

 

[Akshay14]

I have an approved i797(employer change) with valid i94 but an expired H1B visa stamp.
I am currently in US and planning to take a flight to Canada for a 2 week visit and plant to use AVR to return to US via road (Ambassador bridge Windsor -Detroit)
What are my options to travel from Canada to US via road? I see one way rental is not an option from various forums. Is there a bus or a taxi option to cross the border and how would immigration formalities be done in that scenario.

Looking forward to hear any recent experiences at the Windsor-Detroit border bridge for AVR.

 

[sm07]

THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE

If you have a valid stamp, i.e. a valid I-20, I-94 (issued when admitted into the US on B1/B2) and if they leave the US, they can return back even if the Visa has expired, as long as they travelled to any country within continental North America.

@legalfalcon - I have never entered USA on B1/B2. I have always entered as F1 student. I am little bit confused on the line that mentioned

"The Non immigrant is in possession of their valid (unexpired) Form I-94 or extension of stay."

I can always get my I-94 in online (https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home) . That I-94 shows my previous (old) passport number. Recently I have renewed my passport and received a new passport number. In that regards what does CBP mean by valid Form I-94? Could you please explain?

Would I be eligible to travel with downloading my I-94 from website? Please help me to clarify.

 

[swan0206]

@legalfalcon - I have never entered USA on B1/B2. I have always entered as F1 student. I am little bit confused on the line that mentioned

"The Non immigrant is in possession of their valid (unexpired) Form I-94 or extension of stay."

I can always get my I-94 in online (https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home) . That I-94 shows my previous (old) passport number. Recently I have renewed my passport and received a new passport number. In that regards what does CBP mean by valid Form I-94? Could you please explain?

Would I be eligible to travel with downloading my I-94 from website? Please help me to clarify.

Hi,

When they say valid i-94, you need to check for "Admit Until Date:" If by any chance your old i-20 expired and you got a new i20, you need to carry that with a DSO signature as you are travelling outside the country by Air.

As you have got new passports, carry both of your passports and you should be good.

Quite a few people have been using AVR via Air, check the latest posts and confirm once before you travel.

 

[legalfalcon]

@legalfalcon - I have never entered USA on B1/B2. I have always entered as F1 student. I am little bit confused on the line that mentioned

"The Non immigrant is in possession of their valid (unexpired) Form I-94 or extension of stay."

I can always get my I-94 in online (https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home) . That I-94 shows my previous (old) passport number. Recently I have renewed my passport and received a new passport number. In that regards what does CBP mean by valid Form I-94? Could you please explain?

Would I be eligible to travel with downloading my I-94 from website? Please help me to clarify.

When you enter the US, you have a visa, if you are not from a visa-exempt country and then you also have a document that specifies your stay. If you enter on a B1/B2, you will be issued an I-94 which will list how long you can stay.

If you are on a F-1, you will have an I-20 which will list how long you will stay. If your I-20 is valid, you can return to the US.

 

[Abhi1982]

Hello all. I have an expired H1b Visa stamp on my old passport. I have been in USA since 2014. My visa stamp expired in 2015. I have received extensions and I now have approved i797(valid till 2023) with my employer. I have Canada CoPR. Can I travel to Canada against my CoPR to complete landing formalities and return using AVR (since I have approved i797A and updated i94)? Can my dependent child accompany me with his approved i797A and i94? Can AVR be done only via air travel or can we also do it using road travel? Kindly advice please.

 

[coolusa]

Hello all. I have an expired H1b Visa stamp on my old passport. I have been in USA since 2014. My visa stamp expired in 2015. I have received extensions and I now have approved i797(valid till 2023) with my employer. I have Canada CoPR. Can I travel to Canada against my CoPR to complete landing formalities and return using AVR (since I have approved i797A and updated i94)? Can my dependent child accompany me with his approved i797A and i94? Can AVR be done only via air travel or can we also do it using road travel? Kindly advice please.

All of your question, answer is YES. AVR can be used both air and land.
***I thought this is my question. I was in the same situation in Nov and did softlanding, returned backbusing AVR

 

[Anks86]

Hello all. I have an expired H1b Visa stamp on my old passport. I have been in USA since 2014. My visa stamp expired in 2015. I have received extensions and I now have approved i797(valid till 2023) with my employer. I have Canada CoPR. Can I travel to Canada against my CoPR to complete landing formalities and return using AVR (since I have approved i797A and updated i94)? Can my dependent child accompany me with his approved i797A and i94? Can AVR be done only via air travel or can we also do it using road travel? Kindly advice please.

Yes and yes.