anyone successful on flying back to USA using AVR ?

[TimeLord18]

hi TimeLord18,
I too had the same question. Planning to do our landing process next month and will try to come back via AVR.

Just to verify, are there any formalities from our side after receiving the COPR and before we land?

Thanks

Vian

There are no formalities. Just prepare all the documents needed for landing such as Proof of Funds and Goods accompanying/follow. For the return journey you need passport with Visa, H1 approval, latest paystubs and employment verification letter.

I took all my employment docs and original H1s with me in case they asked for it. They didn't even ask for my paystubs but it's good to be prepared.

 

[Albertagoverner]

Thank you for your reply! I appreciate it!

May I know which airlines did you fly with? I am planning to fly 3 months before my current i797 expires as the extension will take time so hopefully they would let me travel

Just to reduce risk, use greyhound from buffalo NY to Toronto and come back to buffalo NY using AVR with I 797 A as custom staff at those rainbow, peace bridge is really familiar with AVR.

 

[sdhou]

Does anyone have any experience flying back from Calgary (YYC)?

 

[capri_sanjeev]

Hello Experts, I have to do the Canada Landing formalities in April, I am from West Coast and want to do by road. Has anyone done that from West Coast for Vancouver ? I want to use AVR and I don't have H1B Visa stamp on passport. I am planning to carry all employment related documents with Original Passport, I797 (that has I94 paper as well). Will AVR work or there could be any issues ?

 

[sdhou]

Sharing my recent experience using AVR at calgary airport. I was flying with Air Canada and was not issued boarding pass while checking online previous night. The lady at counter had no idea about AVR, and she refused to issue me a boarding pass without a valid unexpired visa stamp in my passport. She didnt know what an approved i797 document is and asked me to contact US CBP people at the nearby NEXUS kiosk. Unfortunately, the CBP office there was only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays...I called the phone number listed on the door and someone from CBP answered. He was very familiar with AVR process and suggested that the airline staff call the same number and speak with his supervisor. I went back to airline counter and asked the lady to call that number. She spoke with the supervisor and after few minutes wait issued me the boarding pass. After security I had to go through US immigration (on the Canadian side). The process was smooth after that. The officer there knew about AVR, and asked few questions (if I visited any other country during that time, duration of stay etc.) to verify AVR was applicable to me.

thanks

 

[DEEPCUR]

Sharing my recent experience using AVR at calgary airport. I was flying with Air Canada and was not issued boarding pass while checking online previous night. The lady at counter had no idea about AVR, and she refused to issue me a boarding pass without a valid unexpired visa stamp in my passport. She didnt know what an approved i797 document is and asked me to contact US CBP people at the nearby NEXUS kiosk. Unfortunately, the CBP office there was only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays...I called the phone number listed on the door and someone from CBP answered. He was very familiar with AVR process and suggested that the airline staff call the same number and speak with his supervisor. I went back to airline counter and asked the lady to call that number. She spoke with the supervisor and after few minutes wait issued me the boarding pass. After security I had to go through US immigration (on the Canadian side). The process was smooth after that. The officer there knew about AVR, and asked few questions (if I visited any other country during that time, duration of stay etc.) to verify AVR was applicable to me.

thanks

That's cool! Did they issue a new online i94 for you?

 

[sdhou]

Yes, checked online, I94 was updated with latest approval date. Also, travel history shows current departure and arrival dates.

 

[prashanth061279]

This post helped me. I tried AVR and came back from Toronto on 4/21 in American Airlines. Agent knew about AVR and issued boarding pass. Inside again I had to go through fingerprint and new I94 was issued. Make sure to give enough time. It took almost 3 hours from agent issuing boarding pass to till I reached the gate. Only thing I missed was filing SIN as the office is closed during weekends.

 

[kumapathy]

I did my landing on Jan12th and used AVR to return to the US. I was unable to get a boarding pass from the kiosk and had to check with an agent. Showed my expired Visa and the valid H1 with I94 and got the boarding pass.

The US customs officers in Toronto are aware of the AVR rule. I still had to go to secondary inspection where a second agent verified my docs and let me go. You should be fine as long as you have all the docs ready. Just remember not to provide any information to the US customs officers unless they specifically ask for it. The Canadian officers much more friendly and relaxed. You shouldn't have any issues with PR process.

Hi

Can you tell me what are the required / relevant travel documents that are necessary to carry inirder to return US back from Canada with AVR ???

 

[TimeLord18]

Hi

Can you tell me what are the required / relevant travel documents that are necessary to carry inirder to return US back from Canada with AVR ???

You need a valid H1B and passport with the expired visa. Employment verification letter and latest paystubs. Also, carry a copy of the AVR doc so you can show them if needed. You can find a copy online.

 

[kumapathy]

You need a valid H1B and passport with the expired visa. Employment verification letter and latest paystubs. Also, carry a copy of the AVR doc so you can show them if needed. You can find a copy online.

Thanks a lot !!!! can you tell me how to obtain AVR , im sorry if this is a basic question ... I know there is some option called AVR .. but not sure how to obtain that ??? is there a link ???

 

[pk-new]

This post helped me. I tried AVR and came back from Toronto on 4/21 in American Airlines. Agent knew about AVR and issued boarding pass. Inside again I had to go through fingerprint and new I94 was issued. Make sure to give enough time. It took almost 3 hours from agent issuing boarding pass to till I reached the gate. Only thing I missed was filing SIN as the office is closed during weekends.

Hi Prashanth,

Can you kindly explain the AVR process in Toronto through American? I'm planning to use AVR at Toronto Airport..

 

[pk-new]

I have personally used AVR on atleast 7 occasions in the last year. 4 times I flew across the border and 3 times i drove. Had no issues at all. At the airports they do ask to see your i797 and will stamp your passport however on land borders they don't even stamp your passport.

Flew from Vancouver to NY, Alberta to NY, Toronto to NJ and Toronto to TX with no issues. Had land crossings on Ontario/ NY border and Quebec/ NY border.

Let me know if you have any questions.

-P

Hi,

I'm planning to use AVR for the first time in Toronto Airport. Can you kindly help what documents to carry and how to proceed if the airline refuses Boarding pass and any preferred airline ? Also how to proceed if they refuse stamping because the officer is unaware of the rule?

 

[harirajmohan]

Hi,

I'm planning to use AVR for the first time in Toronto Airport.
1. Can you kindly help what documents to carry and how to proceed if the airline refuses Boarding pass and any preferred airline ?
2. Also how to proceed if they refuse stamping because the officer is unaware of the rule?

1. AVR is not a process for you to follow hence have your regular travel documents what you carried when you flew to US last time.
Tell the airline guy that you have valid I94 and ask them to verify the I94/petition. They will try to call their supervisor or cbp or immigration and get it verified before they issue boarding pass. It will take 45-60 mins but they will issue as long as you have stamped/printed valid I94.
2. If the officer is unaware then he/she doesnt just send you back. He/she sends you for secondary inspection if they cannot know how to process your entry. So nothing to worry. Just have your valid I94 and petition originals ready for all members. You should be fine. This cannot be like the travel ban. So you are ok as long as you have valid I94.

 

[jetsons]

Hi,

We are planning to complete our soft landing in Toronto -YYZ airport somewhere in August , stay there for a week and use AVR while returning.
Based on the thread looks like the AVR check would happen at the YYZ airport itself
1) Once when they issue the boarding pass and
2) Second time after the security check wherein we will go through US immigration at Canada end where they will stamp our passport, fingerprint us and issue a new i94.

Please correct me if I am wrong.

Also, what would happen at the US POE? We are planning to take a return flight to Washington Dulles airport. Would we again need to stand in the immigration queue and convince the VISA officer that we need to use AVR who will again stamp our passport, fingerprint and take our picture Or would it be more like taking a domestic flight where we can just come out and collect our luggage.

-Thanks.