Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) to enter USA

[ryeCatcher]

CBP is not going to see you and identify you as a person who went for interview. He will ask why did you go and where did you go to Canada. So dont tell something which they dont ask/expect. Tell why and where you went.
Even if asked, tell the truth that you did not attend any interview.

Thank you.
Can the CBP ask do you have a pending interview? I can obviously say with truth/confidence what I did not attend any interview (and not mention anything about cancelled appointment) but if he asks do you have a pending interview, I don't know what is the right answer? My appointment was cancelled, so no longer have a pending interview, just the DS 160..

 

[harirajmohan]

Thank you.
Can the CBP ask do you have a pending interview? I can obviously say with truth/confidence what I did not attend any interview (and not mention anything about cancelled appointment) but if he asks do you have a pending interview, I don't know what is the right answer? My appointment was cancelled, so no longer have a pending interview, just the DS 160..

CBP doesnt ask 99.99% of time. Even if they ask then tell that you dont have interview. Why are you wanting to confuse him with DS160 without him asking on it. You are overthinking about it.
Just travel. When they ask on why you went then tell that you went for landing/xyz. Topic of interview is remote chance and that too stick to the point of "no interview" - dont add your DS160 unless asked further (which is not going to happen) then tell that your interview was cancelled.

 

[ryeCatcher]

CBP doesnt ask 99.99% of time. Even if they ask then tell that you dont have interview. Why are you wanting to confuse him with DS160 without him asking on it. You are overthinking about it.
Just travel. When they ask on why you went then tell that you went for landing/xyz. Topic of interview is remote chance and that too stick to the point of "no interview" - dont add your DS160 unless asked further (which is not going to happen) then tell that your interview was cancelled.

Thank you!

 

[candachalo]

Hello All,

Has anyone recently entered US via land border using AVR ? Are there any restrictions or because of COVID19 ?
Any information would be of great help.

Thank you

 

[duytuanbme]

CBP doesnt ask 99.99% of time. Even if they ask then tell that you dont have interview. Why are you wanting to confuse him with DS160 without him asking on it. You are overthinking about it.
Just travel. When they ask on why you went then tell that you went for landing/xyz. Topic of interview is remote chance and that too stick to the point of "no interview" - dont add your DS160 unless asked further (which is not going to happen) then tell that your interview was cancelled.

Hi @harirajmohan, I just know of the AVR process recently and I'm a bit confused. I'm holding an expired F1 visa and will have to travel to Canada soon (when the border is open again). May I ask that when my F1 visa is revalidated by the CBP, does it mean that it will be extended or I can just use it as a document to enter US that one time only? Also, since I'll need to travel to Canada frequently, how many times can I go through the AVR process? Thank you!

 

[harirajmohan]

Hi @harirajmohan, I just know of the AVR process recently and I'm a bit confused. I'm holding an expired F1 visa and
1. will have to travel to Canada soon (when the border is open again).
2. May I ask that when my F1 visa is revalidated by the CBP,
3. does it mean that it will be extended or I can just use it as a document to enter US that one time only?
4. Also, since I'll need to travel to Canada frequently, how many times can I go through the AVR process? Thank you!

AVR is not the process the candidate should follow. Its the rule/process for the cbp hence we all need to just enter US however we used to enter US during the first/previous time how we entered and with whatever documents we had(+ additional documents on the current status).
1. There might be visa ban or opt ban (which is under proposal) or sometimes non-essential travel ban on one/both side hence check the rules on both sides before you depart so that you dont get stuck at wrong side of border.
2. CBP doesnt do any special validation if you reenter from Canada. CBP validates the visa as usual like last time(and additionally will validate the current status and reaffirm/confirm your status which is the only additional thing that will happen this time).
3. Just carry all of you current and previously held status(if any) documents including the approval documents and your current printed/stamped I94. Nothing different about this entry from candidate's perspective. Just show your I94 in your passport and let them ask for any documents if they need - thats all you need to do.
Depending on the officer, you might get new I94(with less/same/additional validity - no one knows what validity you would get but most of the time they dont issue new I94 and even if they issue they would give it for same duration as you have today). Make sure you carry all documents to prove that your current status is valid and legal and you are still studying(as you said you are on F1)(studying i meant that you are still to complete your x number of courses/classes).
4. No limits but they will scrutinize more each time once they start seeing your sudden travel frequency increase. THey will ask like "why are you going to Canada" "what are you doing" "Why are you moving" etc hence have answers for all to give at both borders. Sometime they will send you to secondary inspection to the office inside instead of just letting you in directly - in this case just take your documents and be ready to answer the officer inside the office and later they will let you go.

So just forget all about avr and enter US as if you are travelling for first time with all necessary documents and you will be fine.

 

[duytuanbme]

AVR is not the process the candidate should follow. Its the rule/process for the cbp hence we all need to just enter US however we used to enter US during the first/previous time how we entered and with whatever documents we had(+ additional documents on the current status).
1. There might be visa ban or opt ban (which is under proposal) or sometimes non-essential travel ban on one/both side hence check the rules on both sides before you depart so that you dont get stuck at wrong side of border.
2. CBP doesnt do any special validation if you reenter from Canada. CBP validates the visa as usual like last time(and additionally will validate the current status and reaffirm/confirm your status which is the only additional thing that will happen this time).
3. Just carry all of you current and previously held status(if any) documents including the approval documents and your current printed/stamped I94. Nothing different about this entry from candidate's perspective. Just show your I94 in your passport and let them ask for any documents if they need - thats all you need to do.
Depending on the officer, you might get new I94(with less/same/additional validity - no one knows what validity you would get but most of the time they dont issue new I94 and even if they issue they would give it for same duration as you have today). Make sure you carry all documents to prove that your current status is valid and legal and you are still studying(as you said you are on F1)(studying i meant that you are still to complete your x number of courses/classes).
4. No limits but they will scrutinize more each time once they start seeing your sudden travel frequency increase. THey will ask like "why are you going to Canada" "what are you doing" "Why are you moving" etc hence have answers for all to give at both borders. Sometime they will send you to secondary inspection to the office inside instead of just letting you in directly - in this case just take your documents and be ready to answer the officer inside the office and later they will let you go.

So just forget all about avr and enter US as if you are travelling for first time with all necessary documents and you will be fine.

Thank you for the response. I have family relatives in Canada and want to spend holidays with them. However my F1 will be expired when I travel, and it would be quite costly to return to my home country and renew the F1 visa there given the fact that my education will last for at least another 3 years.

So if I understand everything correctly - I can use AVR to re-enter the US from Canada, even when my F1 visa expires, as long as I provide the CBP with all of valid documents (I20, I94) showing my legal status as a student in the US. Would you please confirm this?

 

[madhav_91]

Hi , I wanted to know if I can use AVR in the following situation ?

1) My old passport had Expired F1 stamp. I lost it and got a new one. So I have my new passport which has a reference to my old passport number.
2) I have a valid I20 and I 94


Will the lost passport be causing any problem to me ?

 

[harirajmohan]

Thank you for the response. I have family relatives in Canada and want to spend holidays with them. However my F1 will be expired when I travel, and it would be quite costly to return to my home country and renew the F1 visa there given the fact that my education will be for at least another 3 years.

So if I understand everything correctly - I can use AVR to re-enter the US from Canada, even when my F1 visa expires, as long as I provide the CBP with all of valid documents (I20, I94) showing my legal status as a student in the US. Would you please confirm this?

Correct. Have your documents ready but show just your passport with your I94 and he might ask documents or he might not. So you should be all set. Expired visa is not a problem as long as you have valid I94 and you are still maintaining status as student.

 

[duytuanbme]

Correct. Have your documents ready but show just your passport with your I94 and he might ask documents or he might not. So you should be all set. Expired visa is not a problem as long as you have valid I94 and you are still maintaining status as student.

Thank you for confirming!

 

[arunb420]

Hi Everyone, I am planning to do a soft landing in June, stay there for the 14 day quarantine period and return using AVR. I have a question regarding the re-entry to US. I am on F1 visa taking a semester break(Summer) with an expired visa.

1. Is your status and AVR checked before you board the flight at Pearson?
2. If yes, then will there be any additional visa and status verification done after landing in the US? Just wanted to understand if there are any issues after landing in the US.

 

[starlordavuthu]

Hi Everyone, I am planning to do a soft landing in June, stay there for the 14 day quarantine period and return using AVR. I have a question regarding the re-entry to US. I am on F1 visa taking a semester break(Summer) with an expired visa.

1. Is your status and AVR checked before you board the flight at Pearson?
2. If yes, then will there be any additional visa and status verification done after landing in the US? Just wanted to understand if there are any issues after landing in the US.

I believe you will be directed to US CBP officer before you board flight at Pearson and yes an officer will check your status. As long as you have valid I94 I believe you are good to go but expect some questions from the officer

No, only checks will be done at Pearson and you will land as domestic traveler so no additional checks once you are in the states

 

[adityacs007]

Hello All,

Has anyone recently entered US via land border using AVR ? Are there any restrictions or because of COVID19 ?
Any information would be of great help.

Thank you

Hi, Were you able to get an answer to this?

 

[adityacs007]

Hi All, I am wondering if traveling back to US from Canada on H1 is allowed under COVID restrictions? Has anyone done it yet? What if you have a US citizen child?

 

[Username199342]

Hi everyone,

Has anyone recently used AVR to travel to Canada during this pandemic? My F1 visa expired in January and my COPR expires in July - I’m worried about traveling now because of the uncertainty with OPT/STEM and have also seen people who said IRCC rejected their web form so I’m quite confused as to what to do. I had to cancel my flight in March due to the pandemic.