Automatic Visa Revalidation

[babilon]

I thought it is better to open a new threat for this specific question.

My wife is a doctorate student in the US, expecting to graduate in January. Her F-1 student visa was expired in 2015 so if she leaves the country, she won't be able to reenter before renewing her visa. She is also pregnant. We learned about the pregnancy after we received our AOR. We received our PPR last week. After reading the posts and getting some advice from the experienced forum members (thank you all), we planned to let CIC about the pregnancy and wait till the birth of our child and then land Canada. (It would be both very expensive and unhealthy for my wife to fly overseas to renew her visa and come back to the US)

Today, I learned about automatic visa revalidation. (https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/general/automatic-revalidation.html) I just want to ask if there is anyone here who passed the border with an expired F-1 visa. If we can get one, we will be able to drive to Canada border and do soft landing and then return back to the US on AVR before the birth of our child. If you were in the same situation and pass the border on AVR, would you please share your experience at the border?

Thank you

 

[Trusty]

hi babilon- did you use automatic revalidation? I know technically this is possible legally, but I am not sure how the US govt and US border officers are treating such cases these days.

 

[Gwalia]

My automatic revalidation of visa experience

Took one way rental from yyz. Getting rental car was easy. Then drove to buffalo/ Niagara

Reached the booth where officer asked for my documents. I gave him my old i94, passport and my h1b. He asked why I went to Canada and why I am going back to USA. I said I was in Canada to complete my permanent residency process and now going back to the USA to wind up my stuff, sell my car, etc before I move for good to Canada.

He said ok, and gave me a small slip and asked me to park and go inside the building.

At entry of building the cop guy asked the same questions about purpose of my visit and checked my laptop bag for any arms or pointed thing like a knife.

Then I entered inside the building and waited for 20-25 mins before a port of entry officer called my name. Went to window he asked what’s my story why I want enter US and why I visited Canada and when? Told him the same answer. Looking at my 797 he said is this a copy? I said no it’s original he said doesn’t look like, I sticked to my words and said ok whatever. Then he said you do don’t have h1 stamp I replied no coz I didn’t go for stamping after my status changed to h1 from f1.

Then he asked my address and how many universities I applied to?

Then he confirmed his colleague about the 797, if he thinks it’s original. Fortunately he said yeah he has seen the same low quality document for another guy.

Finally the officer asked me for finger prints. Stamped my passport, attached a new i94 to my passport and asked me to pay $6 fee at cashier.

Got my passport back stamped))

Said thank you and picked my car and drove off.

I believe since I didn’t have at least one h1 stamping in my passport I was asked more questions.

In the end it was all good.

 

[rix_08]

My automatic revalidation of visa experience

Took one way rental from yyz. Getting rental car was easy. Then drove to buffalo/ Niagara

Reached the booth where officer asked for my documents. I gave him my old i94, passport and my h1b. He asked why I went to Canada and why I am going back to USA. I said I was in Canada to complete my permanent residency process and now going back to the USA to wind up my stuff, sell my car, etc before I move for good to Canada.

He said ok, and gave me a small slip and asked me to park and go inside the building.

At entry of building the cop guy asked the same questions about purpose of my visit and checked my laptop bag for any arms or pointed thing like a knife.

Then I entered inside the building and waited for 20-25 mins before a port of entry officer called my name. Went to window he asked what’s my story why I want enter US and why I visited Canada and when? Told him the same answer. Looking at my 797 he said is this a copy? I said no it’s original he said doesn’t look like, I sticked to my words and said ok whatever. Then he said you do don’t have h1 stamp I replied no coz I didn’t go for stamping after my status changed to h1 from f1.

Then he asked my address and how many universities I applied to?

Then he confirmed his colleague about the 797, if he thinks it’s original. Fortunately he said yeah he has seen the same low quality document for another guy.

Finally the officer asked me for finger prints. Stamped my passport, attached a new i94 to my passport and asked me to pay $6 fee at cashier.

Got my passport back stamped))

Said thank you and picked my car and drove off.

I believe since I didn’t have at least one h1 stamping in my passport I was asked more questions.

In the end it was all good.

What were all the documents that you carried with you for automatic revalidation ?

 

[lampbreaker]

What were all the documents that you carried with you for automatic revalidation ?

I-94 and any other documents required for your Visa class. Ex. for F1 you will need I-20 and H1B you will need petition approval notice.

 

[us2canada17]

My Automatic revalidation experience for my expired F1 visa.
I landed in Canada for first time arrival and tried to return after 2 days via Calgary airport. The US customs officer checked my visa and I20 and he was familiar with automatic re-validation. But he immediately said that automatic revalidation applies only to people VISITING Canada but NOT to me because I just IMMIGRATED to Canada and that I am returning from my home. Then he sent me to the hall where people wait without cell phones for further verification.

After waiting for 40 minutes, the officer told me that they have decided to let me in to US because my original F1 was issued in India. It is up to you to understand the logic. My interpretation is that since original visa is from India, they could treat me like I am visiting Canada. But the officer advised me not to do this again.

 

[rix_08]

My Automatic revalidation experience for my expired F1 visa.
I landed in Canada for first time arrival and tried to return after 2 days via Calgary airport. The US customs officer checked my visa and I20 and he was familiar with automatic re-validation. But he immediately said that automatic revalidation applies only to people VISITING Canada but NOT to me because I just IMMIGRATED to Canada and that I am returning from my home. Then he sent me to the hall where people wait without cell phones for further verification.

After waiting for 40 minutes, the officer told me that they have decided to let me in to US because my original F1 was issued in India. It is up to you to understand the logic. My interpretation is that since original visa is from India, they could treat me like I am visiting Canada. But the officer advised me not to do this again.

did you re-enter by air or land ?

 

[us2canada17]

did you re-enter by air or land ?

By Air.

"I landed in Canada for first time arrival and tried to return after 2 days via Calgary airport."

 

[vkala33]

Hi friends!

I hope you all are doing great.
I am planning to fly to Canada for my PR formalities but I had a doubt.
My H1B is approved but not stamped on my passport - do I qualify for automatic revalidation?

Thank you.

 

[alayt]

August 2019: Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) experience for expired F1 visa.

I departed to Victoria, British Columbia on July 26, 2019. My US visa expired on June 12, 2019. I stayed for 8 days and returned to the U.S. via Edmonton Airport.

I travelled from Victoria to Edmonton on August 04, 2019. When I arrived to Edmonton, there was a separate entrance for US connections. There, I scanned my boarding pass to enter. Then I went onto security (double layer despite security from Victoria). After passing security, I went onto Customs and Border Protection.

The man at the kiosk asked for my passport. He said that my visa had expired. Then I told him about AVR. He took me to a separate room behind the kiosk to another employee. I gave my new passport, old passport (with expired visa) and I-20. The man returned my passport in 10 minutes with a stamp on my expired visa page. Written on the stamp were my visa class (F1) and my date of expiration (D/S).

After that, I went to check-in to my gate. I was flying Delta. However, there was a problem with the system. I kept on reading my visa as expired despite the AVR approval / extension. This took about 30 minutes to figure out. In the end, they overrode the system in order to print my boarding pass and finally allowed me in.

 

[duytuanbme]

August 2019: Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) experience for expired F1 visa.

I departed to Victoria, British Columbia on July 26, 2019. My US visa expired on June 12, 2019. I stayed for 8 days and returned to the U.S. via Edmonton Airport.

I travelled from Victoria to Edmonton on August 04, 2019. When I arrived to Edmonton, there was a separate entrance for US connections. There, I scanned my boarding pass to enter. Then I went onto security (double layer despite security from Victoria). After passing security, I went onto Customs and Border Protection.

The man at the kiosk asked for my passport. He said that my visa had expired. Then I told him about AVR. He took me to a separate room behind the kiosk to another employee. I gave my new passport, old passport (with expired visa) and I-20. The man returned my passport in 10 minutes with a stamp on my expired visa page. Written on the stamp were my visa class (F1) and my date of expiration (D/S).

After that, I went to check-in to my gate. I was flying Delta. However, there was a problem with the system. I kept on reading my visa as expired despite the AVR approval / extension. This took about 30 minutes to figure out. In the end, they overrode the system in order to print my boarding pass and finally allowed me in.

Hi Alayt,

I'm holding a F1 visa. It will expire in December 2020 and can only be renewed in my home country. Since I'll have a few trips to Canada and have to return to US to study, I'm planning to go through the AVR process.

May I ask that when our visa is revalidated at the airport, does it mean that it will be extended for 1 year? How many times can we go through this process?

Thank you!

 

[ishangodbole]

You have a valid visa stamp. AVR does not apply to you.

 

[duytuanbme]

You have a valid visa stamp. AVR does not apply to you.

Thank you for the reply, and sorry for not being clear. I'm planning to travel to Canada next year when my F1 visa will be expiring by then. Would AVR apply to me by then?

 

[ishangodbole]

Only if you have status in USA on F1 or another visa. AVR does not extend the validity of visa beyond I94 end date.

 

[duytuanbme]

Only if you have status in USA on F1 or another visa. AVR does not extend the validity of visa beyond I94 end date.

I do have a valid F1 visa, until December 2020 as I mentioned. May I ask that when my F1 expires, can I repeat the AVR process whenever I travel back from Canada?