Automatic Visa Revalidation for travel to Mexico, Canada and some adjacent islands

Under Automatic Visa Revalidation Rules, nonimmigrants can reenter the US from Mexico or Canada with an expired US visa stamp as long as you were once issued a nonimmigrant US visa stamp (such as F-1, J-1, H-1B, O-1 or E-3). This benefit also applies to nonimmigrants who have changed nonimmigrant status in the US and have not been issued a visa stamp for their current immigration status - the visa is considered "converted" to the proper visa category as well as "extended" to allow reentry. 22 CFR 41.112(d). This rule also applies to Dependents.

An individual whose visa is in an expired passport or a different kind of passport (e.g. official passport v. regular passport) can also benefit from this provision, provided both passports were issued by the same country, and the individual actually carries the other passport that contains his or her original nonimmigrant visa at the time of reentry. Citizens of countries that keep the old passport upon issuance of a new one are therefore at a disadvantage when traveling to contiguous territories.

Rules for Automatic Visa Revalidation:

• You traveled for less than 30 days solely to Canada or Mexico, or, in the case of F, J, and Q-2 nonimmigrants only, to Canada, Mexico or "adjacent islands other than Cuba" - see list of islands below
• You were previously admitted to the United States on the basis of a nonimmigrant visa
• You have a Form I-94 valid for an unexpired period of admission or extension of stay, or for duration of status (D/S). If possible, carry a copy of your current I-94 with you when you depart the US
• You have a current Form I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) signed by ISSS staff for reentry or you have a current Approval Notice (Form I-797) if you hold H-1B or O-1 status
• You have continuously maintained and intend to resume nonimmigrant status
• You are applying for readmission within the authorized period of initial admission or extension of stay
• You have a valid passport
• You have not applied for a new visa in Mexico or Canada during this particular trip
• You are not inadmissible as a nonimmigrant under INA § 212
• You have never had a visa canceled under INA § 222(g)
• You are not a citizen or national of a country that has been designated as a "state sponsor of terrorism," which at the time this release of the Manual was prepared, includes: Iran, Syria, Sudan and Cuba

If you have ever traveled to Cuba, we recommend consulting with an immigration attorney about using the visa revalidation.

The adjacent islands are:

• Saint Pierre
• Miquelon
• The Dominican Republic
• Haiti
• Bermuda
• The Bahamas
• Barbados
• Jamaica
• The Windward and Leeward Islands
• Trinidad
• Martinique
• Other British, French, and Netherlands territory or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea

( INA, Section 101(b)(5))