Rights and Responsibilities Part 5

'Travel'

Visiting Canada, Mexico or Adjacent Islands
[The adjacent islands include: the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Hispaniola (Haiti and The Dominican Republic), Jamaica, Martinique, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Trinidad and Tobago, The Leeward Islands (Anguilla, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Nevis, St. Kitts and The British Virgin Islands), The Windward Islands (Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia and St. Vincent) and other British, French or Dutch territories or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea.]

Automatic Visa Revalidation for Reentry to the U.S.

It is possible for non-immigrants in F-1 or J-1 status, and their F-2 or J-2 dependents, to reenter the United States with an expired U.S. nonimmigrant visa stamp after a visit of not more than thirty (30) days ONLY when traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands (except Cuba).
Note: It is not recommended that Automatic Visa Revalidation be used to apply for readmission to the United States from your home country. For example, a nonimmigrant from Mexico traveling to Mexico for less than 30 days with an expired F-1 or J-1 visa should apply for a new visa while they are in their home country. They may encounter difficulty if they attempt to reenter the U.S. with an expired F-1 or J-1 visa, even if they have retained their original Form I-94 Departure Record.
Requirements

You are eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation only if (see "Ineligible Nationalities" below):
1. You are in possession of the following documents at the time you reenter the U.S.:
a)Your most recent Form I-94 marked D/S for 'duration of status'. You must retain your Form I-94 when departing the U.S., as it is the basis for your reentry.
b) The expired visa stamp, OR a USCIS approval notice (Form I-797) if you possess an I-94 card from a change of status.
c) A valid I-20 which has been endorsed for travel by the International Students Office (ISO).
d)A valid passport
2. You have only been to the countries or territories listed above for a period of no more than 30 days.
3. You have maintained your F-1 status, and intend to resume the same status when you return to the U.S.
4. You have not applied for a new visa while abroad (see next paragraph).

If You Apply for a Visa While Abroad

Automatic Visa Revalidation is not available to citizens of any country who apply for a U.S. visa while abroad. If you intend to apply for a U.S. visa while in one of the countries listed above, you should decide carefully, as you will not be able to return to the U.S. until your visa is approved. This caution is particularly important for nationalities that may be subject to an extensive security check. If your visa is denied, you must return to your home country and reapply at a U.S. consulate there.

Ineligible Nationalities

Automatic visa revalidation is not available to nationals of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Sudan, North Korea and Cuba. If you are a citizen of one of these countries and your F-1 visa is no longer valid, you will need to follow the procedures for renewing your F-1 visa. Additionally, nationals of Lebanon may experience difficulty when trying to reenter the U.S. under Automatic Visa Revalidation.

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