See country-specific application instructions onthe website of the consulate where you will be applying for a visa. When you visit them you have not really left the United States, just as when you visit Virginia, South Carolina, Alaska, or Hawaii you have not left the United States. *U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents must complete the employment verification process at Human Resources. According to automatic visa revalidation, people on some non-immigrant visa statuses who visit Canada, Mexico or some adjacent islands close to the United States for a period of less than 30 days can re-enter the United States based on a valid Form I-94 even if their visa has expired. REMINDER: Make copies of your immigration documents and keep them in a safe place separate from the originals. use Automatic Visa Revalidation when traveling to Canada. Duke Box 90790 However, if you go from Puerto Rico or the United States Virgin Islands to other islands, then you are leaving the United States and will need to re-enter. This rule is known as Automatic Visa Revalidation. For scholars in H-1B status, and their dependents in H-4 status, Automatic Visa Revalidation is only available when traveling to Canada or Mexico, not the adjacent islands. No other scholar-related nonimmigrant status permits a grace period. Notably, the expired visa does not have to match the holder's current nonimmigrant visa category. *When traveling to Mexico for stays of less than 30 days on an expired F-1 visa, automatic revalidation still applies for reentry to the United States. The information below will help facilitate your return to the US. You are eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation only if (see Ineligible Nationalities below): Automatic Visa Revalidation is not available to citizens of any country who apply for a U.S. visa while abroad. Please refer to Proving Nonimmigrant Intent. Instead of the "visa", what gets revalidated is the change of status, and therefore in lieu of the visa the applicant must carry the Form I-797 Approval Notice in addition to all the other supporting documentation. Automatic Revalidation provides that, under certain circumstances, a person with an expired F and J visa in their passport can re-enter the US from Canada, Mexico and "adjacent islands" (except Cuba) with an expired non-immigrant visa. 16. Before your interview, practice answering questions in English about your visa application, your plans in the US, and your plans after you return home. To re-enter the US under the benefit of automatic revalidation of visa, students/scholars must meet the following requirements: IMPORTANT: Students/ Scholars should retain and be in possession of a printout of theirI-94 Arrival/Departure record when leaving the US to ensure successful re-entry to the U.S. Citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba are not eligible for the automatic revalidation benefit and would be required to have a valid visa for re-entry. Please see the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement website for a complete list of the adjacent islands. How do I get back into the United States from Canada or Mexico? 10. Individuals who apply for but are denied a visa during their visits abroad are not eligible to participate in the Automatic Visa Revalidation program. Photo by Jackie Riccardi, Medical Care, Immunization & Health Insurance, Researcher, Faculty, and Staff Employment, Completing your program, employment or activity, Reminders for F-1 Students Graduating in Summer, US Ends COVID Vaccination Travel Requirements, Dispatches from Abroad: International Students on Life at Home, Study Abroad Program Directors on Coping with Coronavirus, Far from Boston, Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future New Video Series The World After Coronavirus, (#WorldAfterCorona), Virtual Coffee & Conversation: Adapting to a New Reality, Updated: BU Moves All Classes Online Due to Coronavirus Questions and Answers, Center for English Language & Orientation Programs. The above forms can be obtained at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad as well as on the Department of State web site at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html. Please keep in mind that it may take a few weeks to schedule an appointment, so you should initiate your visa application as early as possible. These can be viewed on the World Wide Web at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/ecfr/. Please visit the US Department of State website for an overview of what is a US Visa. Can I use automatic revalidation to visit Canada and return to the United States? Purpose Therefore, if you need a new visa, please seriously consider your travel plans. 7. You can also get information on wait times for appointments and visa issuance at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php. If all the information on the form is correct, sign your name in the appropriate space on the form. To avoid delays in visa issuance and entering the US, the spelling of your name and your date of birth must be exactly the same as reflected in your passport. Processing times vary among U.S. embassies and consulates. If you are unable to arrive in the US prior to your expected start date, it is important that you contact the ISSO as soon as possible as you will likely need new documentation and special authorization to delay your arrival. If your visa is denied, you must return to your home country and reapply at a U.S. consulate there. Many international students and scholars will be required to comply with the entry and exit requirements of the U.S. Saint Pierre, Miquelon, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, the Windward and Leeward Islands, Trinidad, Martinique, and other British, French, and Netherlands territory or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea [Reference INA, Section 101(b)(5)]. H-1B employees with expired visas should pay particular attention to their travel itineraries to ensure that they will travel only to Canada, Mexico, or a. . Citizens of the above-mentioned countries who plan to travel and apply for a new visa stamp must be aware of the potential for security clearances and plan for possible delays. 114 South Buchanan Boulevard To reenter the U.S., students and scholars need to have valid passports, unexpired visa documents (Form I-20, DS-2019, or I-797), and a printout of their I-94 record. The best thing you can do to reduce the likelihood of encountering problems is to carry valid documents with you at all times (including proof of funding in case you are asked) and to abide by the laws and regulations governing your non-immigrant status, and your admission to the United States. Please see below for information about scheduling a visa appointment. Also, citizens of Iran, Sudan, and Syria are not eligible for automatic visa revalidation. In some cases, it may be as simple as a trip to your consulate in Boston, but in other cases it may be a more complicated and time-consuming process involving an embassy in Washington, DC, or a consulate in another city. I do not have a valid visa stamp. It may be advisable to bring a CV or resume with you. In addition, many students and scholars studying or conducting research in areas considered to be sensitive technology and/or are on the Technology Alert List (TAL) are subject to special security clearance by the Department of State when applying for a visa. In other words, you cannot come and go to the U.S. using your same DS-2019 during the grace period. This procedure is known as automatic visa revalidation. Despite its limitations, an automatic revalidation is a great option for those looking to get away who hold an expired visa. Upon departure from the U.S., you will be required to surrender your I-94 card, if you received one upon entry, to have your departure recorded. Why arent they adjacent islands and why doesnt automatic revalidation work there? We encourage you to review requirements related to continued employment authorization for more details on how to insure compliance with US immigration and employment regulations. You must have in your hands and present to the immigration officer a valid unexpired passport. Suppose I go to Canada or Mexico with an expired visa in my passport, apply for a visa, and the visa is denied. You must have a visa to enter Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean island countries. Fees and wait times may vary based on country of citizenship and visa classification. The process for renewal will vary depending on your country of citizenship. You may also wish to bring documents that help demonstrate ties to your home country that support your intent to return homeessentially, documents that reflect your nonimmigrant intent. If your name or date of birth does not appear correctly on your documents, please notify the ISSO immediately. Required Personal Interviews Do not engage in any kind of employment until you are certain you have authorization. You may not re-enter the U.S. using Boston University-related immigration documentation if you are no longer employed at BU. Security checks can take anywhere from three business days to three months or more, but most are approved in three to four weeks. This resource provides information regarding deadlines to enter the US and the documentation necessary to be admitted to the US in the proper immigration classification to begin your academic activities. Entry to the U.S. normally requires a valid visa stamp in your passport. Automatic visa revalidation is not the same as applying for a new visa. If the entry stamp is not clear or not properly notated or if you need to apply for employment or other benefits from federal government agencies, you must present a Form I-94, which includes more detailed information about your most recent entry to the US. This advisory will provide information related to: New Passport Requirements for Citizens of Canadian, Mexico Although the Department of State no longer publishes updates to the TAL, the August 2002 version, the last published, will provide you with an overview of the types of areas the Department of State considers sensitive. Since it is not possible to renew a non-immigrant visa in the United States, The person is not a citizen of one of the countries designated by the US as a, Some people currently in the United States can apply for, This page was last edited on 21 April 2023, at 13:45. J-1 students may present a passport, DS-2019, and I-94, and should. Therefore, your visa does notconfirm your current classification or how long you can stay in the U.S. Once you are in the U.S., be sure to keep track of your visas expiration date as it may not coincide with the dates on your other immigration documents. Renewal If your passport is expiring while you are in the U.S., you will need to take the necessary steps to replace it in a timely manner. Address and Contact Update eForm. Return to the U.S. within 30 days after visiting only one of the destinations. If you were designated as an NSEERS Special Registrant upon entry to the U.S., you must comply with the established departure procedures by presenting yourself to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at a designated port of departure when exiting the U.S. Failure to depart as specified is considered a violation of nonimmigrant status and can result in difficulty returning to the U.S. The ISSO needs to use your name, as represented on your passport, on all of your immigration documents. While you are studying or working in the U.S., you should keep your immigration documents safe and valid. Citizens of certain countries are not eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation Since the F and J are temporary, nonimmigrant visa classifications, you will need to be able to explain that you intend to return to your home country after you complete your academic activities in the US. 3. Individuals from Canada, Mexico and Bermuda should pay particular attention to item E which discusses new passport requirements for entering the U.S. ), and length of permitted stay in the U.S. Download our helpful handout if you anticipate using automatic visa . You will then have to pay a SEVIS fee and schedule the visa application appointment at the US consulate or embassy closest to where you currently reside. This procedure is known as "automatic visa revalidation." Note that if you apply for a new visa while in Canada, Mexico, or islands in the Caribbean, you will not be able to return to the U.S. if the visa application is denied. Application fee (check with the consulate for the fee amount and how it must be paid, or visit the DOS website) One photograph (you should review the consulate website to determine how to submit your photograph). If you will be extending your program at BU, the ISSO will issue a new document to reflect the extended dates of your program or affiliation. The main hang up tends to be with the airlines, not CBP. The documents that you need to support your visa classification will varyplease see the visa classifications below for specific details. Supplementary Nonimmigrant Visa Application Forms: Check your geography and your visa status. In other words, if you entered the U.S. initially on an F-1 visa which has now expired, but later changed to H-1B status . Although the DOS has not published an official list of countries, it is likely that these procedures apply to citizens of the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. What is the Automatic Visa Revalidation? If you are traveling to a third country, you may need a visa to enter that country. The visa in your passport, listing your immigration status, permits you to re-enter the US. 15. Although some cruise companies require only copies of immigration documents, US immigration policies requires that you present original documents. To successfully use Automatic Visa Revalidation, travelers must have previously entered the US in a nonimmigrant visa category, and must be maintaining valid nonimmigrant status. ), as well as the dates for which you are employable. If a visa application is denied, it is difficult to get the consulate to change its decision. http://www.bu.edu/isso/news/2003/2007-09-09-registration.html. There are special procedures for citizens of Cuba, Syria, Sudan, and Iran when applying for a US visa. Documents Needed to Re-enter Under Automatic Revalidation when Traveling from a Contiguous Territory. What is Automatic Visa Revalidation? Travel signatures are valid for one year, except for travel to Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands. This information may be useful when you apply for the H-1B visa and also when you request admission to the US at a port of entry. Planning to move to Canada soon, i would like to complete my obligation to finish the soft landing for the Canadian PR application.I want to transition to US to Canada very smoothly and would very much like to come back to take care of final formalities in USA. Automatic Visa Revalidation. If you are traveling in the middle of your academic activities at BU, you may need to renew your visa to return to the US and resume study, research, teaching, etc. Dont I have a right to be here and to travel if I need to or want to? Photo by Jackie Riccardi ISSO News Report to the ISSO upon Reentry to the U.S. Medical Care, Immunization & Health Insurance, Researcher, Faculty, and Staff Employment, Completing your program, employment or activity, http://www.bu.edu/isso/students/current/f1/travel/index.html, http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/content_multi_image_0006.shtm, http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html, http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php, http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm, http://travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity/index.htm, http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html, http://www.bu.edu/isso/news/2003/2007-09-09-registration.html, New Student FAQs and Travel Considerations During the COVID19 Pandemic, Reminders for F-1 Students Graduating in Summer, US Ends COVID Vaccination Travel Requirements, Dispatches from Abroad: International Students on Life at Home, Study Abroad Program Directors on Coping with Coronavirus, Far from Boston, Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future New Video Series The World After Coronavirus, (#WorldAfterCorona), Virtual Coffee & Conversation: Adapting to a New Reality, Updated: BU Moves All Classes Online Due to Coronavirus Questions and Answers, Center for English Language & Orientation Programs. It applies to people with an expired visa and but valid status. In recent years, the Department of State has been performing security checks at all U.S. embassies and consulates particularly for male visa applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 from predominantly Muslim countries. Who can answer my questions. Note that travel to adjacent islands applies only to those currently in F or J status. In section 5 of the I-20, US immigration regulations allow F-1 students (and dependent family members in F-2 status) to arrive in the US a maximum of 30 days before your program start date. If you are a citizen of one of these countries and your F-1 or J-1 visa is no longer valid, you will need to follow the procedures for renewing your F-1 visa or renewing your J-1 visa. I have a friend who went to Canada, then went home to get a visa stamp and was denied. Please refer to the US Department of State (DOS) website for more information regarding visa appointment wait times at specific consulates and embassies, as well as any additional fees required. If your visa is denied, we suggest that you ask for the reason for the denial and request the reason in writing if possible. Once you have obtained your visa, please see Entering the US as you make your travel plans. Riho Imada (from left) and Akari Noguchi, both students at the Center for English Language and Orientation Programs, and Andrew Burwash (CAS'18) at the International Student Reception, held September 4 at the Trustee Ballroom. You are in possession of the following documents at the time you reenter the U.S.: 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. 13. If you have H or O status, instead of F or J status, you may only use automatic revalidation in contiguous territory, but not in adjacent islands. On April 1, 2002 new INS regulations will take affect restricting "automatic revalidation of visas" for persons who travel to so-called "adjacent territories." Under the old regulations, a person could travel to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands for a period of less than 30 days with an expired U.S. visa stamp and reenter the U.S. using that . Consular posts at a few countries have drop-off or mail-in visa application procedures for students and scholars renewing visas if they have already been fingerprinted during a prior application. and Bermuda. If you have F or J status and you will only be in Mexico and adjacent islands, then you can enjoy your vacation and use automatic revalidation to return to the United States. You should make certain to carry the same appropriate documentation as if you were returning from an international trip. If you are a new student to BU, you will be required to complete Initial ISSO check-in as a new student. The regulation has changed. Is it not a violation of my rights to have my activities restricted in this way? Please contact the ISSO (or your J-1 Program Sponsor if your DS-2019 was issued by an organization other than Boston University) if you intend to bring dependent family to the US and you have not received separate immigration documentation for them, or if any information on your Form DS-2019 is incorrect. http://www.bu.edu/isso/students/current/j1/travel/index.html. You may remain in the United States in F, J, H, or O status even during holidays, summer vacations, and so on. Visitor and Immigration Status Indication Technology (US-VISIT) system when traveling through a U.S. port. You may be eligible if you: To successfully use Automatic Visa Revalidation, travelers must have previously entered the US in a nonimmigrant visa category, and must be maintaining valid nonimmigrant status. Any problems with that? Photo by Jackie Riccardi, C. Documents Required to Re-Enter the United States in F-1 or J-1 Status, D. New Passport Requirements for Citizens of Canada, Mexico and Bermuda, F. Visits to Canada, Mexico or Adjacent Islands with Expired U.S. Visa Stamps, G. NSEERS Special Registration Departure Procedure, H. Traveling after Completion of Your Program (Students). This process revalidates your visa (making it eligible for the single trip), but does . H-1B/TN/E-3 Employees. You have maintained your F or J status, and intend to resume the same status when you return to the U.S. You have not applied for a new visa while abroad (see next paragraph). Upon arrival to the U.S., a customs officer will review your passport, visa, and immigration-specific document(s), and grant you entry to the U.S. The Department of State (DOS) regulations have a special provision related to visas stamps called "automatic revalidation." The ISSO will issue this document for you through a system called SEVIS. Please read the information provided on theU.S. Department of State website. Sponsoring or Extending J-1 Exchange Visitors, Returning from Canada, Mexico, and the Adjacent Caribbean Islands, Scholars (Professors, Researchers, Visiting Scholars) at Morningside and Manhattanville Campus, Medical Center Students & Scholars (CUIMC), Columbia University in the City of New York, International Spouses and Partners Network (ISPN), Travel Signatures and I-20/DS-2019 Reprints (F and J Students), Travel Signatures and DS-2019 Reprints (J Scholar), Obtaining Visa Documents for Dependents (F/J Students and Scholars), Leave of Absence, Suspension, or Withdrawal, Filing Non-Resident Tax Forms with Sprintax (F & J), Resources for Filing Your Resident Tax Return, Meet the Faculty and Scholars Team (Morningside/Manhattanville), Meet the Faculty and Scholars Team (CUIMC), Morningside/Manhattanville Login (SSP Portal), countries identified by the Department of State, Unexpired I-20 with valid travel signature, Unexpired DS-2019 with valid travel signature, Expired visa in passport (Canadians are exempt from the visa requirement). Sounds like your friend committed visa fraud and violated United States laws. Please contact the ISSO if any information on your I-20 is incorrect, or if you need to request immigration documents for F-2 dependents. The relevant section of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), Section 212(a)(6)(C), reads, in part: "Misrepresentation - in general - Any alien who, by fraud or willfully misrepresenting a material fact, seeks to procure (or has sought to procure or has procured) a visa, other documentation, or admission into the United States or other benefit provided under this Act is inadmissible.". 5. For most students, travel to a country that is contiguous to the US (Mexico, Canada, St. Pierre, Miquelon, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, Jamaica, Winward and Leeward Islands, Trinidad and Tobago, Martinique) with an intended stay of less than 30 days (not applying for a new visa) may return to the US on an expired visa. Office of Housing Resources, Medical Campus, Riho Imada (from left) and Akari Noguchi, both students at the Center for English Language and Orientation Programs, and Andrew Burwash (CAS'18) at the International Student Reception, held September 4 at the Trustee Ballroom. If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the Adjacent Caribbean Islands (except Cuba) listed here, you maybe able to return to the U.S.in the same status with an expired visa. The decision to subject a person to a security clearance check may be based on a number of different factors including, but not limited to, information in your visa application forms, international travel patterns, and your field of study or research. Why is that? B. US-VISIT Entry-Exit System You are not permitted to travel to a country outside contiguous territory or adjacent islands and reenter the United States using automatic revalidation. The visa application procedures are generally the same but there are some limited exemptions to the visa interview requirement. Why cant I do the same thing? C. Documents Required to Re-Enter the United States in F-1 or J-1 Status You dont. Students in J-1 status may remain for 30 days after completing the program or completing Academic Training following the end of the program. I am a citizen of China. You should also review the copy of the entire H-1B petition (submitted by the ISSO, on your behalf, to the US Department of Homeland Security) that outlines the terms and expectations for your employment. H1B worker with an expired visa visits the US embassy in . Office of Housing Resources, Medical Campus, Riho Imada (from left) and Akari Noguchi, both students at the Center for English Language and Orientation Programs, and Andrew Burwash (CAS'18) at the International Student Reception, held September 4 at the Trustee Ballroom. [1][2][3], A person is eligible for automatic visa revalidation provided the following conditions are met:[4], Automatic visa revalidation also applies to cases where the applicant never acquired a visa for his or her current non-immigrant status but rather transitioned through it by filing the appropriate form to change non-immigrant status (such as Form I-129 or Form I-539). The absence outside the US cannot exceed 30 days and theI-94 Arrival/Departure recordmust remain valid. Please note that consular officials also have the discretion to require any nonimmigrant visa applicant, regardless of age or gender, to complete the Form DS-157. Factors that affect visa application processing include: 1. You are at Duke because you represent the best of your country, and we expect that you will be a credit to Duke and your country now and in your future life. Do you think I plan to lie or commit fraud? You are right that you do not have all of the opportunities and options available to you that United States citizens and United States lawful permanent residents have. You do not need to use automatic revalidation. However, once you depart during this 60-day or 30-day grace period, you may not re-enter the U.S. in F or J status unless you have a new I-20 or DS-2019 to begin a new program of study. Your passport is an important document issued by your country of citizenship and used to establish your identity. Then if you want to get back in the theater, you need to present that ticket again.). Please review the required documentation listed above and be prepared to present all required original documents at your appointment. If you will be extending your studies or employment at BU, in most cases you will need to apply for a new EAD (if eligible) and obtain the new document prior to the end date of your current EAD. This process is known as "automatic visa revalidation". You should also confirm you have all additional documentation needed to verify that you are maintaining valid immigration status and demonstrate your continued study, scholarly activities, or employment (such as transcripts, certificates of enrollment, and/or pay stubs). 17. Holders of F and J status in the United States to enter "adjacent islands" (islands in the Caribbean except Cuba) and return to the United States without a currently valid visa stamp in the passport. If you have changed status inside the United States, you must also have in your hands and present to the immigration officer evidence of the change of status.
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