Automatic Visa ReValidation (AVR - Within 30 days Canada, Mexico)

USA
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Hello Raghavendra,

Could you address below queries please ?

  1. May I know which location you arrived in US and also by Sea or Air ?
  2. How CBP officer at POE know that you are arriving from Mexico.
    Do we need to inform him that you are coming from Mexico and submit i797 and passport?

Thanks

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Hi I travelled from flight from Canada Toronto to Sfo. My immigration was done at Toronto airport only. That was POE. U need to submit passport and I 796 at Poe.

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Helllo @SAI9

I am in the same boat. Can you please advise if AVR worked for you?

Thank you

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Hello @anil_am22 @Kalpesh_Dalwadi

I have a COPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence) and a temporary Canadian visa that I need to use to enter Canada to activate my Canadian PR.
However, I currently work in the US on an approved I797 (last 3 years of the 6 year H1B period) with an expired H1B visa stamp (for the first 3 years of H1B period) on my passport. Moreover, my current employer has initiated I140 process (currently in prevailing wage determination phase).
Can you please advise if in the situation described above, I can enter Canada for <30 days and utilize AVR to re-enter US?

Thanks for your help in advance.

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Yes, as far as your visit is <30 days, you can use AVR.

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I have an H1b dropbox appointment in India scheduled for next year. (Just to clarify there is no interview in Canada). I want to visit Canada and come back to US within 15 days. Is that allowed? I have a valid i797 and an expired stamp on passport?

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Yes, you can use AVR to enter back to the US. You will though need visitor visa for Canada.

2 Likes
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Were you able to enter UsA? Could you please share?

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Hi Neha,

Yes, I came back USA with expired Visa and Valid I797 and also with drop box appointment scheduled already in India.
My Experience at POE Dallas: CBP Officer was a lady. She took my passport and i797 and said your visa was expired and took me inside a room and asked me to wait.
there is big queue again in the room and I felt it may take couple of hours for them to call my name and verify all my documents etc., and take decision. But in 10 mins another CBP officer called me and handed over my passport and I797 back. He said I am good to go. But, there is no entry stamp in passport, so immediately after coming out of the room, I verified I94 online and all is good.

Hopefully, this information helps all in similar situation

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I’m in a similar situation.

My H-1B visa stamping has expired.
I’ve a new I-797 with a future date I-94 at the bottom of the I-797.
Cruise to Alaska in August 2022 with one stop in Canada. [Yes, I’ve a Candian visitor visa]
Dropbox appointment booked in Nov 2022 in India.

Does AVR apply in my case?

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hi @anil_am22 or any contributors

I’ve my 485 in pending state, have EAD/AP card, H1B extension approved but VISA expired in passport. Planning to travel to India and enter using my AP. Will I be able to AVR to change status from Parolee to H1B again using approved I797?

Thanks in advance.

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Thanks for sharing this information. I am in similar boat as some of other folks but I didn’t see any reply on their post so posting my Q here hopefully it can help others too:

I have an expired H1B stamp on my passport from my previous Employer A. I also have H1B extension approval notice from Employer A
My wife has an expired H4 stamp on her passport. My wife also have approved H4 notice based on my H1B approval with employer A

Now I have changed to Employer B. I have approved H1B notice with employer B and my wife has approved H4 notice from Employer B as well.

Does switching employers affect AVR?

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No, as visa is not really tied to any employer even if it has employer name on it.

1 Like
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Can we use AVR for multiple Exit/entry into the US?
I have read the blog on AVR but my question is specific to multiple entry into the US.

Ex: Traveling to Mexico for 3wk and return to US. Again, travelling to Mexico for 3wks and return to US.
In this situation, i am not exceeding the 30days during each trip but if i consider two trips, i am exceeding 30days ( 42days total).

Can i travel as many time as i want having each trip less then 30days or its cumulative of days from every trip i take to Mexico?

I really appreciate your help on as i dont find the answer anywhere.

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Hello, I have a valid 797 till Nov 24 and have expired stamping on my old pp in 2016.
I am planning to visit canada (us-canada border) for short duration 4-5 days. Does this fall in for AVR?

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Is it mandatory to carry original I797A hard copy (Which USCIS first mails to representing attorney or petitioner; & the employer then mails to us) or a printout of soft copy of the original I797A is also acceptable ? I am asking this because my H1B status extension was approved just 1 week ago and while my employer may have recieved the original I797A but they havnt mailed it to me yet; & I have a planned travel toToronto via land border next weekend. I fear that even if my employer mails it to me tomorow, I may not get in my mail box by the time I plan to start my travel. So if print out of soft copy of original I797A is acceptable then my travel plan wont be impacted because I have asked my employer to send me soft copy of I797A over email also.
Please advise.

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Can we use AVR if we have expired F1 visa on old passport but have valid I797 no h1b stamping or sticker on new passport? I was thinking to travel to Canada for 4days.

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What will happen if someone came on L1 and later COS to H1B but not went for H1B stamp, valid i-797 and i-94

is AVR applicable in this scenario.

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