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Traveling to Contiguous Territories

"J" & "F" visa holders can travel to contiguous territories with an expired visa stamp provided that their valid visa document (DS-2019 or I-20) has been signed by the International Center within a four-to-six month period. An expired F or J visa stamp will be considered automatically revalidated for re-entry from Canada, Mexico or other contiguous territories if you:

• Are planning to re-enter the U.S. within a 30-day period
• Are re-entering the U.S. to continue in the same visa type and have maintained and intend to resume your "J" or "F" visa status
• Present a recently signed Form DS-2019 or I-20 Form
• Have a valid passport, valid six months beyond your intended stay in the U.S. as stated on your visa document (i.e. DS-2019 or I-20)
• Have a valid or expired "F" or "J" visa stamp in your passport

H-1B & O-1 Visa Holders re-entering from either Canada or Mexico are allowed to enter with an expired visa stamp provided that you are re-entering within a 30-day period and have a valid passport and valid H-1B or O-1 Approval Notice (Form I-797). Canada and Mexico, however, are the ONLY two contiguous territories that allow H & O visa holders to re-enter with expired H or O visa stamps.

RE-ENTRY TO THE U.S. FROM CANADA, MEXICO OR OTHER CONTIGUOUS TERRITORY WITH AN EXPIRED U.S. VISA STAMP
It is always slightly risky to try to re-enter from a contiguous territory with an expired U.S. visa stamp, especially for individuals of certain countries.

If you are a national one of the following countries: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea or Cuba, then you are not eligible to obtain a new visa stamp in a contiguous territory nor will you be able to re-enter the U.S. with an expired visa stamp. If you have been made subject to special registration, it may be equally risky for you to try to obtain a U.S. visa stamp at a U.S. Consulate/Embassy in a contiguous territory (i.e., Mexico, Canada, etc.). If you apply for a U.S. visa stamp at a U.S. Consulate/Embassy in a contiguous territory and are denied, you will be unable to re-enter the U.S. You will be required to return home and obtain a U.S. visa stamp from a U.S. Consulate/Embassy. Individuals of certain countries could be made subject to a Security Clearance when applying for a U.S. visa stamp. If this happens to you, while you have applied for a U.S. visa stamp in a contiguous territory, you will be required to wait until the clearance is approved before being allowed to re-enter the U.S. This could take from 2-4 months.

We are in the midst of constant USCIS changes relating to travel. Changes in traveling and re-entering to contiguous territory are expected. It is always advisable to check with the International Center prior to traveling outside of the U.S. including travel to contiguous territory.

LIST OF CONTIGUOUS TERRITORIES: Canada, Mexico and Adjacent Islands. Adjacent Islands are: Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Leeward Islands (Anguilla, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts and The British Virgin Islands), Martinique, St. Pierre & Miquelon, Trinidad & Tobago, Windward Islands (Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St. Vincent), as well as other British, French or Dutch Territories or Possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea.