ISSS Home > Immigration and Visa > Travel and Re-entry > Canada, Mexico or Caribbean Island

Travel to Canada/Mexico and Re-Entry to the United States

Information for International Students, Scholars & Employees

I am going to travel outside the U.S. temporarily. Are there any special instructions for departing the U.S.?

Individuals who are subject to Special Registration must notify Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) when they leave the U.S. and may only leave through designated ports.

1. In determining if you are subject to Special Registration, ask yourself these questions:
   • Do I have an FIN number on my I-94 card?
   • Was I was ever required to Special Register when I entered the U.S.?
   • Was I ever required to report to the local USCIS office for Special Registration?
2. If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you are subject to Special Registration departure procedures. You must notify Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) when you leave the U.S. and may only leave through designated ports. If you don’t, you may be denied re-admission to the U.S. at a later date.
3. A list of designated ports can be found on pages 7-26 of the following pdf: http://www.ice.gov/doclib/pi/specialregistration/WalkawayMaterial.pdf
   For further information about Special Registration, please consult: www.ice.gov/pi/specialregistration/index.htm

Individuals who are not subject to Special Registration should follow normal exit procedures.

What Documents Do I Need to Re-enter the U.S.?

To re-enter the United Sates, you will be required to show:

• Your valid passport *
• Your I-94 card (small, white card)
• Your I-20 (for F-1 students), DS-2019 (for J-1 students or scholars) or I-797 (for H-1B workers)
• Your U.S. Visa **

* Note: You may be required to have at least six months' validity remaining on your passport. Please check the “Six-Month Club” list. If you are not on this list, then you will not be able to re-enter the U.S. with less than six months' validity remaining on your passport.

** Note: You may or may not need a U.S. Visa to re-enter the U.S. from Canada. This will depend on many factors, such as the length of your stay in Canada and so on. Please read the questions below for more details.

Do I need a valid U.S. visa to re-enter the U.S. from Canada if my trip was less than 30 days?

Under the “automatic revalidation of visa” benefit, individuals on nonimmigrant visas (F-1, F-2, J-1, J-2, H-1B, H-4, etc.) may re-enter the U.S. with an expired visa after a stay of less than 30 days in Canada or Mexico. (Individuals in F-1, F-2, J-1 or J-2 status may also enter the U.S. after a stay of less than 30 days on islands in the Caribbean). To re-enter, F-1 students will need a valid I-20, up-to-date signature on page 3 of the I-20, unexpired passport and I-94 card. J-1 students and scholars will need a valid DS-2019, up-to-date signature on the DS-2019, unexpired passport and I-94 card.

There are two important exceptions to the “automatic revalidation of visa” benefit:

1. Effective on April 1, 2002, individuals from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria may not re-enter the U.S. with an expired visa. This means that they will have to return to their home country, renew their U.S. visa there and attempt to return to the U.S.
2. Individuals whose visa application is denied may also not re-enter the U.S. They will also have to return to their home country, renew their U.S. visa there and attempt to return to the U.S. Please note that this restriction applies even if the original U.S. visa is still valid.

Do I need a valid U.S. visa to re-enter the U.S. from Canada if my visa stamp indicates a different nonimmigrant status than my current documents because I changed my status while I was in the U.S. AND my trip was less than 30 days?

NO. If your application for a change of status was approved and your current documents are in accordance with the new status, you may re-enter the U.S. without a visa matching your new status as long as your trip to Canada was less than 30 days.

Do I need a valid U.S. visa to re-enter the U.S. if my trip to Canada was more than 30 days?

YES. If your trip to Canada was more than 30 days, you will need a VALID U.S. visa stamp in addition to your other immigration documents to re-enter the U.S.

Do I need a valid U.S. visa to re-enter the U.S. from Canada if I traveled to another country?

YES. If you traveled to another country outside of Canada (regardless of the length of time) and you wish to re-enter the U.S. from Canada, you must have a valid U.S. visa to re-enter the U.S.

Note: If your U.S. visa has expired or will expire prior to the date of your re-entry to the U.S., you must apply for a new visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy. This may only be done OUTSIDE U.S. borders.

12/07