Travel to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands
For citizens of some countries, you may need a visa to travel to Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands. Please check the sites below for the information. If your stay exceeds 30 days, you must have a valid US visa to return to the U.S.
- Countries whose citizens require visas in order to enter Canada and Visa exempt countries
- Visas to Mexico
- Links to other embassies
Automatic Revalidation of Visa
The U.S. Department of State provision for "automatic revalidation of visa" allows certain non-immigrants to re-enter the U.S. after a visit of less than 30 days to "contiguous territory" (Canada, Mexico, and, in the case of F and J non-immigrants, the "adjacent islands other than Cuba") without having to obtain a new visa prior to re-entry.
Persons in F and J who are maintaining lawful nonimmigrant status in the United States, and who travel to Canada, Mexico or the contiguous islands, for 30 days or less, can re-enter with the Form I-94, a valid passport, and a current copy of the form I-20 or DS-2019, plus a previously-issued visa (which could be expired, or even in a different category than the I-94 if a change of status has been approved in the U.S.). Persons in H-1 or O-1 status are also eligible to use the automatic revalidation for trips of less than 30 days to Canada or Mexico, as long as they have a valid I-94, passport and an USCIS issued I-797 Approval Notice.
Automatic revalidation of visa does NOT apply if:
You apply for a new U.S. visa in Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands. This means if you apply for a new visa you must wait until that visa is issued to return to the U.S.
You travel to any other country before returning to the U.S. from Canada or Mexico
You are a citizen of Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba
As this is a rather complicated provision, it is best to talk with a VISA office Immigration Partner before you travel to see if you can use this benefit.
