Automatic Visa
Revalidation Explained

Overview of AVR

Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) allows certain nonimmigrants to reenter the U.S. with an expired visa stamp after a short visit of 30 days or less to contiguous territory — specifically Canada or Mexico (or adjacent islands other than Cuba for F and J visa holders).

AVR is available to most nonimmigrant visa holders, including those on H-1B, L-1, O-1, F-1, and J-1 visas. The program eliminates the need to visit a U.S. consulate or embassy to obtain a new visa stamp before returning from a short trip.

All Conditions Must Be Met

• The individual must be returning from travel solely to Canada or Mexico (or adjacent islands other than Cuba for F and J visa holders).
• The time outside the U.S. must be 30 days or less.
• The individual must hold a valid Form I-94 (printed from the CBP I-94 website or appended to the bottom left of the most recent I-797), indicating lawful admission or change of status into one of the eligible nonimmigrant categories.
• The individual's passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of reentry to the U.S.
• The individual must be applying for readmission within the authorized period stated on their most recent Form I-94.
• The individual must not be from a country designated as a state sponsor of terrorism.
• The individual must have maintained nonimmigrant status prior to leaving the U.S.
• The individual must NOT have applied for or been denied a visa application immediately preceding the application for admission utilizing AVR.

Documents Required for All AVR Travelers

Additional Documents for Specific Visa Types

Students on F or J visas must also present a valid Form I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature.

Individuals in other nonimmigrant statuses should be prepared to provide an employment verification letter, recent paystubs, or similar supporting documents to demonstrate maintenance of nonimmigrant status prior to departure.

How AVR Works at the Port of Entry

The AVR process begins with your departure from the U.S. and travel to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands other than Cuba (if you are an F or J visa holder). Upon reentry into the U.S., you must present your passport, expired visa, valid I-94, and any other relevant documentation at the U.S. port of entry.

A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will then review the documents and, if everything is in order, allow you to reenter under AVR. Note that upon readmission, the officer will not issue you a new I-94.

Reentering in a Different Visa Status

Under the AVR program regulations, the prior visa stamp allows entry into the U.S., but the status under which an individual is admitted is determined by their most recent I-797 approval notice and Form I-94. Therefore, an individual can reenter the U.S. in a different visa status than the one indicated on their expired or unexpired visa stamp, provided that their original nonimmigrant status (for which the visa stamp was issued) was changed by USCIS to another nonimmigrant status before they departed from the U.S.

In this case, CBP may "convert" the visa from its stated nonimmigrant status to the individual's most recently approved valid nonimmigrant status.

Steps to Prepare for AVR

Legal and Policy Sources

• 22 C.F.R. § 41.112(d)
• 8 C.F.R. § 214.1(b)
• Travel.State.gov: Automatic Revalidation
• CBP.gov: Automatic revalidation for certain temporary visitors