Automatic Visa Revalidation: An Overview
Automatic visa revalidation allows certain non-immigrants to be readmitted to the United States after a short trip abroad, even if their visa has expired—under specific conditions.
This provision applies in the following situations:
- The traveler seeks readmission in the same nonimmigrant classification listed on an expired visa; or
- The traveler seeks readmission in a different classification due to a change of status while in the U.S.
Basic Eligibility Criteria for Automatic Visa Revalidation
To qualify, a nonimmigrant must meet all the following conditions:
- Short Absence (30 Days or Less)
- The individual must have departed the United States for 30 days or less.
- Travel must be limited to:
- Canada or Mexico (for most nonimmigrants), or
- Contiguous territories or adjacent islands (for F and J visa holders), excluding Cuba.
- Proper Documentation
The traveler must present:
- A valid passport, and
- A valid Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record) reflecting unexpired authorized stay.
- If status was extended or changed, Form I-94 may be issued alongside Form I-797.
- An expired or valid nonimmigrant visa that was used for a prior lawful admission.
- If the visa is in a prior passport, that passport must also be presented.
- Intent to Resume the Same Status
The individual must have maintained lawful nonimmigrant status and must intend to resume that same status upon readmission. - No Visa Application While Abroad
A nonimmigrant loses eligibility for revalidation if they applied for a new visa while abroad and the application is:
- Pending, or
- Denied.
- No Grounds of Inadmissibility
The individual must be admissible without a waiver under INA § 212(d)(3) [8 U.S.C. § 1182(d)(3)].
Special Requirements by Visa Classification
🔹 F and M Visa Holders
- Must present a valid Form I-20 issued by their SEVP-certified school.
🔹 J Visa Holders
- Must present a valid Form DS-2019 issued by their program sponsor.
Adjacent Islands (for F/J Travelers)
Includes:
Saint Pierre, Miquelon, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, Windward and Leeward Islands, Trinidad, Martinique, and other British, French, and Dutch territories in or bordering the Caribbean Sea.
Canadian Citizens: Special Rules
While Canadian citizens are generally visa-exempt, automatic visa revalidation applies only if:
- The individual has previously been admitted to the U.S. using a visa (e.g., E-1, E-2, or K visas); and
- They currently hold a valid or expired visa in their passport at the time of readmission.
❗ Note:
Canadian citizens who changed status in the U.S. to E-1 or E-2 but have never held an E visa must apply for one before reentering the U.S.—they cannot rely on visa revalidation.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Procedure
If the traveler meets all criteria, CBP may admit the nonimmigrant:
- In the same classification shown on the valid Form I-94, and
- For the remainder of the authorized stay shown on that Form I-94.
An expired visa will be considered automatically extended to the date of application for readmission. In cases of a change of status, CBP may also recognize the updated visa classification.
Visa Waiver Program Travelers
Individuals admitted under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) may also be readmitted after a short trip to a contiguous territory or adjacent island, provided:
- The readmission occurs within the original authorized VWP stay, and
- All other VWP conditions are met under 8 C.F.R. Part 217 (excluding the requirement for reentry on a signatory carrier).
✅ Summary: Who Can Use Automatic Visa Revalidation?
| Criteria | Required? |
|---|---|
| Departed U.S. for 30 days or less | ✔️ |
| Traveled only to Canada, Mexico, or eligible adjacent islands | ✔️ |
| Holds valid Form I-94 and passport | ✔️ |
| Visa used previously for lawful admission (can be expired) | ✔️ |
| Did not apply for a new visa while abroad | ✔️ |
| Maintains and intends to resume same nonimmigrant status | ✔️ |
| Is otherwise admissible (no waiver required) | ✔️ |
Last Revision: March 2025.