Hi All,
I am planning to do the soft landing via the Niagra border and return back to US through Detroit border, is that possible or one has to re-enter from the same border they exited US? Also, I will be performing AVR. Does Detroit border accept AVR?
Thanks!
All borders accept AVRs and I don’t think there’s any limitation that you have to enter through the same border that you used for exit.
Please do some additional research but I am pretty sure there’s no such rule.
Google “i94 CBP”. They have a way for you to input your passport information and printout all your entry exit dates for the last 5 years. I’m sure they know.
The point about not mailing card was surprising. It’s not legally banned to mail your card but I’m sure CBSA frowns at the practice.
I’m surprised AVR was that easy.
Someone recently posted in this forum about using a UPS Forwarding service.
@canadaprsn:
Reference: (In case you are interested in this option). UPS mail box for PR card
Hello,
I recently got my REQUEST Ready for Visa email and would be sending my passport very soon. That means I would have to do my soft landing early next year.
I was working on the F1 OPT extension till September 30th and now on H1b starting 1st October 2019. My passport has an expired F1 stamp expired on July 2019, but no H1b stamp. I do have the valid I-797 A form and updated I20 for H1B with me
As per this explanation, I can use AVR for coming back to the US. https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/soft-landing-experience-to-yyz-10-days-f1-expired-to-h1b-in-us-cos-avr-return-to-us.651444/
My question is have people done that? Can I use AVR? Do I have to go back to India and get stamped again (that would be very hectic)?
I’m not sure but I doubt they’ll revalidate your F1 visa now that your status has changed.
It says: Automatic visa revalidation also applies to cases where the applicant never acquired a visa for his or her current non-immigrant status but rather transitioned through it by filing the appropriate form to change non-immigrant status (such as Form I-129 or Form I-539). Instead of the “visa”, what gets revalidated is the change of status, and therefore in lieu of the visa the applicant must carry the Form I-797 Approval Notice in addition to all the other supporting documentation. In particular, it does not matter if the applicant has never acquired a visa for the new status.[10]
You could try it if you wanted to but I wouldn’t personally recommend this. Form I129 clearly says that it’s not a visa and can’t be used in place of one. You could always encounter an agent on the border who can make it difficult for you.
Why not get the H1-B stamped in Canada when you do your landing and then use that to come back?
Hi there!
Check for the answer provider by [shahidfaizee] on this same thread. I believe it was the same situation as yours.
Good luck!
Regards,
Appy
I was in similar situation as you are now, and I was able to successfully use AVR and enter USA after my landing at windsor. You should not have any issues using it, just make sure you carry all the documents regarding your F1 and H1B status.
Hello all,
Did anyone use AVR and re-enter via Montreal? I was wondering if it was very different from Toronto? We have used the AVR from Toronto earlier and it was great.
Appreciate any help!
Regards,
Appy
I got Canada PR acceptance via express entry with COPR valid until Jan 05, 2020.
I am currently in USA. My Current OPT STEM expiring on DEC 11, 2019. My F1 visa valid till May 2020. I have to go canada once before end of this year and do a soft landing to get my PR card. With my OPT ending on DEC 11, 2019. will it be ok if i drive to canada, do the formalities to get my PR card and drive back to USA?
What questions will i be asked at the border on returning to USA?
I know at least two people personally who have used the AVR process to return to US after landing. None of them had the latest visas stamped (they had infact, changed status 1-3 times while in the US without a stamp). They had no issue at the border. Both of them had used the Seattle-Vancouver border crossing via car. I presume the CBP pre-clearance at Toronto airport (while coming back to US) will be the same. It might be safe to read other people experiences on forum just to verify that Montreal is the same.
Make sure you don’t stay more than 30 days in Canada, and you cannot travel to any other country other than Canada (and Mexico but I don’t think you’ll do that).
I think for the AVR, you have no option but to come by road. The issue primarily being that you can’t even reach the pre-clearance section without a boarding pass and having gone through the security check. The airline will not issue you a boarding pass unless you have some kind of valid US visa. If you had a different valid visa stamped, they should issue you a boarding pass and you can explain the situation to the US CBP official and may be let in.
I used AVR twice in 2018, first time for landing and then another time for a job interview; both times at Pearson airport in Toronto. I was on H1B and had an h1b visa stamp that expired five years ago. Both times I showed my original I797 to the airline staff and they issued me the boarding pass. CBP didn’t ask many questions but I remember one officer made a comment about my expired visa being 5 years old. I flew American Airlines the first time and Air Canada second time.
Alright, that’s good to know. I wasn’t aware of that.
I used AVR at Vancouver-Seattle crossing without any problem; rented car from Seattle and stayed at Vancouver for couple of days.
Hello all,
From this thread it looks like I can take advantage of the AVR process. Can someone please confirm that I can, following is my situation.
F1 Expiry: Jun 2020
H1 applied and approved: Jan 2020
I797: Current and i94 received
CoPR Expiry: August 2020
Do I have to wait until F1 expires or I can go anytime and take advantage of AVR?