This regulation provides that, under certain circumstances, a person with an expired F or J visa in their passport can re-enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico and "adjacent islands" (except Cuba) with an expired nonimmigrant visa. The absence outside the U.S. cannot exceed 30 days and the I-94 card must remain valid.
To re-enter the U.S. under the benefit of automatic revalidation of visa, students and scholars must meet the following requirements:
- Have traveled ONLY to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands
- The absence cannot exceed 30 days
- CANNOT apply for a new U.S. non-immigrant visa during this time
- This regulation does NOT apply to nationals of countries designated as "state sponsors of terrorism"
- Has maintained and intends to maintain non-immigrant status in the U.S.
- Carry valid passport with expired visa, DS-2019 with valid travel signature
IMPORTANT: Scholars must retain and be in possession of their current I-94 (arrival/departure record) card when leaving the U.S. to ensure successful re-entry back to the U.S.
Citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba are not eligible for the automatic revalidation benefit and would be required to have a valid visa for re-entry.
Scholars who are traveling to Mexico or the Caribbean by cruise ship must contact the cruise line before purchasing the cruise package to confirm they will recognize automatic revalidation and allow them to travel outside the U.S. without a valid J-1 visa.
The adjacent islands include:
Saint Pierre, Miquelon, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, the Windward and Leeward Islands, Trinidad, Martinique, and other British, French, and Netherlands territory or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea [Reference INA, Section 101(b)(5)]
For more information, please review the Revised Regulation on Automatic Revalidation