See also: Travel and Re-entry to the U.S. |
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Entering Canada
A tourist visa from the Canadian Consulate is required for citizens of certain countries. To find out if you need a tourist visa and for visa application instructions, contact Canada Citizenship and Immigration. There are Canadian Consulates in Los Angeles, California and Seattle, Washington.
Entering Mexico
Mexican tourist cards or visas are required of all persons visiting Mexico. These are obtained at the Mexican Consulate. A list of Mexican Consulates in the U.S. is available at Mexico Online. To find out which documents are required please check with the Mexican Consulate.
Returning to the U.S. - "Automatic Revalidation"
"Automatic Revalidation" allows F, J, H, or O status holders under certain circumstances to re-enter the U.S. with an expired U.S. visa stamp in their valid passport after visiting Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands for less than 30 days (However, if you are a citizen of Mexico, automatic revalidation does not apply for visits to your home country). Adjacent islands include:
Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Marie-Galante, Martinique, Miquelon, Montserrat, Saba, Saint-Barthelemy, Saint Christopher, Saint Eustatius, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre, Saint Vincent, Grenadines, Trinidad, Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, Other British, French and Netherlands territory or possessions bordering on the Caribbean Sea.
Automatic Revalidation is NOT available to:
- Nationals of Iran, Syria, Sudan, and Cuba
- Individuals who entered the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program
You will need the following documents to re-enter the US using automatic revalidation:
- A passport valid for at least six months from date of re-entry.
- The U.S. visa stamp in your passport from your last entry to the U.S.; under automatic revalidation the visa stamp may be an expired one.
- The I-94 form (white card in passport with D/S or expiration date beyond your date of return). If you are flying to Canada or Mexico make sure the airline does not take your I-94 upon your departure.
- Valid visa/immigration documents:
F or J status
You must enter the U.S. with either a new Form I-20 or DS-2019, or with your most current document PROPERLY ENDORSED for travel and re-entry within the past ten months (or within six months for F-1 students on OPT) by an International Adviser at Berkeley International Office. If UC Berkeley did not issue your Form I-20 or DS-2019, contact your program sponsor at least two or three weeks before departure to obtain their signature. In addition, it is strongly advised to carry recent evidence of financial support for the total duration of your stay in the U.S.; students may also want to carry a copy of current semester TeleBEARS enrollment. F-1 students on OPT should carry their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and an official job offer letter.
H-1B and O-1 status
In order to receive the appropriate travel documents and instructions, please contact the Berkeley International Office office at least five business days before your travel.