My H1B extension was approved recently, and I now am going to apply for a new visa stamp in Canada. If the visa is denied, can I return to the U.S. using automatic visa revalidation?
25 Jun 2025Answer
Automatic visa revalidation (AVR), otherwise known as the contiguous territory rule, allows a foreign national who has made a brief trip to Canada or Mexico to request readmission to the U.S. based on the existing I-94, without the need for a valid visa “stamp.” To qualify for this benefit, however, one of the requirements is that the person has not applied for new visas at one of the U.S. consular posts during the visit to Canada or Mexico.
A more detailed overview of the AVR process and the requirements is available in the 13.Dec.2021 MurthyDotCom InfoArticle, Contiguous Territory Rule Permits Reentry from Canada or Mexico. (25.Jun.2025)
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