Automatic Revalidation

Automatic revalidation is a process under which certain nonimmigrants holding expired visas may leave and be readmitted to the U.S. if they meet certain requirements, including, but not limited to:

  • Depart the U.S. for a trip of not more than 30 days to Canada, Mexico, or an adjacent island[1] excluding Cuba (for F and J nonimmigrant).  An M-1 student can only apply for automatic revalidation readmission after an absence of less than 30 days from contiguous territory[2];
  • Has an unexpired Form I-94 [and Form I-797 Approval Notice, Form I-20 (F status), or DS 2019 (J status)];
  • Has not surrendered the unexpired Form I-94 upon leaving the U.S.;
  • Is not a national of a State Sponsor of Terrorism designated country;
  • Has a valid unexpired passport;
  • Has not applied for a new visa stamp during their trip outside the U.S.;
  • Has maintained and intends to resume nonimmigrant status; and
  • Is applying for readmission within the authorized period of initial admission or extension of stay.

NOTE: Automatic revalidation is also available to beneficiaries who have changed status in the U.S. and seek to use an expired nonimmigrant visa matching the old status (either expired or unexpired).      


[1] “adjacent islands” to include Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao,
Dominica, the 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 and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and other British, French and Netherlands territory or possessions bordering on the Caribbean Sea.

[2] “contiguous territory” means a country whose border touches, is contiguous to, the U.S. border i.e., Canada and Mexico.