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Cornell University

International Services

Office of Global Learning

Apply for Reentry

  • For Faculty/Staff

If you want to travel outside the country during your time at Cornell, you should be aware of the visa requirements for reentry to the United States. If you are a Canadian citizen, you do not need a visa for reentry. 

One reason you may choose to leave the country is to renew your visa stamp. You can’t get a U.S. visa stamp—not even a renewal—within the United States, so you must apply at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad.

Caution: Applying in a Third Country

U.S. consulates in Canada may issue visas for "third-country nationals" (international citizens whose home country is not Canada or the U.S.), so members of Cornell's international community sometimes cross the border to apply for a U.S. visa. The most reliable choice, however, is applying for a visa stamp at a consulate that has jurisdiction over your home country. 

If you choose to apply in Canada or another third country: 

  • You need to confirm that the consulate accepts appointments from third-country nationals. 
  • You need to have a legal status in the country where you are applying.

Renewing your visa at a U.S. consulate in Canada is not the same as one-time reentry by automatic revalidation.

How to Apply for Reentry

If your current visa stamp has expired or will expire while you are outside the country, you need to apply for a new one to reenter the United States. You must follow the same process you went through when you first applied for your entry visa. 

Begin by completing Form DS-160. Then make an appointment at a U.S. consulate or embassy. Follow the links on that embassy’s website to learn more about scheduling a visa appointment and relevant requirements. Some locations might require additional documentation. 

Gather Your Documents

Have these documents ready for the visa interview: 

  • Passport valid beyond your DS-2019 or I-797 end date 
  • DS-160 confirmation page
  • Your invitation or appointment letter from Cornell University 
  • Any additional documentation requested by your U.S. consulate or embassy

Also prepare to provide these additional items:

J-1

When you reenter the United States, you will need to show your visa and other travel documents.

H-1B/E-3

  • Form I-129 (copy)
  • I-797 approval notice
  • ETA-9035/LCA (copy)

When you reenter the United States, you will need to show your visa and other travel documents.

O-1

  • Form I-129 (copy)
  • I-797 approval notice

When you reenter the United States, you will need to show your visa and other travel documents.

Automatic Revalidation: One-Time Reentry from Canada or Mexico

If you have an expired J-1, H-1B, O-1, or E-3 visa stamp in your passport, it will be considered valid in most cases when you reenter the United States from Canada or Mexico. Called “automatic revalidation,” this is a one-time reentry.

You must fulfill all of these requirements: 

  • You have an expired nonimmigrant visa in your passport, and you do not apply for a United States visa while in Canada or Mexico. 
  • You have a valid I-94 arrival record stating your current status. 
  • You will be in Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days. 
  • You are not from one of the countries currently considered by the U.S. federal government to be state sponsors of terrorism. 

Ask for “automatic visa validation” at your port of entry into the United States. You will need to present your I-94 card along with the following: 

  • Valid passport 
  • Immigration status form: DS-2019 (J-1), I-797 (H-1B/0-1), or ETA-9035/LCA (E-3)
  • Letter from your Cornell department or unit confirming continued employment 

Can I use automatic revalidation if I changed my visa status? 

Automatic revalidation will work if you originally entered the United States in one nonimmigrant status, such as J-1, and have since changed to another nonimmigrant status like H-1B. In that case, your expired J-1 visa would be considered valid and changed to H-1B for your entry from Canada or Mexico into the United States. 

If your status has changed to H-1B or another nonimmigrant status, you should carry your original I-797 approval notice while traveling. You can request your original I-797 approval notice in the University Employment section of myStatus.

Can I use automatic revalidation if I visit another country from Canada or Mexico?

No, you must travel only to Canada or Mexico. For example, you can’t visit Canada, then fly to France, then return to Canada before reentering the United States. 

Can I use automatic revalidation if I visit the Caribbean?  

If you are in J status (but not any other status), you can reenter the United States with automatic revalidation for visits of less than 30 days to the “adjacent islands” (Caribbean). Find out more. 

Next Up: Travel Documents for Scholars