Soft Landing Experience to YYZ 10 days, F1 expired to H1B in US COS, AVR Return to US

[rahmath8121]

Hello,

I have recently received my COPR and will have to do my landing process shortly in canada. I am in US and initially was on F1 and then applied for H1B which got approved and started the H1B status from October 1 2019. I have not left the country and do not have a H1B visa stamped.I have the F1 visa in my passport which is valid till 2021. I have two questions:

1. Does change of status from F1 to H1B mean that the F1 stamp existing on my passport is expired?
2. Can I use AVR to reenter the country with approved I-797 document and current I-94 which is D/S as expiry date when I first entered United states on F1?

Please help in a lot of confusionThanks in advance!!!!

 

[vamsikgr]

Hi,

1. Yes- you no longer will have f1 status as you are running on H1B
2. you can use AVR to come back successfully and no issues
3. after coming back to usa, check your i94 and it will reflect the i94 expiration date instead of D/S

Many folks came successfully using AVR.

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/pr-landing-peach-bridge-border-september-08-2020.701874/

https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/pr-soft-landing-from-us-after-eo.693114/page-6


Hope this helps to plan you better.

 

[vamsikgr]

Kindly review above post

 

[Roshwarner]

Hello, Can we do AVR more than once? I used AVR back in July for my PR landing and now I need to go again in December. Can I go to Canada again using the AVR process? Is it still active during these border restrictions? I have expired F1 visa and valid I797 and I94. Appreciate your response.

 

[FeelTheBern]

Hi All,

Could you please advise me when I should plan for Canada soft landing from the US given my situation:

• COPR: Valid till Nov 2022
• L1 visa stamp: Valid till Jun 2022
• I-94 on I-797 (approved L1 extension): Valid till Jun 2024

I have two options:

1. Soft landing before the L1 visa stamp gets expired (i.e. by Jun 2022). In that case, while re-entering the US, will CBP issue a new I-94 matching the end date of paper I-94 on I-797 (i.e. Jun 2024)? Or, they might issue an I-94 valid only till the visa stamp expiry date (i.e. Jun 2022)?
2. Use AVR (automatic visa revalidation) after the visa stamp gets expired (i.e. post Jun 2022) as I have a valid I-797 and I-94 till Jun 2024. Is there any risk with this route?

Please let me know which option seems better and if there's a clear CBP guideline for issuing I-94s in case of Option 1.

Appreciate your inputs!