Travelling on approved COS to F1 to Mexico

Hi everybody,

USCIS recently approved my COS application from H4 to F1. I need to travel to Mexico for 2-3 days. While coming back do I need to have F1 visa stamped on my passport or I can enter showing approved COS notice and University issued I-20? In no case I want to go back to H4 , so it is important for me that they allow me to enter on F1 status.

Please let me know asap as I have to do necessary bookings.


Thanks,
Century

Century,

You absolutely need a visa to enter. If you don't have F1 and you end up using H4 you have then your status in US will become H4 again!

I-20 and COS notice is of no use to enter. You need a visa. Good luck.

p.s. You can try to stamp your F1 in mexico though.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Century

Hi everybody,

USCIS recently approved my COS application from H4 to F1. I need to travel to Mexico for 2-3 days. While coming back do I need to have F1 visa stamped on my passport or I can enter showing approved COS notice and University issued I-20? In no case I want to go back to H4 , so it is important for me that they allow me to enter on F1 status.

Please let me know asap as I have to do necessary bookings.


Thanks,
Century

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Q,
Won't Century be eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by qesehmk

Century,

You absolutely need a visa to enter. If you don't have F1 and you end up using H4 you have then your status in US will become H4 again!

I-20 and COS notice is of no use to enter. You need a visa. Good luck.

p.s. You can try to stamp your F1 in mexico though.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by CleanSock

Q,
Won't Century be eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation?

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Yes Indeed it is possible. But I think it is very risky because there are too many conditions there to be met.
Contigous territory - check
30 day or less trip - ?
F1 - Check
I20 - Check
Same or different status - check
Valid passport or exempt - ?
Authorization under 212d3 - ? (too complicated for me)
Not applied for visa - probably yes
Has maintained and intends to resume nonimmigrant status - yes

So while the law may allow entry without a visa - I personally never had experience with this. If somebody else did then please share.

I have no experience with AVR on F1. My spouse changed status from H4 to H1b. She and I have returned using AVR from Canada. She had no H1b visa on her passport -only had an expired H4 visa. They let us in by looking at the i-94 card.