Tips to Consider When Traveling While in H-1B Status

Outline

Tips to Consider When Traveling While in H-1B Status

April 17, 2024

When Traveling While in H-1B Status, make sure you have the following documents with you:

A copy of the H-1B petition/Form I-129 as it was submitted to USCIS
The original I-797 approval notice
Your valid passport
Proof that you are maintaining H-1B status (3 recent paystubs)You can also request a “Travel Letter” from our office. This is not required, it is a courtesy that OIS provides.

You need a valid H-1B visa in your passport to return to the U.S. from all countries except for brief trips (less than 30 days) to Canada & Mexico (see below). Prior to applying for the H-1B visa at a U.S. Consulate/Embassy abroad, please review the respective website to see if additional documents are required. Canadian citizens are exempt from the visa stamp requirement.

You are allowed to visit Canada and Mexico for periods of fewer than 30 days without an H-1B visa stamp in your passport (while still required to carry the other documents mentioned above). For comprehensive details regarding automatic visa revalidation, please consult the information available on the Department of State’s website.

Important Steps to take when you return to the U.S. from travel abroad:

Tips to Consider When Traveling While in H-1B Status

Make sure to print your electronic I-94; you can visit the CBP website and use your passport to access the record.
Verify the accuracy of the following details on the I-94 printout:
Your name, matching the passport’s information
The correct visa classification (H-1B or H-4)
The end date on the I-94 should align with the H-1B approval notice (Form I-797) or extend for an additional 10 days beyond the approval notice’s end date.
If your I-94 is shortened due to passport expiration before the I-797, your status will conclude on the I-94 record’s marked date rather than the H-1B approval notice.
Contact the OIS if discrepancies or inconsistencies are detected, or if the I-94’s end date does not align with the H-1B approval notice.
Upon returning from travel, document your time abroad on the Recapture Worksheet. This ensures smoother extensions beyond six years and facilitates the request for all available H-1B time from USCIS.