I-94 Question @ Canada Border

S

Satish71

Registered Users (C)
Folks,

2 quick questions:

1) My wife and I have 2 I94s each. i.e. one expired and one new one after H1 and H4 extension. When we go to Canada for our stamping, are we supposed to surrender these I94s to the US border immigration officers ? Specifically, are we supposed to hand over the new I94 that came along with the I797, or the old one, or both ? I hear people mentioning on this board that "the Canadian immigration officer did not take my I94", well, isn't the I94 meant to be given to the US immigration officer at the border and not the Canadian immigration officer ? Or is there no US immigration officer when you depart the US when entering Canada ? Please elaborate.

2) Is a traffic ticket an offense ? i.e. I have one speeding ticket which I've already paid up. Is this a problem ? I guess not but please confirm.

I fully sympathize with Sainwa and yes, this can happen to any one of us so we have to be prepared. Yes, I agree Sainwa that the whole thing is illogical. I just hope that this doesn't happen to my wife or I when we go to Ottawa. But we're prepared to go to London in case of any such eventuality and I've contacted some travel agents in Ottawa.

On a lighter side, I got a 4* hotel in downtown Ottawa for $70 per night thru priceline and hence I'm quite happy about that. Hell, Econolodge charges more than this sometimes !!

Regards,

-Mohan.
 
u do not need to give your I-94 on the way in to canada . When you get your visa , change it on your way in at the US border

Enjoy your stay in canada
 
When you enter Canada you don’t face US immigration no need to submit your I-94, when you depart Canada you will face US immigration and get New1-94
 
Thanks Ginnu & Bhand.
I guess I was confusing this with what is done at the airports. At the airport, when you depart the U.S. one usually hands over the I-94 to the airline check-in desk. I guess therefore what I'd have to do is when I go say India, I'd have to hand in *ALL* I94s which I've collected over the period ? (i.e. expired ones and renewed ones as well as the new one which I obtained when I entered the U.S. from Canada). Is this correct ?

Thanks.

-Mohan.
 
When you go to Canada by air it is treated as domestic flight you don’t have to surrender your I-94 if the trip is less than 30 days, when you depart Canada by air you will face US immigration at airport in Canada before taking a flight to US
 
One of my friend living in Detroit told me that he was never issued a new I-94 when re-entering US. He has been to Canada via road 7-8 times and still maintains his old I-94. Theoritically, one should get new I-94 when re-entering US.

But another of my friend who visited Canada and re-entered US via Air route was issued new I-94.

This information is based on experience and not gauranteed.
 
no new I-94 if old is valid

When you go to Canada and come back you still have old valid I-94, so usually new one is not issued and you are let in on your old one.

When you go to Canada and apply for new US visa there, usually old I-94 is confiscated at the US consulate and you have no choice than to get new one at the border.

So if you just travel back and forth for pleasure or for business, you never surrender your I-94 and should resist any airline attempts to confiscate your I-94, as long as you are going for less than 30 days.

This is especially true if your visa is no longer valid but your I-94 is valid, or after change of status. If your visa is expired or for a different classification, you can still enter US from short trip to Canada or Mexico as long as you have that valid I-94 (automatic visa revalidation, works only if you have *not* applied for new US visa while being in Canada or Mexico) so one should guard it carefully and *not* give it to the airline.

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Standard disclaimer applies, I am not a lawyer, seek advice from competent licensed specialist before using anything contained in this message.
 
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