L1 Visa and I94 extension realted

[krishidj]

Hi,

My L1 visa and i94 was expired july 07. Applied and got extension of I 797 and I94 till July 2009. I would like to travel Canada for a visit. In that case, if i travel out side USA and during return do i need valid visa stamped at my passport? or is that the extension package is enough?
In addition to that is it possible to use that trip to stamp a visa at US consulate at Canada? I was told that with I 797 approval i can apply for a visa since it got a approval from USCIS.
Please guide me on this.

Thanks in advace.

 

[techie8]

Hi,

My L1 visa and i94 was expired july 07. Applied and got extension of I 797 and I94 till July 2009. I would like to travel Canada for a visit. In that case, if i travel out side USA and during return do i need valid visa stamped at my passport? or is that the extension package is enough?
In addition to that is it possible to use that trip to stamp a visa at US consulate at Canada? I was told that with I 797 approval i can apply for a visa since it got a approval from USCIS.
Please guide me on this.

Thanks in advace.

This depends on the length of your visit to Canada. Generally, if you go for less than 30 days, you do not need to submit your I-94 when you leave and can hang on to the same I-94. However, if you stay longer in Canada, then you need to get a new I-94.

Also, it is always a safe bet to have a valid stamp in the passport before returning to the US. You can get a stamping in Canada. However, the US consulate in Canada is known to reject Indian stamping requests in some cases, where they cannot verify the authenticity of the documents provided with the stamping request.