Hello!
I am planning to take a one-week trip to Mexico in Jan but have some concerns about re-entering US. Here some bullet point facts of me.
1. I am holding a Chinese passport expiring in August 2009.
2. In year 2000, I entered U.S. on F-2 visa, and then converted to F1 in 2001. I have never left U.S. territory since my initial entrance.
3. In 2007, I started working for a major American healthcare company with OPT and then got my H1-B visa starting on Oct. 1. 2008.
4. I DO NOT have H1-B visa stamped on my passport. The I-94 form attached to my H1-B approval letter has an expiration date of Aug. 2011.
5. I have never committed any immigration fraud or any type of crime.
6. I am only going to stay in Mexico for one week for tourist purpose and I am not planning to apply for a visa in a US consulate in Mexico.
7. I have not started my green card application process.
I have seen rules of "automatic re-validation" of H1-B status when crossing US border if traveling to Canada/Mexico for less than 30 days. However, some people also said there is some risk if I try to re-enter US with only the H1-B approval letter and I-94. My question is how big this risk is. Because this is only a family leisure trip, if the risk is significant, I would probably call it off.
Thanks very much for any advice and suggestions.
I am planning to take a one-week trip to Mexico in Jan but have some concerns about re-entering US. Here some bullet point facts of me.
1. I am holding a Chinese passport expiring in August 2009.
2. In year 2000, I entered U.S. on F-2 visa, and then converted to F1 in 2001. I have never left U.S. territory since my initial entrance.
3. In 2007, I started working for a major American healthcare company with OPT and then got my H1-B visa starting on Oct. 1. 2008.
4. I DO NOT have H1-B visa stamped on my passport. The I-94 form attached to my H1-B approval letter has an expiration date of Aug. 2011.
5. I have never committed any immigration fraud or any type of crime.
6. I am only going to stay in Mexico for one week for tourist purpose and I am not planning to apply for a visa in a US consulate in Mexico.
7. I have not started my green card application process.
I have seen rules of "automatic re-validation" of H1-B status when crossing US border if traveling to Canada/Mexico for less than 30 days. However, some people also said there is some risk if I try to re-enter US with only the H1-B approval letter and I-94. My question is how big this risk is. Because this is only a family leisure trip, if the risk is significant, I would probably call it off.
Thanks very much for any advice and suggestions.