Received I797-A form, not clear on where to present?

[canucksfan]

Hi everyone,

I've recently received my I797-A form indicating the approved extension of my TN status. I plan to travel back to Canada by car in the near future but am unsure to who I surrender this form or if it's my responsibility to detach anything on the form itself. Do I give my passport and this form to the Canadian officer on the way into Canada, or to the US officer on the way back? Is there any sort of lengthy preparation to prepare a new I-94 card or is it on the spot?

Would appreciate some clarification just to be safe. Thanks!

 

[nelsona]

The I-797 should have an I-94 attached to it, with the number matching your current I-94. This sis your new I-94.

The best practice is for you to staple this I-94 to your old one, and staple the other lower part of the I-797 (the 'information stub') to the last page of passport.

Keep these until you enter US. At that time, the officer will either wave you thru as is (the thin I-94 is just as valid as a cardboard one), or -- more likely -- the officer will have you fill out a new I-94 which will be stamped with your new expiry date, and take the old I-94 combo out.

 

[canucksfan]

Just a quick follow-up to this...

My lawyers advised me to keep the original form in its entirety and separate from my passport. Bad move as I received a nice lecture from the immigration agent, at the border, asking me why I didn't follow instructions on the form. Obviously, it was still valid but I'm hoping to avoid this situation again. How should I properly attach the form this to my passport now that I no longer have my old I-94 attached to my passport.

Thanks!

 

[nelsona]

My previous answer is the correct one.

 

[canucksfan]

Thanks. Sorry to keep clarifying but my old I-94 was removed by one of the officers. What page do I attach the new one to? Does it matter?

 

[TNDV2008]

Thanks. Sorry to keep clarifying but my old I-94 was removed by one of the officers. What page do I attach the new one to? Does it matter?

It does not matter what page you attach it. remember, there is nothing "special" about the blank pages of the passport, so pick one, and attach it.

Tear out the lower part of the I-797 and staple one half, then fold it over. that way, you keep the identifying info piece together with the i-94 piece. Of course, I always carry my ENTIRE package with me in the car, just incase I meet one of those "arent-there-qualified-americans" officers who are looking to give me grief

 

[nelsona]

TNDV's advice is partially correct.

The I-797 info sheet is best stapled to the passport by itself, apart from the I-94.

That way when the I-94 is removed by an officer or an airline agent, the I-797 info stub is untouched.

 

[canucksfan]

Is the I-94 supposed to be removed every time you leave the country? The only time I had it removed was when my first one expired and I had the replace I-797a form.

 

[nelsona]

It shouldn't, but if leaving N America, or if met with an overzealous airline employee, you stand a good chance of having it taken., With the info stub, you simply don't care

 

[TNDV2008]

TNDV's advice is partially correct.

The I-797 info sheet is best stapled to the passport by itself, apart from the I-94.

That way when the I-94 is removed by an officer or an airline agent, the I-797 info stub is untouched.

This has been my first hand experience:

By air:
I always kept my I-94 when going to Canada. Upon re-entry into US @ Pearson, one very helpful Officer explained to me that I will ALWAYS be issued a new I-94 AS LONG AS I TRAVEL BY AIR, and the "old" one will be taken away.

He also explained that the white I-94 card issued @ port of entry is the one that is taken, NOT the I-797, since the CBP "owns" the white I-94, but different department owns the I-797. He took out the "original" I-94 issued @ border crossing in Detroit, but did not take any of the I-797 I-94 cut-outs

By Land:
Everytime I drove across the Canada-US border, I retained the I-94's and on my re-entry into US, I ALWAYS presented all the subsequent I-797's with their respective I-94 cut-outs. None of the officers took away any of my I-797 I-94's.


Either case, you will always retain the I-94's that came with your I-797

 

[nelsona]

I always kept my I-94 when going to Canada. Upon re-entry into US @ Pearson, one very helpful Officer explained to me that I will ALWAYS be issued a new I-94 AS LONG AS I TRAVEL BY AIR, and the "old" one will be taken away.

This never happened to me. kept my I-94 (cardboard) for full 3 years despite entry several times by air.

Your officer apparently doesn't subscribe to "multiple Entry'

Another officer actauly staples the info stub on my last page ans said leave this there "in case" your I-94 is taken, which it never has been.

 

[TNDV2008]

...my I-94 (cardboard)...

LOL!!! I like this term...

Your officer apparently doesn't subscribe to "multiple Entry'

Interesting argument....the funny thing is this Officer did not review my TN paperwork (i.e. degree, job offer etc) but still took away my old "multiple-entry cardboard" and issued me a new "cardboard" that had same expiry date & multiple-entry stamped as my "paper" I-94 that came with I-797