Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory masthead A-Z Index Berkeley Lab masthead U.S. Department of Energy logo Phone Book Jobs Search

TRAVEL - Canada & Mexico

Travel to Canada or Mexico
with Expired Visa Currently in Valid Nonimmigrant Status

We advise all nonimmigrants to take a copy of the above linked document with them when they travel from the United States to Canada or Mexico and back.

Entry Into Mexico

Mexican tourist cards or visas are required of all persons visiting Mexico. Tourist cards/visas are obtained at the Mexican Consulate. TO find out which documents are required and the hours they are open, contact the Mexican Consulate at 870 Market Street, No. 528, San Francisco, CA 94102, tel: (415) 392-5554. If you plan to drive to Mexico, SISS has additional information on bringing a car into Mexico.

Entry Into Canada A tourist visa from the Canadian Consulate is required for citizens of certain countries. To find out if you need a tourist visa and for visa application instructions, you can contact the website for Canadian citizenship at http: //cicnet.ingenia.com. There are Canadian Consulates in Los Angeles or Seattle as follows: Immigration Section, Canadian Consulate General; 550 South Hope St., 9th floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071; Fax #: (213) 625-7154. Tel: (213) 346-2700, call between 8:30 am - 4 pm. You can listen to the instructions or press "0" if you wish to speak to someone. The Seattle office is located at 412 Plaza 600, 6th and Stewart, Seattle, WA. 98101-1286 and is reachable by calling (206) 443-1372.

IF VISITING MEXICO OR CANADA FOR LESS THAN 30 DAYS To return to the U.S., a valid U.S. visa is not required for non-immigrants who have maintained a lawful status in the U.S. and intend to resume that status upon return. This process is called "Automatic Revalidation of Visa." In order to do this, you must keep the I-94 form (the small white card in the passport) when entering Mexico or Canada. Normally, the I-94 is surrendered when departing the U.S. except if making visits of 30 days of less to Canada or Mexico. The I-94 is then presented as one of the documents required for re-entry to the U.S. Please note that at the present time, automatic revalidation of visas does not apply to nationals of Iran, Iraq and Libya.

RE-ENTRY INTO THE U.S. Re-entry to the U.S. requires the following: The I-94 form (with D/S/ or expiration date beyond your date of return) A valid visa document (I-20 or IAP-66): Either a new one or one that has been PROPERLY ENDORSED before departing the U.S. (endorsement goes on the reverse side of the I-20 or IAP-66). F-1 students must get the I-20 endorsed by a SISS Advisor or at the Office of the Registrar, 120 Sproul Hall. J-1 students or visiting scholars must get the IAP-66 endorsed by their program sponsor (UCB sponsored students obtain signatures at SISS). If your program sponsor is not UC Berkeley, contact your program sponsor at least two to three weeks before departure. An endorsement is valid for one year (endorsements of students on OPT are valid only for six months). Endorsements at SISS take about five minutes if an Advisor is available. A valid passport. The passport should be valid for at least six months from date of re-entry. Employment Authorization Document (EAD) For F-1 students using Optional Practical Training, or Pending Permanent Residents. You may also be asked for recent evidence of financial support for the total duration of stay in the U.S.. It is strongly advised that F/J non-immigrants carry such evidence with them. The International Researchers & Scholars Office at Berkeley Lab will provide this confirmation of current employment letter to all travelers. Please see the Staff Directory from the web site and contact the Staffing Assistant responsible for providing support to your particular Scientific Division. NOTE: In the following cases, consult with an Advisor before departure: If you will be out of the U.S. for more than five months. If you are planning to renew or change the U.S. entry visa at a U.S. Embassy in Mexico or Canada If your I-20 or IAP-66 visa document has expired or will expire within 30 days of the expected return date to the U.S. If you are a citizen of Iran, Iraq, or Libya (special procedures are required to re-enter the U.S.) If you have ever applied for permanent residence.

International Researchers & Scholars Services, intl.researchers.scholars@lbl.gov

*Shared by agreement with Services for International Students & Scholars (SISS) at University of California/Berkeley. Visiting Researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory should address all questions to intl.researchers.scholars@lbl.gov.