L1 to H1 transfer can re-enter US from Canada with I797?

[swame_sp]

Hello all,

My first post in this helpful forum, my US visa was recently converted from L1 to H1 by my company and have the active I-797 approval notice.

I have canadian visitor visa stamped on my passport through my L1 visa (that was active when I applied). The question here is now L1 becoming invalid after conversion, can I travel to canada for 4 days and get back to US with just the I-797 for H1 even though I don't have H1 stamped on my passport.

Please help.

Thanks.

[swame_sp]

Any takers for this question?

Additional info: I would crossing Canada by drive, through New York.

[pontevecchio]

"(ii) In cases where the original nonimmigrant classification of an alien has been changed by USCIS to another nonimmigrant classification, the validity of an expired or unexpired nonimmigrant visa may be considered to be automatically extended to the date of application for readmission, and the visa may be converted as necessary to that changed classification."

http://travel.state.gov/visa/laws/telegrams/telegrams_1441.html

Look up Automatic Visa revalidation.

The answer is YES.

[livliv]

You can do that using automatic Visa revalidation.

[swame_sp]

Thanks Guys, checked with CBP (customs and Border Protection) and the telephonice assistance person said, yes I'm valid to return to US.

Thanks for all the help.