Travel to Canada after H4 to F1 COS approved

[smanthri]

Hi,

I came to USA on H4 and my I-94 expires on Mar 18 2014. I decided to enroll in masters and I have got my I-20 in Oct 2013 with my semester start as Jan 6, 2014. I applied for F1 COS on Oct 20th, 2013. I did not get a decision before course started, so I deferred my admission to next quarter as I will not be having valid VISA if my COS is denied. My course now starts from March 31, 2014.

 

 

I was expecting to get a start date of March 19, 2014 as my H4's I-94 is expiring on March 18, 2014 and my course starts on Mar 31, 2014. And if I travel outside US and return back on H4, my COS would not be voided and will be in effect from March 19th 2014.

 

Last week I got my F1 COS approved and I received my approval notice today. I see that the start date on new I-94 is Feb 6, 2014. So, technically I am already on F1 even though my course is not started.

 

Now I have plans to travel Canada in March first week for couple of days and I am worried what would be my status after coming back.

 

1. Do I need to go for VISA Stamping if I have to reenter US as F1 even when I have a valid H4?

 

2. If VISA is mandatory and I decided not go stamping in Canada, can I still enter on H4 since I have valid H4 visa. And I apply COS again?

 

3. I see a note on new I-94 that "Students planning to reenter the U.S. within 30 days to return to the same school, see Arrival-Departure on Page 2 of Form I-20 prior to surrendering this permit."  And the I-20 says "You do not have to turn in the I-94 if you are visiting Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands other than Cuba for less than 30 days". Does it mean that I still have to get my F1 VISA stamping, but can use the I-94 I received with I-797 (without returning)

 

Thanks in advance.

 

[pontevecchio]

You can use "AUTOMATIC VISA REVALIDATION"  Ask your DSO about AVR or look up GOOGLE. In any case talk to your DSO about why the F1 has been made active so long before classes when the usual time is 30 days before classes start.

[F1struggle]

When I was debating this same situation, my DSO told me that I can leave the country and re-enter within 30 days of program start date ( typically i-20 start date).

 

I believe you have two options here (1) visit Canada and re-enter using AVR as mentioned above (2) talk to your DSO, and attend F-1 visa interview 30 days prior to program start date.