H-1B visa travel to Mexico on expired visa stamp
I have a I-797 extension letter, a I-94 valid until 2017 and an expired visa in my passport. I understand that I can travel to Mexico with an expired visa provided I have a valid I-797 and I-94. But I still have one question about requiring a tourist visa to Mexico.
The Mexico VisaHQ site says:
Starting May 1st, 2010, all foreigners, regardless of their nationality, visiting Mexico as tourists, transmigrate or for business matters will not need a visa for Mexico as long as they hold a valid US visa and arrive in Mexico from the United States.
Does this even apply to a person whose visa stamp is expired but has a valid I-94?
Best Answer
VisaHQ is right, the visa has to be valid.
According to Timatic, the database used by airlines:
Visa required, except for passengers with a valid visa issued by Canada, Japan, USA, United Kingdom or a Schengen Member State for a maximum stay of 180 days.
Although the US would let you back in if you spend less than 30 days in Mexico, Mexico will not accept an expired US visa as an exemption for a Mexican visa.
That said, if you stick to the border zone, you will not normally be checked on entering Mexico, only when re-entering the US. So, in practice, you could go to Tijuana (for example), although it's not technically allowed.
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Can I travel to Mexico on expired US visa?
All foreigners, regardless their nationality, are required to present a valid and not expired passport or travel document when entering Mexico (traveling by air, land or sea). The Mexican government only requires that your passport must be valid during the entirety of your trip.Can I travel to Mexico without H1B stamping?
You are permitted to travel to Canada and Mexico for less than 30 days without a H-1B visa stamp in your passport (you still need to take the other documents mentioned above). For detailed information about automatic visa revalidation, please refer to the information provided on Department of State's website .Can I travel with expired visa stamp?
Many nonimmigrants will need to reapply and be reissued visas to reenter the U.S. when their existing visas have expired, even if they are in possession of valid admission stamp or paper Form I-94, because automatic revalidation applies to limited categories of travelers.Can we go to Mexico for H1B extension stamping?
Visa Renewal StampingVisa renewal visa stamp can be obtained in Mexico as well as Canada. Many people visit Canada and Mexico for H1B renewal stamping including the H1B Amendment, Transfer, or extensions instead of visiting their home country.H1B visa stamping , Tijuana, Mexico
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