Visa Revalidations
What is a “Visa Revalidation”?
A “Visa Revalidation” allows a person to renew their visa without leaving the U.S. The visa revalidation process is available for persons with specified statuses who wish to travel outside the U.S. for a short period of time.
Visa revalidation becomes necessary when the person’s expiration date on their visa has expired, but the time period for their permission to stay in the U.S. is still valid. Basically, the person has an expired visa but a valid U.S. status. The visa may have expired while the person was traveling outside the U.S., but visa revalidation will allow them to re-enter the U.S. again.
Visa revalidation is different from both a nonimmigrant visa extension and filing for a new visa. Filing for a visa revalidation is a much more streamlined process, and is only available under certain circumstances. In addition, filing for a new visa or a visa extension may disqualify the person for a visa revalidation.
What are the Benefits of Visa Revalidation?
There are several benefits to getting your visa revalidated. First, visa revalidation allows you to renew your visa expiration date without the risk of being denied a new visa. It allows you to re-enter the country and will allow you to use the remainder of your allotted period for staying temporarily in the U.S.
Also, visa revalidation is much less expensive and less time consuming than having your visa re-extended or applying for an entirely new visa.
Who is Eligible for a Visa Revalidation?
Not everyone is eligible for a visa revalidation. In order to be eligible, you must meet several requirements. In general, you must:
- Have a valid immigration status
- Have a valid passport (at least six months)
- Have an original visa, valid for less than 60 days; OR your visa has expired within the last twelve months
The visa revalidation can be obtained by filing through the U.S. State Department in Washington D.C. You can also apply for the revalidation through the U.S. Consulate office where you first obtained your visa. Revalidation is only available for certain visa classes.
Lastly, certain factors may disqualify an applicant from getting their visa revalidated. For example, if you obtained your visa through the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, or if you have traveled to certain countries, you may not be eligible for a revalidation. You may wish to consult with a lawyer to determine if any disqualifying factors apply to you.
I’ve Heard of “Automatic Visa Revalidation”- What is This?
Automatic visa revalidation is available for certain classes of Visas (such as F, J, and others). It allows the person to have their visa automatically revalidated without having to go through many of the filing steps. This option is only available for certain types of visas, and eligibility requirements frequently change according to U.S. security policies.
Remember, if you have been denied a visa revalidation, you may still have other options available to you such as a filing for a new visa.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Visa Revalidation?
Obtaining a visa revalidation is a very important option for those who will be traveling outside the U.S. during a temporary stay. You may wish to consult with a lawyer to determine if visa revalidation is available for you. An immigration attorney can also explain what alternatives options you might have. It is preferable to consult with a lawyer before you travel outside the U.S., to ensure that you will be able to re-enter the U.S. without any unforeseen issues.
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Last Modified: 12-21-2011 11:18 AM PST
