As an H-1B visa holder, it is important to understand travel requirements associated with your visa status. In this article, we'll cover the information you need to make informed decisions and ensure a smooth travel experience.
H-1B visa travel guidelines
H-1B visa holders are allowed to travel internationally and return to the U.S. as many times as they would like. There is also no required time that they must spend in the U.S. in H1B status during the validity of the H1B petition. However, there are important documents you must obtain and carry with you when seeking admission to the U.S.
H-1B visa reentry requirements
To re-enter the U.S. after international travel, H-1B visa holders must present:
- A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the end date of the intended stay
- A valid H-1B visa stamp (unless visa-exempt, such as Canadian citizens)
- A printed I-797 approval notice
- Proof of continued employment, such as a recent paystub or an employment verification letter
Traveling with a pending H-1B petition
If you file an H-1B petition requesting a change of status from H1B to another non-immigrant status, do not travel internationally until it is approved. If you leave the U.S. while the petition is pending, USCIS will deny the change of status request. In contrast, if you leave the U.S. while your employer’s H-1B petition requesting an extension of stay is pending, there will be no impact on the petition.
Consult with experts: Before making any international travel plans, consult with your immigration attorney or the organization that filed your H-1B petition prior to departure from the U.S.
H-1B visa travel tips
- Consult the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website of the country you will visit for any specific visa requirements
- If traveling to Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days, you may be eligible for automatic visa revalidation.
- Always travel with your most recent paystubs
- If you have a valid H1B visa in your passport and you change U.S. employers, you do not need a new visa stamp. You can travel with the existing H1B visa stamp and the new I-797 approval notice
If you have any questions or need assistance with your H-1B visa or other immigration matters, get started with a free consultation today. We're here to help you every step of the way, ensuring a smooth and stress-free immigration experience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Pegah Karimabakhsh Asli is an Associate Attorney at Alma, where she advises startups, founders, and enterprise clients on a wide range of employment-based immigration matters. She has extensive experience preparing and filing petitions across key categories, including TN, H-1B, L-1, O-1, EB-1, NIW, and Adjustment of Status (AOS), and provides strategic counsel to clients navigating complex immigration pathways.
Before joining Alma, Pegah worked at Fragomen in Silicon Valley, where she supported multinational corporations and high-growth companies with business immigration strategy and case management.
Jihan (Jina Hassan) Merlin is an Immigration Attorney and Head of Immigration Strategy at Alma, where she leads efforts to build smarter, faster, and more human immigration solutions. With over a decade of experience advising individuals, startups, and Fortune 100 companies, she combines legal expertise with technology to design scalable immigration programs. A graduate of Boston College Law School, Jihan is passionate about innovation in process and improving every stage of the immigration journey.
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