I94 extension at San Diego on last day of expiry - urgent

USA H1B Visa
1

Thank you so much @Anil_Gupta for your informative post & all others posting their experiences. Some how I am also in the same boat now.

My current stamped Visa & I-797 is valid till 15-Oct-2018 where as my old passport & I-94 is expiring today(09-Sep-2018).

H1b extension pending for 5 months

My current employer has filed for H1 extension which is pening with USCIS(5 months) so I was fine with my status but the recent development has changed my situation.

Need H1B transfer filed before i94 expiry

Actually I am getting an offer from another employer & they will file H1 transfer request for me.
Since my I-94 expiring today, I got to know(based on experience from one of my friend) that I need to get extended my I-94 till I-797 expiration date(15-Oct-2018) else H1 transfer request would be denied.

I am in Virginia.

Is there any way I can extend I-94 at CBP at international airport?

or I need to cross border at San Ysidro Land Port of Entry – West Pedestrian Facility.
Also let me if it is 24 X 7 facility.

Would appreciate any guidance & inputs from all of you.
Thank you so much.

@ark2015 , Any updates on you I-94 extention. Since my old passport & I-94 is expired, Your experience will help me a lot! Thanks.

2

HI @Jit_sharma

Your only option today is to either go to Laredo, TX US Mexico border or at San Diego, San Ysidro US Mexico border to get i94 renewed till 15 Oct, 2018.

The third option is the border in Arizona or any US Canada border.
For Canada, you will need Canadian Visa too if you are asked to cross border. So, please be careful.
In Mexico, you do not need Mexico visa. US visa is allowed there.

You have not mentioned if you got your NEW passport or not?
Remember that you WILL need new passport to go to these borders.

CBP office at international airport

They do NOT extend i94 based on passport expiry and new passport.

At airport CBP office, they only correct i94 errors that they made while giving your i94 at the time of your entry.

US Mexico border - Open 24x7

Both the borders are open 24x7.

The chances of asking you to cross border are 50-50 and highly dependent on the CBP officer that you encounter.
Some people have got it done just by visiting CBP office (at border) and other have been asked to cross border and re-enter US.

It is your luck at that time and place that plays a major role there :slight_smile:

Let me know if you need more information.

3

Thanks a lot @Anil_Gupta for your prompt & accurate response. I do have my renewed passport. Let me see if I can find any flight from here to the San diego or texas border now. I hope I can do the same even if I go in a day or two… :slight_smile:

4

Just for your information, If you file your #h1b-transfer after your i94 expiry, your H1B transfer cannot be approved (if approved) without consular processing.

H1B transfer can be approved if filed after i94 expiry

Its not that your H1B transfer will be denied just because you filed it after your i94 expired. This is NOT true.

The only problem is that your H1B extension will be tied to H1B transfer to create a bridge between your status.

5

Yeah, That is what I want to avoid.

6

This is a real life case with similar situation (H1B transfer was filed after i94 expiry when H1B extension was pending).

Read this to know how things can change, get complex and dirty with USCIS within a day:

7

I got my I94 extended till my I797 validity date last week.

San Ysidro Port of Entry West Pedestrian Facility is just beside the Premium Outlets.

It is open 24x7.

Same as my case, your I94 and old passport already expired, you will not be able to pay $6 fee online.

Try to go off peak hours during night so that you don’t have to wait long.
I didn’t have to cross the border.

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Thanks @ark2015 for your feedback. We appreciate it.

9

Thank you @Anil_Gupta. Do you mind sharing your contact details…?

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thanks a lot @ark2015. Will help a lot.

11

Hi @Jit_sharma,
Sorry, I do not share my personal contact on social platforms.

You can send me a private message though or use chat to discuss.

12

didn’t find any option to send private msg that is why asked. no worries my friend. I can understand… :). thanks a lot for all your help. appreciate it.

13

Hi @Jit_sharma
Click my name and then there should be an option to ‘Message’ (button).

It should be visible like this:
image

Or we can chat…i just pinged you
image

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I didn’t get your ping & Message option not available in front of your name. Need to get ready for Airport will connect with you shortly. Thanks.

15

OK… you are not seeing it because you just signed up on this platform.
They don’t allow messages until you are here for a while (to avoid spam).

No problem.

When you get time, just ping me by searching my name on the chat.
I will try to respond as early as possible.

All the best.

16

Hey guys, On very short notice, yesterday I went to San Diego, San Ysidro US Mexico border & got my I-94 extended till my visa validity.

Officer asked me to cross mexico border & come back again(actually it is just a round on pedestrian bridge).

Luckily got entered with-out any issue & it was quick after that. Special thanks to @Anil_Gupta for all the valuable inputs. God bless him!!

17

Awesome @Jit_sharma.
I am glad it worked out for you.

All the best for your #h1b-transfer now.
Let me know if you need more information.

18

One last question before I start for Airport, What all documents they will ask apart from I-797, New & Old Passport.?

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  1. Original Approved i797.
  2. Your Old and New passport.
  3. Your US address proof - Could be any utility bill, your driving license, state ID, EAD card etc.

This same list is mentioned in first post here:

20

Hello Anil,

Hope you are doing well.

After almost 10 months wait, I got my visa approved. In Dec, They issued Specially occupation RFE which attorney responded in March & got visa approved in July. Thank you very much for your guidance.

1 Like