Ria123

Hi
I am on an E2 visa with 3 years left to run, my I 94 was issued for 2 years and is about to expire. Can I visit Canada for a short trip and be issued with a new I 94 on my return or do I have to leave the whole of North America? Thanks

scrubbedexpat099

Are you Canadian?

Ria123

Hi
No, I am British, was hoping to visit Canada or Mexico to get a new I 94 on re-entry as its so costly to fly to Europe at the moment!
Thanks

Charma1ne

Hi if you go to Canada you have to go for a period of over 2 weeks apparently.

This has been confirmed by several people who have recently been.

Cx

Ria123

Thanks, we did think it was something like that

lisa67

Why don't you apply for an I94 extension?
http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Resources/C1en.pdf

lifehouse51

Just to present a different perspective, if you decide to do it in Canada, sure the flight is shorter and cheaper, but you probably wanna be there for a week, if not more, and probably have to pay for hotel and rental car there. If you have family/friends in the UK, when you fly back there you can stay with them while applying for a visa, and the total cost may actually be lower

Ria123

Yes I may well do that, didn't know it could be done that way until 3 days ago! Next year we will be in a better position to fly home for a week or 2, thanks for the reply

Ria123

Just for anyone else who ever needs to know. I couldnt renew my I-94 online as my company would not fill in the 35 page form on my behalf, which was required. So I went down to the Mexican border, left my car USA side and walked across into Mexico. I then went to the line to re-enter the USA, joined the queue for I-94 and permits,(about 20 people) and went into the office when called. They gave me a new 2 year I-94 no problems. All this took about 1 hour in total. I couldnt find anything on the US website to say you cant do this, I couldnt find anything to say you had to leave for x amount of days or you have to go further than Mexico or Canada.
Im not saying every one should do this, im just saying it worked for me no problems

lifehouse51

What you did give you a fresh 2 year of E-2 status but doesn't renew the actual visa. If you leave the U.S. after the E-2 visa expiration date, you'll still have to get a new one at a U.S. consulate abroad.

Ria123

Yes that's true, but I have 3 years to run, I only needed a new I-94!

DavidLemon

But OP does state I-94 in post, and does not refer to an extension of E-2