Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

As an E2 Visa holder with an i94 with less than a month left I need to leave the US and re-enter. If I cross to Los Algodones on a day trip is there an immigration officer that will reset my i94?

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

There's no way to know in advance if he will... but he should, yes. This is all on the assumption that your visa is still valid.

Ian

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

It is not guaranteed. We were told POE at Phoenix Airport that they will not renew your I94 if you visited a contiguous country for less than 5 days. However they did renew my daughters I94 as it was about to expire but only as a "favor". This was after a 3 day trip to Cabo.

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

I'm not aware of a law that says that... so I can only assume he lied to you.


CBP officers aren't actually allowed to break the law... which leads me to believe there is no law, and he was simply trying to intimidate you.


Did you actually have visas or were you travelling on ESTA/VWP?

Ian

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

Maybe he was trying to intimidate but as I said, he did renew my daughter's I94 which was about to expire. My point is that it is not guaranteed you will be able to renew.
We were traveling on an E2 treaty investor visa.

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

Thank you. Last time I also took a 3 day trip to Cabo and they did renew my I94 at Phoenix, and at that time I had overstayed my prior I94 by about 60 days, but my E2 was still active. I was nervous, but I got it done. And I learned by lesson not to stay beyond my I94!

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

TY yes it is. An immigration attorney has told me that he thought I might have to go to a foreign country outside N.America, but he wasn't sure.

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

I have decided to go to Vancouver for 2 nights so let's see if that works. Apparently it's chilly!

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

That's your choice, of course, but it seems like a complete waste of time.

Ian

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

I choose this over Mexico as my wife doesn't want to drive 6 hours to the border. She'd rather see the sights of Vancouver. Any time keeping her happy is well spent!

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

Vancouver is certainly on my list of places to see. Have fun.

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

Ah - well then, I agree 100%! :) Vancouver is a wonderful city.

Ian

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

Actually I can believe the 5 day policy as I've noticed that global entry machines will only issue a new i94 after a 5 day absence.

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

Are you flying or driving? Your question had me thinking so I looked into I94's a bit more. I did not realize that if you enter via land you apply for a provisional I94 online. https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/apply-document. I cannot find an answer to whether you can walk across the Mexican border but have always been told it is not an option. Interesting. Let us know how Canada goes.

Re: Renew I94 by walking across to Mexico & back?
 

Fair enough. The problem, it seems, is with the machines' program - and needs to be fixed... by a CBP officer who can override the system.

Ian