AG --

Letter from employer stating H-1B renewal has been filed may not be enough.
You need to take a copy (or original) of the H-1B application receipt notice (showing the file number).
That is conclusive proof that new H-1 has been filed.

Secondly, you said that you have filed H-1B renewal via premium processing.
You can wait for approval and go with a brand new I-94.
Much safer that way.

Also, can you post the phone number of the border post you called?
It will help others in the future.

Best wishes.

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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."

-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"

why to spend $1000 on premium proc now that I can re-enter US on current I-94 b4 10 Mar.. the primary purpose of going for premium was bcoz I was unaware of this special Automatic Revalidation thing that exists for Canada and Mexico and I was under the impression visa is necessary once u leave US and try to come back from anywhere.. so instructed the employer to file under normal processing now which they will this week.. and that's why best I can take is letter from employer stating H1 extn has been filed which I guess should be ok since it is taking quite some time to even get receipts now and the officers are also aware of this.. infact spoke to a lawyer today and he said that last month almost everyone has filed under premium fearing H1B quota problem and nobody knows how much time it will take now for premium as well.. in any case what was more imp to the officer was the I-94 when I asked them.. the employer reference letter, H1 extn letter and other docs (exp letters, salary stmts etc) will act as supporting docs if reqd.

here's the link for border posts - http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/ports/

I called 3 posts.. Buffalo (Lewiston Bridge and Rainbow Bridge) and Detroit (from where I will be going).. 2 said there shouldn't be a problem and 3rd said cannot guarantee unless he sees all the docs but confirmed abt the rule. BEST TO CONTACT THE IMMIGRATION OFFICERS DIRECTLY INSTEAD OF LAWYERS.

hope this helps..

AG.

Yeah, makes sense now.
Premium processing doesn't guarantee that the case will be approved in 15 days - just that they will *respond* within 15 days.
Sometimes they just send an RFE to buy some time.

Well, all the best to you.
Keep us updated and I will call you to ask about your first experience in Canada

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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."

-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"