The H1B visa is a temporary US work visa issued to highly qualified foreign workers. Some countries allow US visa holders to enter without an extra visa as long as they satisfy the entry requirements. This guide will introduce H1B visa-free countries and some unique entry rules, aiming to help you travel freely while protecting your US immigration status.
Can I Travel to Other Countries with a US H1B Visa?
Yes. Due to the strict screening process of US visa applications, those who have already had a US visa are considered to have good standing, financial capability, and no illegal immigration intentions. Therefore, some countries think it unnecessary to screen again, thus granting visa-free access to H1B visa travel. However, you still need to meet specific H1B visa entry rules, which vary by your nationality and destination, so please check the updated information with your target country’s embassy. Moreover, to return to the US smoothly, you must also comply with absence limits (typically less than 60 days) and carry valid documents like Form I-797 approval.
Which Countries Can H1B Holders Visit Visa-Free in 2025
H1B holders can travel to dozens of countries and territories without a visa for short-term purposes. Below is a list of H1B visa-free countries. Please note that the H1B visa entry rules might vary occasionally, so please check the latest information with the official immigration office of your destination.
| Countries & Regions | Maximum Duration of Stay | Eligible Nationalities | Entry Rules |
| Canada | 6 months | Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Brazil Costa Rica Mexico Morocco Panama Philippines St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Vincent and the Grenadines Seychelles Thailand Trinidad and Tobago Uruguay | An electronic travel authorization (eTA) is required. Apply to travelers arriving by air. |
| Mexico | 180 days | All nationalities | A valid passport; An onward/return ticket. |
| Belize | 30 days | All nationalities | A valid passport; An onward/return ticket within 30 days; Sufficient funds (USD $75.00 per day) |
| Costa Rica | 30 days | All nationalities | / |
| El Salvador | 90 days | Azerbaijan Belarus Benin Bhutan Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad China Comoros Côte d’Ivoire Cuba Djibouti Dominica Egypt Equatorial Guinea Gabon Gambia Georgia Grenade Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana India Jamaica Kazakhstan Kiribati Kyrgyzstan Lesotho Malawi Maldives Mauritania Mauritius Micronesia Moldova Montenegro Morocco Myanmar Namibia Nauru Niger Palau Papua New Guinea Philippines Rwanda Samoa Senegal Serbia Seychelles Suriname Swaziland TajikistanTanzania Thailand TogoTonga Tunisia Turkmenistan Uganda Uzbekistan Venezuela Zambia Zimbabwe | Purchase tourist card at the airport, land border crossings, or seaports after arrival. |
| Guatemala | 90 days | Azerbaijan Belarus Benin Bhutan Bolivia Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad Comoros Côte d´Ivoire Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt Equatorial Guinea Gabon Gambia Georgia Grenade Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana India Jamaica Kazakhstan Kiribati Kyrgyzstan Lesotho Malawi Maldives Mauricio Mauritania Micronesia Moldova Montenegro Morocco Myanmar Namibia Nauru Niger Palau Papua New Guinea Philippines Rwanda Samoa Senegal Serbia Seychelles Suriname Swaziland Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Tunisia Turkmenistan Uganda Uzbekistan Zambia Zimbabwe | / |
| Honduras | 90 days | Azerbaijan Belarus Benin Bhutan Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cape Verde Central African Republic Chad China Comoros Cote d’Ivoire Djibouti Dominica Egypt Equatorial Guinea Gabon Gambia Georgia Grenada Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Hong Kong India Jamaica Kazakhstan Kiribati Kyrgyzstan Lesotho Macau Malawi Maldives Mauritania Mauritius Micronesia Moldova Montenegro Morocco Myanmar Namibia Nauru Niger Palau Papua New Guinea Philippines Rwanda Samoa Senegal Serbia Seychelles South Sudan Suriname Swaziland Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Togo Tonga Tunisia Turkmenistan Uganda Uzbekistan Zambia Zimbabwe | / |
| Panama | 30 days | All nationalities | Travelers must have entered the US once on a US visa. Remaining validity of the US visa must be at least 6 months upon arriving in Panama. Show proof of financial capability (at least 500 USD) |
| Anguilla (British Territory) | 30 days | All nationalities | The US visa must be valid. |
| Caribbean parts of the Kingdom (Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten) | 90 days | Bolivia China Cuba Dominican Republic Guyana Haiti India Jamaica | The US visa must be valid. |
| Bahamas | 90 days | India | / |
| Bermuda (British Territory) | 30 days | All nationalities | US visa must be valid for at least 45 days upon leaving Bermuda. |
| British Virgin Islands (British Territory) | 6 months | All nationalities | The visa must be valid for at least 6 months or have been to BVI before. |
| Cayman Islands (British Territory) | 30 days | China India Jamaica | Travelers must travel from the US. |
| Cuba | 30 days | All nationalities | A tourist card is needed. |
| Dominican Republic | 30 days | All nationalities | Pay a departure tax of 20 USD before departing if arriving by land or sea. |
| Haiti | 90 days | ColombiaCubaDominican RepublicPanama | Pay a tourist fee of 10 USD after arriving by air. |
| Jamaica | 30 days | Albania Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Dominican Republic Honduras Kazakhstan Macedonia Moldova Montenegro Romania Serbia | / |
| Turks and Caicos (British Territory) | 90 days | All nationalities | / |
| Chile | 90 days | China Dominican Republic India | The US visa must be valid for at least 6 months from the day of arrival. |
| Colombia | 90 days | Cambodia China India Macau Myanmar Nicaragua Taiwan Thailand Vietnam | US visa must be valid for at least 180 days from the day of arrival. |
| Peru | 180 days | China India | |
| Albania | 90 days | All nationalities | US visa must have been used at least once. |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 30 days | All nationalities | US visa must be valid for at least 30 days. |
| Georgia | 90 days | All nationalities | US visa must be valid upon arrival. |
| Moldova | 90 days | Bahrain Belize Bolivia Cambodia Cape Verde China Comoros Cuba Dominican Republic Ecuador Fiji Gabon Guyana Haiti India Jamaica Kuwait Madagascar Maldives Mongolia Nauru Oman Papua New Guinea Qatar São Tomé and Príncipe Saudi Arabia South Africa Swaziland Thailand Togo | US visa must be valid during the duration of stay. |
| Montenegro | 30 days | All nationalities | US visa must be valid during the duration of stay. |
| North Macedonia | 15 days | All nationalities | US visa must be valid for at least 5 days upon leaving the North Macedonia. Stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. |
| Serbia | 90 days | All nationalities | US visa must be valid during your stay in Sebia. Stay for up to 90 days in any 180-day period. |
| Sao Tome and Principe | 15 days | All nationalities | / |
| Kyrgyzstan | 7 days | China India | / |
| Philippines | 7-30 days | China India | US visa must be valid for the duration of the stay Passport must have at least 6 months of validity upon leaving the country. |
| South Korea | 30 days | All nationalities | Must travel to or from the US via South Korea. |
| Singapore | 96 hours | China India | Singapore Visa Free Transit Facility (VFTF) is required. Must travel to or from a third country via Singapore. US visa must be valid for at least 1 month upon arrival. |
What Should I Prepare If I Travel with an H1B Visa?
To avoid entry denials, you must learn about entry requirements for your destination and make full preparations. Here are the generally required documents.
- A valid passport: usually valid for at least 6 months or the entire trip.
- An onward/return ticket: prove that you have no tendency to immigrate and will leave the country.
- Proof of sufficient funds: payslips, bank statement, letter from the sponsor, etc.
- Proof of accommodation in your destination, such as a hotel booking or an invitation letter from the host.
- Travel Itinerary: state date of arrival, date of departure, purpose of visiting, and more.
- Valid H1B Visa Stamp: Unless using AVR (see below).
- Documents ensuring re-entry to the United States, including original I-797 Approval Notice, I-94 Arrival Record, travel letter, etc. (See below).
H1B Visa Re-Entry Requirements & Rules
A long leave of absence (typically more than 60 days) might lead to H-1B status cancellation. To preserve your immigration status and return to the US, keep the following steps in mind when considering a H1B visa travel. Below is a breakdown of requirements, processes, and expert tips for seamless re-entry.
H1B Visa Re-Entry Requirements 2025
To re-enter the US, you’ll need the following documents. Make sure to obtain them before leaving the US.
- A passport with at least 6 months’ validity.
- Valid Form I-797: Approval Notice (original copy), proving that you have
- Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (photocopy)
- Other supporting documents, like Form ETA 9035: Labor Condition Application (LCA).
- Travel letter from your employer proving that you will return to your job position as stated in the I-129 petition.
- Recent pay stubs, proving continuous employment.
- Unexpired H1B visa stamp (not required for Canadian citizens). If your H1B stamp is expired and you travel from Canada/Mexico, use AVR (details below).
Complete Process of Re-Entry to the USA in 2025
Now that you have finished your trip and plan to go back to the USA, please do as follows.
- Pre-Travel Preparation
It is suggested to notify your employer in advance to confirm your active status. Then check the validity of your Form I-94 and make sure the expiry date matches your I-797 end date. If there is any discrepancy, correct it via the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
- At the Port of Entry (POE)
Join the “Visas” or “Non-U.S. Citizens” line at the port of entry, hand over all the required documents, submit biometrics (fingerprints and photo) for verification, and have an interview with the CBP. The officer might ask for your employer, job duties, purpose of traveling, etc. Just answer the questions concisely and honestly.
- Post-Entry Compliance
After coming back to the US, verify the new I-94 by checking the CBP’s website within 24 hours. Make sure the status and information are updated and correct. If any error occurs, contact the employer or authority immediately for correction.
Bonus Tips for a Smooth Re-Entry to the US
To smoothly return to the US, you have to be really careful from trip planning to document verification. These tips will help you.
- Check all the supporting documents, including passport, Form I-94, Form I-797, and visa page, ensuring there is sufficient validity and correct information.
- Check the requirements for the eTA application (if applicable), especially when to apply and how much it costs. Do not
- Make use of Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) if your H1B visa has expired when returning to the US. For more detailed information, go to the next section.
Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) for Canada/Mexico
As stated before, an AVR is sometimes one of the necessary documents for re-entry to the US. Here is more detailed information about it.
What Is Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR)?
AVR is a legal provision allowing non-immigrant residents (like H1B holders) to re-enter the US with expired visas after brief trips. It aims to simplify the procedure of returning to the US when you do not renew your visa through the standard process.
Eligibility of Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR)
You are qualified to apply for AVR if you satisfy any of the requirements below.
- Have a valid admission stamp or a valid paper Form I-94 endorsed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
- Travel to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands (i.e., Jamaica, Bahamas, Caribbean nations, etc.) on F and J nonimmigrant statuses and stay for less than 30 days.
- Practical Suggestions for Using Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR)
When using AVR to re-enter the US, these tips will increase the chance of being admitted.
- Travel by air or by sea is better than by land because the CBP here is more familiar with AVR than land-border agents.
- Make sure to carry the mandatory documents, including a passport, an original I-797, and an I-94 printout.
- Contact your airline to learn about whether there are any restrictions against traveling with the AVR.
- Do not submit the Form I-797 and I-94 to any airline representative because you have to present them to the customs officials at the port of entry to the US.
What’s the Difference between AVR and VWP?
The VMP, officially known as the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), is a program managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, allowing citizens of more than 40 countries to enter the US without a visa and stay for up to 90 days for tourism or business. Eligible travelers must get via an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) before arrival. Both AVR and VWP grant visa-free access, but they differ in the following cases.
| Items | Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) | Visa Waiver Program (VWP) |
| Applicable Scope | US non-immigrants visa holders (H1B, F, J category) | Tourists or business visitors |
| Geographical Limits | Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands | All VWP-participating countries |
| U.S. Visa Stamp Status | Expired visas | Valid or expired visa |
| Visa Requirement for U.S. Re-entry | No visa is needed. | Only ESTA is required. |
| Time Limit | Trips less than 30 days abroad | Trips less than 90 days in the US at each entry. |
H1B Travel Restrictions 2025
H1B visa proves your legal non-immigrant status and allows free travel outside the US, but you might fail to re-enter the country if you violate the H1B travel restrictions.
- 60-Day Absence Limit
Staying outside the US for more than 60 days risks visa revocation, even if you have employer approval or emergencies.
- Job Dependency
It is recommended to travel during an active employment status in case of jeopardizing your visa status. If you have changed your job but the visa stamp shows the old employer, carry all approval notices.
- Passport Expiry
Traveling with a passport valid for less than 6 months will prevent you from entering many countries, especially to return to the US. So, please renew your passport before traveling if it is about to expire.
- Pending Status Changes
Avoid travel if you are applying for a status shift, for example, from H1B to a Green Card. The CBP might deny your entry if they have suspicions about your immigration status and intention of visiting.
FAQ
How many countries can you visit with an H-1B visa?
It depends on the nationality. There are a dozen H1B visa-free countries for all H1B visa holders. If you hold an Indian passport, you might travel to a few more countries.
Can I visit Europe on an H1B without a Schengen visa?
The H1B visa itself does not grant visa-free access to the Schengen area, but you can travel without a visa if your passport is issued by a Schengen visa-exempt country, such as Australia, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and so on.
How long can I stay in Mexico under a US visa?
You can stay for up to 180 days with a Mexican visa for leisure activities. For work or study, please apply for a corresponding visa from the Mexican consular office before arrival.
Can I travel to Cancun on an H-1B?
Yes. Cancun, as part of Mexico, allows H-1B visa holders to travel visa-free and stay for no more than 180 days.
What if my H1B stamp expired, but I have a valid I‑797?
You can still stay in the US, but to travel and return, you should renew the visa stamp or use AVR for trips shorter than 30 days to Canada/Mexico.
Conclusion
H1B visa holders can travel to more than 30 countries and regions. However, the H1B visa entry requirements are different by destination and nationality. Verify the entry rules through the embassy portal or consular office. No matter where you go, do not violate the H1B travel restrictions. Make sure to prepare sufficient documentation before leaving the US in order to re-enter the country smoothly.