J1 visiting Canada and re-entering the US during grace period- advice needed

[Sofibee 0]

I really need some help with this issue as I can't find the answer anywhere.

I have a J1 visa and am in good standing with it. My program ends September 15th and I'm allowed to travel for 30 days after that date as a grace period.

I have a trip planned to take a bus into Canada on September 23rd and return back to the US on September 27th. Whilst I'll still be in my grace period, I have heard that this ends once you leave the US and I therefore won't be allowed to re-enter on my J1 to catch my flight home from New York on October 2nd. Is this true? Even when it says on the j1 in my passport- 'Expiration Date - 15OCT' (that confuses me)

So say my j1 will be expired.. Can I try this solution:

Entering on an ESTA?

I am from the United Kingdom and already have an approved ESTA. So will I just be able to enter on that instead and tell them to ignore the j1 in my passport. Or will this look bad?

I want to know how much trouble this trip is going to be and whether its going to be worth going on if its such a hassle.

I can provide immigration proof of my return flight home and hotels I will be staying in before catching that flight..

If there is a chance I can be denied re-entry I don't wanna risk it as I plan to visit the US again in late October after I get home.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Customs & Border Protection 703-526-4200 or 1-877-CBP-5511, press 0

Call the source and ask you questions.

[Sofibee 0]

Thanks for your response but unfortunately I can't call them as I live in a small town that gets very poor network and so I don't have a phone as there's no point having one. i'm just in America for the summer so I rely on the Internet. It's very inconvenient I know

[jan22 3,056]

ever told you that you can't use the J1 to re-enter was right. Although the visa still looks valid, since it has not expired according to the date on it, it comes with the added requirements of the J1 program. It does allow you to travel within the US for 30 days after the program ends, once the program has ended, the visa cannot be used to re-enter the U.S. Usually, to enter on the visa waiver program, you have to show round-trip travel plans....you can show your tickets for leaving the U.S. in a few days and that might work -- but no guarantees. It's a decision of the immigration officer -- nobody can say for sure. If I decided to risk it, I would make sure I had all of my "stuff" with me (not leave anything in the U.S. that I wanted to take home with me) and was prepared to pay to re-route my ticket home from the U.S. and do it from Canada.

[Sofibee 0]

I already have proof of my flight home from NY and all the buses and hotels booked that take me to the airport.

To be honest, if I don't hear from someone who has tried this before or maybe something official that will tell me I'll be fine doing this, then

I'm just going to make a detour on my trip. Instead of taking my pre-booked bus from Niagara Falls through Canada to Boston, I'll just fly from Niagara straight to Boston. Will cost me more but least I don't run the risk of having a denial stamp in my passport.