Christmas and Thanksgiving are just around the corner, which means it’s once again time to plan a trip. If you haven’t already, now is a good time to start figuring out where to go for the long winter break. Today we’re rounding up a few international destinations near the US where you can travel and still return to the US without getting a new visa, even if your US visa has expired.
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Puerto Rico (US territory)
As a US territory that has long sought statehood, Puerto Rico is very easy to reach by air from the US mainland, and fares are usually reasonable. No matter what type of expired visa you have, you can return to the US from Puerto Rico.
Puerto Rico is a former Spanish colony, and Spanish is its official language. San Juan and Vieques are two of the best-known destinations in PR. You can start in Old San Juan to experience its colonial history and historic military sites, then head to the coast for sun and sand. One thing to keep in mind: CBP often conducts random checks at the departure gate for flights from Puerto Rico to the US mainland. If you are a US citizen, a driver’s license is usually enough. If you are not, you should carry your passport along with other documents proving lawful status, such as an I-20 for F1, I-197 for H1, an EAD card, AP card, or green card, just as you would for a normal US entry. This does not happen every time, but it is not rare either, so we recommend bringing all of your usual entry documents when traveling to Puerto Rico, just in case.
The Caribbean
Travel in the Caribbean is mostly about beach vacations, with plenty of opportunities for water activities. Many Caribbean destinations are former British colonies, and each has its own style. If you want to explore one place more deeply, flying there directly is the best option. If you would rather sample several countries first, a cruise can be an easy way to do a quick tour without worrying much about visas, since nearly all Caribbean countries allow cruise passengers to enter visa-free. If you hold an expired F/J visa, you can travel to the Caribbean and use that expired visa to return to the US. Other types of expired visas, such as H or L visas, do not qualify.
Cancun, Mexico
Cancun is another long-standing favorite getaway for Americans. It is one of the mainstream vacation destinations for US travelers. There are many all-inclusive resorts, so whether you just want to relax in the sun or spend your time on activities and sports, you can do it all without ever leaving the resort. If your US visa has not expired, you can enter Mexico visa-free; otherwise, you will need to apply for a Mexican visa.
Guam and Saipan (CNMI)
These two destinations are both US territories, but they are quite far from the continental US—Japan is only about half as far away as Hawaii. If your visa has already expired, you cannot take the cheaper route connecting through Japan. Instead, you must fly via Honolulu (HNL) directly to Guam (GUM). Award availability to these popular leisure destinations is also very limited. Since the activities are broadly similar to other beach destinations, the overall value is not especially great. Still, if you’ve already been everywhere else on this list, they may be worth considering.Canada
There is not much need to introduce Canada—there is a huge variety of travel options. You can visit Vancouver, Toronto, Quebec City, or Montreal to experience different urban cultures, or head to the Canadian Rockies for a number of national parks, such as Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. You could also visit Prince Edward Island for history, or go to Yellowknife in northern Canada to see the aurora.
To visit Canada, you need to apply for a Canadian visa. We recommend starting at least 1 month before your trip, and allowing even more time if holidays are involved. You can apply by following this guide: 加拿大签证攻略. In general, the visa is issued through your passport expiration date, so you usually will not need to deal with it again afterward. Share your Christmas and Thanksgiving travel plans with us!