OISSS > What's New > International Travel

F-1 and J-1 International Travel Reminders

These travel reminders are for F-1 and J-1 students.  Travel Reminders for International Academic Staff can be found by clicking the link provided and then by selecting your specific visa type and going to the "Travel" section.

Documents required for re-entry to the U.S.:

1.  A valid SEVIS I-20/DS-2019 document with a travel signature/endorsement that is not older than 6 months (see page three of the I-20 or page 1 of the DS-2019 for your most recent signature).  Please visit ISSS at least two weeks before leaving the U.S. if you need an updated travel signature.  You must bring your passport, visa stamp, I-94 card and I-20/DS-2019 in order to obtain an updated signature. 

2.  A valid, unexpired visa with unused entries to the U.S. (unless you are a Canadian citizen).

3.  A valid passport with at least 6 months validity left on it.

4.  I-94 card (index type card which is typically stapled into your passport).

5.  A letter of enrollment from your department or the Registrar’s Office.

6.  Updated financial statements are also recommended, but not required unless you are applying for a new visa while outside the U.S.  If you do not have these available, we recommend taking your previous financial documents, in case you are questioned at the border as to your ability to cover your cost of attendance.

U.S. Visas: The majority of  U.S. visa applicants (F, J, tourist, etc) must now appear in person for an appointment before they can be issued a visa. This can create huge waiting periods for visa appointments, especially during peak travel times. In response to concern from the educational community about students being able to meet their deadlines to re-enter before the semesters begin, F and J visa applicants have been given priority status for visa appointments. If you need a US visa to return to the U.S., plan ahead and make your appointment as early as possible.  For more information on visa wait times, please visit http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php.

Visas for other countries: Remember that when traveling it may be necessary for you to obtain visas for travel into the desired country.  This will require you to plan ahead.  (ISSS does not have information on other countries visa requirements; however, by searching that country's embassy website in the U.S., you should find the necessary information.) 

Travel to the Caribbean, Bahamas, Canada, or Mexico: Please note that if you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the Adjacent Islands (*see below for details) for less than 30 days, the airline or immigration should not take your I-94 card.  Please inform them that you are requesting automatic visa revalidation which occurs when you visit these countries for less than 30 days.  If the airline insists on taking your I-94 card, please ask them to speak with U.S. immigration at the airport or at the port of entry.

*Designation of Adjacent Islands: "Contiguous territory" means a country whose border touches, is contiguous to, the U.S. border. Those two countries are Canada and Mexico. The Code of Federal Regulations at 8 CFR 286.1(a) defines "adjacent islands" to include Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Bermuda, Bonaire, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Curacao, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Marie-Galante, Martinique, Miquelon, Montserrat, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Christopher, Saint Eustatius, Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre, Saint Vincent and Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and other British, French and Netherlands territory or possessions bordering on the Caribbean Sea.

I-515 Information: If you travel into the U.S. and receive an I-515 from the port of entry, it means you do not have all of your paperwork in order.  This may happen if you have an I-20 with a travel signature that is older than 6 months. If you receive this document, please take the I-515, passport, visa and I-20/DS-2019 document to ISSS immediately upon your return to campus.  The I-515 allows you to remain in the U.S. for 30 days only.  It requires that you submit the missing documentation to SEVIS.  By complying with the request, your I-94 card will be corrected to indicate "duration of status", meaning that you are permitted to remain in the U.S. as long as you are maintaining your F-1 or J-1 status.