Travel

Whether it is within the U.S. or abroad, the following is a summary of the documents you should have with you when you travel.

Required Signatures on your SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019: make sure you are using your SEVIS I-20/DS-2019. Page 3 of your I-20 form (if you are in F-1 status) or DS-2019 form (if you are in J-1 status) must be signed prior to your departure, especially if it has not been signed in the last 12 months. If you need your documents to be signed you need to stop by the Student Support Office. Shelly Shinebarger and Michelle Pawlowski are designated officials and can sign your documents.

Be sure to keep all your previous I-20?s or DS-2019?s. This is your way of showing your history in the United States.

Passport: In order to travel, your passport MUST be valid at least six months into the future, according to U.S. immigration law. Passports may be renewed at your country's embassy or consulate in the U.S. You can obtain up-to-date information on passport renewal by clicking here.

U.S. Visa Stamp: Check your U.S. visa stamp inside your passport. Has your visa stamp expired? If it is still valid, is it for multiple entry, or has the entry been used up? Finally, is the category for which the visa was issued the status you currently hold? If you are in F-1 or J-1 status and traveling to Canada, Mexico, or islands adjacent to North America, you do not need a valid U.S. visa as long as you have been maintaining your status, have a valid passport and I-20 or DS-2019 and are entering those countries for tourist purposes and your stay will be thirty days or less (you DO need a valid U.S. visa if you are a citizen of Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, or Cuba). However, travel to all other countries will require that you have a valid U.S. visa before you may re-enter the United States. This will mean applying for a new visa at the U.S. consulate in the country you will visit.

I-94 card: You will need to surrender your I-94 card upon your departure from the U.S. You will be issued a new I-94 card upon your re-entry in the U.S. with a new admission number. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will now issue a new admission number each time you enter the U.S.

SPECIAL NOTE: F-1 and J-1 students with expired U.S. visas, who are traveling to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands for up to 30 days AND who will be resuming their studies upon their return should NEVER surrender their I-94 card. Canadian or Mexican nationals returning to their home country should surrender their I-94 card as they enter their country, and obtain a new I-94 card the next time they enter the United States.

Union ID card: Carry your current Union ID Card with you as supporting documentation.

Proof of financial support: You need to carry financial documentation when re-entering the U.S. You *must* have current financial documentation with you if you will be applying for a new visa. Canadian nationals should be sure to carry with them their financial documentation that verifies the information on their I-20 when getting ready to return to the United States.

Union transcript: Have an official copy of your Union transcript with you ONLY if you will be applying for a new student visa abroad. This shows the Consular officials that you have been making satisfactory progress towards your degree.

Foreign Visa: If you are visiting a country other than your own, you may need a visitor's visa to enter. Contact that country's embassy or consulate in the U.S., or search for their website by visiting http://www.embassy.org.

Special Registration Applicants: If you were required to go through the special registration process within the past twelve months because you are male and from one of the 26 designated countries, there is a special exit procedure that you must follow before you can depart the United States. Generally, this exit procedure will take place at the airport where your overseas flight will depart. The exit procedure can add several hours to your departure schedule, so be certain to allow plenty of extra time so that you do not miss your flight! You should have been given information regarding the exit procedure when you went through your special registration inspection. For a list of designated exit ports and specific information on their locations and hours of operation, click here.

F-1 Optional Practical Training: If you have completed your studies and have applied for Optional Practical Training, in order to re-enter the U.S. you must have

your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card
your I-20 endorsed for practical training within the past 6 months
a valid visa stamp and
a valid letter of employment in order to re-enter the U.S.

If you are on Optional Practical Training and will need to obtain a new F-1 visa before returning to the U.S., it is strongly advised that you do not travel.

The Federal Regulations state that an F-1 on authorized practical training may depart the United States temporarily and re-enter the United States to ?resume? employment. Resume means that you not only have a job offer, but you have started work. If you have to apply for a new visa stamp you must remember that you will have to prove to the U.S. Consulate officer that you are going to return to your home country and that could be very difficult.

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Shelly Shinebarger and Michelle Pawlowski are designated officials and can sign your documents. Be sure to keep all your previous I-20?s or DS-2019?s. This is your way of showing your history in the United States. Passport: In order to travel, your passport MUST be valid at least six months into the future, according to U.S. immigration law. Passports may be renewed at your country's embassy or consulate in the U.S. You can obtain up-to-date information on passport renewal by clicking here. U.S. Visa Stamp: Check your U.S. visa stamp inside your passport. Has your visa stamp expired? If it is still valid, is it for multiple entry, or has the entry been used up? Finally, is the category for which the visa was issued the status you currently hold? If you are in F-1 or J-1 status and traveling to Canada, Mexico, or islands adjacent to North America, you do not need a valid U.S. visa as long as you have been maintaining your status, have a valid passport and I-20 or DS-2019 and are entering those countries for tourist purposes and your stay will be thirty days or less (you DO need a valid U.S. visa if you are a citizen of Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, or Cuba). However, travel to all other countries will require that you have a valid U.S. visa before you may re-enter the United States. This will mean applying for a new visa at the U.S. consulate in the country you will visit. I-94 card: You will need to surrender your I-94 card upon your departure from the U.S. You will be issued a new I-94 card upon your re-entry in the U.S. with a new admission number. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will now issue a new admission number each time you enter the U.S. SPECIAL NOTE: F-1 and J-1 students with expired U.S. visas, who are traveling to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands for up to 30 days AND who will be resuming their studies upon their return should NEVER surrender their I-94 card. Canadian or Mexican nationals returning to their home country should surrender their I-94 card as they enter their country, and obtain a new I-94 card the next time they enter the United States. Union ID card: Carry your current Union ID Card with you as supporting documentation. Proof of financial support: You need to carry financial documentation when re-entering the U.S. You must have current financial documentation with you if you will be applying for a new visa. Canadian nationals should be sure to carry with them their financial documentation that verifies the information on their I-20 when getting ready to return to the United States. Union transcript: Have an official copy of your Union transcript with you ONLY if you will be applying for a new student visa abroad. This shows the Consular officials that you have been making satisfactory progress towards your degree. Foreign Visa: If you are visiting a country other than your own, you may need a visitor's visa to enter. Contact that country's embassy or consulate in the U.S., or search for their website by visiting http://www.embassy.org. Special Registration Applicants: If you were required to go through the special registration process within the past twelve months because you are male and from one of the 26 designated countries, there is a special exit procedure that you must follow before you can depart the United States. Generally, this exit procedure will take place at the airport where your overseas flight will depart. The exit procedure can add several hours to your departure schedule, so be certain to allow plenty of extra time so that you do not miss your flight! You should have been given information regarding the exit procedure when you went through your special registration inspection. For a list of designated exit ports and specific information on their locations and hours of operation, click here. F-1 Optional Practical Training: If you have completed your studies and have applied for Optional Practical Training, in order to re-enter the U.S. you must have your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card your I-20 endorsed for practical training within the past 6 months a valid visa stamp and a valid letter of employment in order to re-enter the U.S. If you are on Optional Practical Training and will need to obtain a new F-1 visa before returning to the U.S., it is strongly advised that you do not travel. The Federal Regulations state that an F-1 on authorized practical training may depart the United States temporarily and re-enter the United States to ?resume? employment. Resume means that you not only have a job offer, but you have started work. If you have to apply for a new visa stamp you must remember that you will have to prove to the U.S. Consulate officer that you are going to return to your home country and that could be very difficult.
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