Travel Abroad

F-1 and J-1 Travel

Students wishing to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status after travel abroad will require all of the following:

• A valid travel signature on Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 by a campus immigration advisor (DSO).  Travel signature are typically valid for up to one year.  F1's on OPT should get a new signature every six months.
• A valid visa stamp (see exceptions in the visa section).
• A valid passport (see the Department of State's Website for exceptions).
• Student on approved OPT will also need to carry their valid EAD card.

Dependents wishing to return to the U.S. in F-2 or J-2 status must comply with the same conditions including a travel signature on their own I-20 or DS-2019.

Students in F-1 or J-1 status should visit International Student Support in the Office of the Registrar to obtain a travel endorsement on Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 approximately two weeks before any planned travel abroad. When applying for a travel endorsement, you must submit all of the following:

• Your current Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 (and forms of any traveling family members)
• Travel Signature Request Form
• Valid passport (and passports of any traveling family members)

Travel to Canada or Mexico 

Automatic Visa Revalidation

"Automatic visa revalidation" allows certain nonimmigrants to travel to Canada or Mexico (and in some instances, adjacent islands other than Cuba) and return to the U.S. in their most recent status using an expired or previous classification visa stamp. You may be eligible to use this program if you comply with the following:

1. You are only outside the U.S. for 30 days or fewer;
2. You are in possession of a valid passport and the visa stamp most recently used to enter the U.S.;
3. You are in possession of a valid I-94 card (or valid I-94 coupon from Form I-797 for an approved application to change or extend nonimmigrant status) and, for F-1 or J-1 nonimmigrants, are in possession of a valid travel-endorsed I-20 or DS-2019;
4. You do not travel to a third country; and
5. You do not apply for a new visa stamp.

Citizens of any country identified by the U.S. as supporting terrorism are not eligible to use the automatic visa revalidation program. A list of these countries may be found here.

Individuals in a nonimmigrant status other than F-1 or J-1 may use the automatic visa revalidation program to visit Canada or Mexico only.