Office of International Student Services

Immigration Regulations

F-1/F-2 TRAVEL & ENTRY VISAS

Which Documents Do I Need to Re-Enter the United States?

Both F-1 students and their F-2 dependents must have the following documents to re-enter the United States:

Valid passport*,
Valid F-1 or F-2 entry visa {If your I-20 has ever expired, please see the warnings section regarding your visa below}
Properly endorsed and valid Form I-20, and
Any previously issued I-797 approval notices for extension or change of status.

Bring the documents mentioned above to the Office of International Student Services at least one week in advance of your departure from campus. We will check your documents to ensure that they are in order for you to reenter the United States. You may only require an endorsement on the back of your I-20. That endorsement is valid for 12 months (six months if you are optional practical training).

* Citizens of Canada do not need a passport to enter the United States from countries in the Western Hemisphere, and do not need a U.S. entry visa in any case.

If you have F-1 practical training approval from the Immigration service, you must carry your employment authorization document (EAD) with you when you travel.

What if My U.S. Entry Visa is Expired?

You may need to apply for a new U.S. entry visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, depending on your travel destination.

Travel to a country other than Canada, Mexico, or a Caribbean island (other than Cuba):
You must apply for a new entry visa in a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. You should take the following documents when you apply for the visa: valid passport, valid I-20, any previously issued I-797 Approval Notices for extension or change of status, and proof of your financial resources appearing on your I-20 (for example, a letter of financial aid or scholarship, a letter from an employer, bank statements etc.). If you plan to apply for a U.S. entry visa in a country where you are not a citizen or permanent resident, you may experience problems. Please see the warnings section below.

Travel of less than 30 days to Canada, Mexico, or a Caribbean island (other than Cuba):
You may not need to apply for a new U.S. entry visa if you plan to travel to a contiguous territory for less than 30 days, provided that you have a valid passport, I-94, properly endorsed I-20, and a U.S. entry visa that has not been canceled. This provision is known as "automatic revalidation". You should not surrender your Form I-94 upon departure from the United States; if you do so, you must obtain a new U.S. entry visa to return to the United States. Citizens of Iraq are not eligible for automatic revalidation. Furthermore, citizens of Iran and Libya may not be eligible for automatic revalidation as a one-entry visa may be presumed canceled.

You may wish to obtain further information on visa application procedures on the WWW; click HERE - with links to many U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad.

Warnings:

If you need a new U.S. entry visa to reenter the United States, you should be aware that there is never a guarantee that one will be issued. It is extremely important that you have the International Student Services Office review and endorse your travel documents, and that you carry them with you. It is a good idea to make copies of all of your documents, and keep them separate from the originals.

It is often more difficult to obtain a new U.S. entry visa outside of your country of citizenship or permanent residence. There are several reasons for this. First, the visa issuing post does not have any obligation to entertain visa applications from third-country nationals. Second, nonimmigrants who have overstayed their status in the U.S. are usually not eligible to apply for a visa in a third country. Finally, there is often a reluctance for visa officers to issue visas to nationals of certain countries outside of the home country.

If you have overstayed your F-1/F-2 status (remained in the U.S. beyond the validity of your I-20 plus a 60 day grace period) your visa is void. You must apply for a new F entry visa in your country of citizenship or legal permanent residence even if you were subsequently reinstated to F-1 status. You may not apply for a new entry visa outside of your home country.

If you decide to apply for a U.S. entry visa in a third country, it is strongly suggested that you carry proof of your valid F-1 status with you. Examples of such proof include an official copy of your transcript (from the Registrar's Office). In addition, it may take several days or weeks to get a visa outside of your home country. Some Embassies or Consulates require that you have an appointment to make an application. Therefore, it is a good idea to call the Embassy or Consulate where you will apply for a visa to find out more about the visa issuing process. If you would like to make an application for a U.S. entry visa in Canada, you must call 1-900-443-3131 (from the U.S.) or 1-900-451-2778 (from Canada) for an appointment at a U.S. Consular post. Keep in mind that it may be difficult to get a U.S. entry visa in Canada.

Finally, if you travel to a country other than your home country, you may need an entry visa for that country, even if you are passing through in transit.