<aside> ⚠️ This page was created to assist F-1 or J-1 students who are currently studying at St. Edward’s University. If you are currently a F-1 visa holder who has an OPT application pending with USCIS or whose OPT has already been approved, please read this webpage instead.

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What documents should you take with you as you travel abroad?

Required Documents:

• [ ] Valid travel signature on I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1): Read below on what is a travel signature and how to request one from ISS.
• [ ] Valid passport: Your passport must be valid for at least six months when seeking admission or readmission to the United States, unless your country has an agreement with the United States. For a list of countries under this agreement, review the list on the Immigration Customs Enforcement website. Your passport should remain valid throughout your stay in the U.S.
• [ ] F-1 or J-1 visa: You must present a valid, unexpired visa in the category for which admission is being sought each time you enter the U.S. (Canadian citizens are exempt from the visa requirement; however, landed immigrants of Canada are generally required to obtain a visa.) If your visa expires while you are in the U.S., the next time you travel abroad you must obtain a new visa in the proper category in order to be readmitted to the United States. Apply for the visa in your home country, unless circumstances or travel plans make this impossible. If you apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate in another country, your application may be reviewed more critically than if you applied at home. In-person interviews are required for most visa applicants. You are encouraged to contact the U.S. consulate as early as possible to schedule the visa interview appointment. Anticipate delays in visa issuance due to enhanced security reviews.

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An exception to the rule requiring a valid, unexpired visa exists for students in F-1 and J-1 status who travel for less than 30 days solely to Canada or Mexico or islands in the Caribbean except for Cuba. Your visa will be considered to be **“**extended” (and “converted” to the proper visa category if you had changed status while in the U.S.) to the date of re-entry, eliminating the need to obtain a new visa at a U.S. consulate before that particular re-entry. This procedure is known as “automatic visa revalidation.” Note that if you apply for a new visa while in Canada, Mexico, and islands in the Caribbean, you will not be able to return to the U.S. unless the visa is granted. Also, citizens of Iran, Syria, and Sudan are not eligible for automatic visa revalidation.

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Recommended Documents:

• [ ] University Transcript or Enrollment and Degree Verification Letter from the Registrar’s Office. ISS may provide a different document called F-1 Visa Status Verification Letter. Contact ISS if you need this document.

• [ ] Recent documentation of financial support (award letters, letters from departments, bank letters, or letters and bank statements from private/family sponsors, etc.)

• [ ] It is also important to look up travel restrictions and quarantine requirements before making travel plans. ISS encourages you to check credible resources for updated information and make contingency plans in case of unexpected changes.

  Resources:

• Department of State Covid-19 Country Specific Information

• Department of State Travel Advisories

• Mexico-Canada Essential Travel

• CDC Travelers Prohibited from Entry to U.S.

• CBP Waiver of Schengen Travel Restriction for F-1 Students

• IATA Global Travel Restrictions

What is a travel signature?