Information For Student on F Visa

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F-1 Travel Information

Travel Within the United States

Travel Outside the United States

Travel for F-2 Dependents

Additional Information

Travel Outside the United States

F-1 Travel Information

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Travel Outside the United States

If you are traveling outside the US, you will need the following documents in order to re-enter. Check each item for more detailed information.

• Valid Passport
• Valid F-1 Entry Visa
• Valid I-20 document
• Valid re-entry signature on page 3 of I-20
• Documentary evidence of funding
• Evidence of full-time enrollment at the University (transcripts and Reduced Course Load forms)
• EAD card and/or other information (for F-1s on post-completion OPT only)

Valid Passport

If your passport is expired or close to expiring, you should renew it before you travel. Contact your home country’s embassy in the US. Click here to find embassy information.

Valid F-1 Entry Visa

To obtain a new F-1 Entry Visa:

• Contact the US Consulate and inquire about their visa application procedures. Due to new interview requirements and screening procedures, you may need to schedule an appointment and your visa may take longer to process than in the past. Visit the US State Department website for links to US Consulates around the world. If possible, schedule an appointment before you depart the US.
• Ensure that you have proper documents. Present to the US consulate: valid passport, valid SEVIS I-20 with travel signature, evidence of funding, unofficial transcripts, and Reduced Course Load forms for any semester that you were not enrolled full-time.
• Be Aware of Security Clearance Checks!! You may be subject to a security clearance check when you apply for a visa. These checks can significantly delay visa processing time. Read the information provided on the Security Clearance Check page for detailed information.

Visa Denials
It is rare for returning students to be denied a new entry visa, however, there are no guarantees, and there is always some risk of a visa denial. This risk increases under the following situations:

1. You are applying for a visa in a country other than your home country. (Third Country National Visa Applications) You have the right to apply for a visa in any country, but it’s safest to apply in your home country if possible. If you must apply in a third country, be prepared to present additional evidence that document your need to get a visa in that country.
2. You are pursuing OPT. Students on OPT are eligible for an F-1 visa, but your risk of denial is increased, especially if you don’t have a job. If you must apply for a visa during your OPT period, be prepared to present evidence of employment (a letter from your employer is best) to the consulate.
3. You have close family members (spouse, parents, siblings) who are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. If you have close family members in the U.S., a consular official may question your ties to your home country.

Valid I-20 Document

Your I-20 is valid if it has not expired and if the following information is correct:

• Biographical information such as your name, birth date, country of citizenship, etc.
• Degree level and major field of study
• Financial information (should represent your estimated expenses and funding within 20%)

If any of the above information is incorrect or has changed, you must request a new I-20 from ISSS before you depart the US. Plan ahead! ISSS requires one week to prepare new I-20s. Come to F-1 Document or Advising walk-ins to request a new document.

Valid Re-Entry Signature

For re-entry to the US, your I-20 must a have a valid re-entry (or "travel") signature on page 3. Your re-entry signature is valid if:

• You are not pursuing post-completion OPT and the signature is less than 12 months old
• You are pursuing post-completion OPT and the signature is less than 6 months old

If your signature is no longer valid, you must request a new signature from ISSS before you travel. Visit ISSS during F-1 Document or Advising walk-ins. Signatures take just a few minutes to process.

Documentary Evidence of Funding

You should be able to provide documents that verify the funding information as it´s described on your I-20. Examples of funding documents are:

• Assistantship verification letter (if you have an assistantship)
• Bank statement (if your I-20 indicates Personal Funds)
• Scholarship or sponsoring agency letter

Evidence of Full-Time Enrollment

You must be able to provide evidence that you have enrolled full-time during the entirety of your career as an F-1 student. An unofficial transcript from the University is the best way to verify enrollment. You can download a transcript from University OneStop. If you have ever submitted an Reduced Course Load form to cover part-time enrollment, you should carry a copy of those forms as well, as that information does not appear on your University transcript.

EAD card and/or other information
F-1 travel during Post-Completion OPT only

Under normal circumstances, a student who has (1) an EAD for post-completion OPT or I-765 receipt notice and (2) a job or job offer should not experience difficulty reentering the United States. If either of these two conditions is missing, then the student is assuming risk.

The following two questions should help clarify further queries you might be have regarding travel during post-completion OPT.

1. Can I reenter the U.S. if my request for OPT is pending?

Yes, you may reenter to search for or begin your employment. When you go through U.S. immigration, be prepared to show the immigration inspector your I-765 receipt notice (Form I-797), as proof of eligibility for reentry. Additionally, if you have been offered a job, carry a copy of the job offer letter.

Note: If you depart the U.S. without a job offer before the EAD was issued, but attempt to reenter the U.S. after the EAD was issued, you might experience difficulty reentering the U.S. if you cannot document that you have a job offer.

2. Can I reenter the U.S. if I left while on OPT?

If your OPT has been approved and you depart before you have a job or job offer, or no longer have a job, you might experience difficulty reentering the U.S. because you would be unable to document that you are currently working or have a job offer. If you have a job or job offer, you may travel and reenter to resume work at the job.