Travel: Additional Information
- US-VISIT Program
- Travel to Canada and Mexico
- Visas for other countries
- Special Registration
- Extended Absences
- Financial Aid
US-VISIT Program
The information below has been excerpted from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) web site.
In many cases, US-VISIT begins overseas, at the U.S. consular offices issuing visas, where visitors’ biometrics (digital fingerprint scans and photographs) are collected and checked against a database of known criminals and suspected terrorists. When the visitor arrives at the port of entry, DHS use the same biometrics – digital fingerprint scans – to verify the person at the port of entry is the same person who received the visa.
What can I expect when I arrive in the U.S.?
Once at the port of entry you will find that many of the procedures remain unchanged and are familiar to you. For example, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer still reviews your travel documents, such as a visa and passport. The officer still asks you questions about your stay in the U.S.
What’s new under US-VISIT is that the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer now uses an inkless digital scanner to scan the fingerprints on your left and right index fingers. The officer also takes your digital photograph. These procedures add only seconds to the overall processing time.
Click here for more information about US-VISIT.
Travel to Canada and Mexico:
There is a special provision in US immigration regulations that allows students to re-enter the United States from Canada, Mexico and certain Caribbean islands even if the student’s entry visa has expired. This provision is called “Automatic Revalidation” and applies to students under the following conditions:
- Your stay in Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean is less than 30 days
- You are not a citizen of Iran, Iraq, Sudan, Libya, Syria or North Korea.
- You do NOT apply for a new entry visa at a US consulate during your stay
- You have all of the travel documents listed in the “Travel Outside the US” section of this website (excluding the entry visa).
- You can present your I-94 card along with other travel documents. Normally students surrender their I-94 cards to airline officials upon departure from the US. For automatic revalidation, you must keep your I-94 card and present it to US immigration inspectors upon re-entry. If you do not have your I-94 card, you are not eligible for automatic revalidation.
Visas for other countries
If you are traveling to a country other than your home country, you may need an entry visa for that country. This includes transit visas for airplane stopovers as well as travel to Canada and Mexico. Visa requirements vary widely depending on the country you are visiting as well as your home country. Get specific information from the country’s consulate in the United States many of them have informative websites. Find foreign consulates in the US at the State Departments‘ website or at www.embassyworld.com.
Special Registration
If you were subject to “Special Registration” during your last entry into the US, you must follow special exit procedures when you depart. Please visit the ISSS web site for detailed information about Special Registration.
Extended Absences
If you plan to be out of the US for more than 5 months, you may NOT use your current I-20 for re-entry. You wiil not be enrolled full-time in your program. Please meet with the F-1 Document Specialist or an F-1 Adviser if you will be out of the US for an extended length of time.
Financial Aid:
If you are applying for, or receiving ISSS financial aid, please see Financial Aid Adviser before making any travel plans.
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Travel: Additional Information