travel

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overview and definition

Students planning to travel outside or within the United States must understand what documentation is needed. For individuals traveling outside the U.S., while there is never any guarantee of re-entry to the U.S., having the correct paperwork can ease the process at the port of entry. 

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I-20 Travel signature 

Students who have an expired I-20 travel signature must request a new one from ISSS. Below, students may determine the validity of their current I-20 travel signature. 

 

icon Students do not need a valid travel signature when departing the U.S. It will only be required when re-entering the U.S. and going through customs at the port of entry.

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Traveling within the U.s. 

Students intending to travel within the U.S. to any of the 50 states (Including Alaska and Hawaii) or to the U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa), will need to have the following valid documents:

1.  Form I-20
2.  Form I-94Record - Get your most recent I-94.
3.  Passport - the passport must be valid and unexpired (expiration date at least six months into the future.)

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re-entering the U.S. 

Students who are exiting the United States and are re-entering will go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at a U.S. Port of Entry. Students must provide the following valid documents to the CBP Officer:

1.  Passport - the passport must be valid and unexpired (expiration date at least six months beyond your re-entry date.) 
2.  Valid F-1 Visa Stamp
3.  Current Form I-20 with a valid Travel Signature (Information on how to obtain a travel signature is below.)

icon   Terminated students intending to travel to regain their F-1 status should not use the terminated Form I-20 and instead request for an Initial I-20 and present that I-20 to the CBP officer at the time of re-entry. 

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Traveling While on post-completion opt or stem-opt extension

Students must understand the possible risks of traveling while on Post-OPT or STEM OPT work authorization. Re-entry into the United States is not guaranteed and will be granted at the discretion of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer. Therefore, students traveling while on Post-OPT or STEM OPT are doing so at their own risk. 

icon ISSS does not recommend traveling while an OPT application is in  "Pending" status with USCIS.*

Students planning to travel outside of the U.S. on either Post-OPT or STEM OPT must have the following documents:

1.  Passport - Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay in the United States.
2.  Valid F-1 Visa Stamp
3.  OPT Authorized Form I-20 with a valid Travel Signature endorsed within the last six months.
4.  Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card)
5.  Job Offer Letter (if available)
6.  Letter from Employer (If Traveling for More than 30 days) - A letter from the employer explaining the employment activities outside the U.S. Travel may not go more than 5 months. 

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Traveling  to Canada, mexico, and/or adjacent islands

The Automatic Visa Revalidation Process  will allow certain temporary visitors that have an expired visa to return to the U.S. at the discretion of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer at the U.S. port-of-entry under the following conditions:

• Visit outside of U.S. is no more than 30 days and the purpose is pleasure or vacation only.
• Have maintained full-time F status at all times.
• Have an unexpired passport and last I-94 indicates a status of "Duration of Stay."
• Have an I-20 with a valid travel signature
• Have not applied for a visa during the travel.
• Students from North Korea, Iran, Sudan, or Syria are ineligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation. 

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