travel
Learn about traveling as an F-1 student.
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.
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.
| Status | I-20 | Travel Signature Validity |
| F-1 - Current Student and their F-2 dependent(s) (If applicable) | Page 2 | The signature is valid for 12 months from the date signed. |
| F-1 - Students on Post-OPT or STEM OPT and their F-2 dependents(s) (If applicable) | Page 2 | The signature is valid for six months from the date signed. |
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.
Login to UAtlas
Submit the I-20 Travel Signature Request e-form.
A Designated School Official (DSO) from ISSS will review the request, reprint, and
sign the I-20.
Processing time is within 10 business days.
Receiving the I-20
Once the Travel Signature Request is approved, the DSO will send the I-20 electronically
through UAtlas. Students will receive a second email with instructions on how to retrieve
the I-20. Students are advised to immediately print and sign the I-20.
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:
- Form I-20
- Form I-94Record - Get your most recent I-94.
- Passport - the passport must be valid and unexpired (expiration date at least six months into the future.)
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:
- Passport - the passport must be valid and unexpired (expiration date at least six months beyond your re-entry date.)
- Valid F-1 Visa Stamp
- Current Form I-20 with a valid Travel Signature (Information on how to obtain a travel signature is below.)
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.
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.
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:
- Passport - Passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the period of stay in the United States.
- Valid F-1 Visa Stamp
- OPT Authorized Form I-20 with a valid Travel Signature endorsed within the last six months.
- Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD Card)
- Job Offer Letter (if available)
- 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.
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.
Travel - Frequently Asked Questions
Current Students
Yes, students who obtain a new passport with a valid F-1 visa stamp in the old passport must travel with both passports.
Please meet with an advisor to go over the process together.
For more information about the Form I-515A please review the Form I-515A page from Study in the States.
You could encounter problems at the Port of Entry, and be questioned by the immigration officer about your reason for arriving late. If you believe you must return late after the start of classes, you are advised to get a letter from your department indicating it is acceptable for you to be returning late to your program. ISSS does not advise you to arrive late for the start of classes.
Students traveling for an extended period of time while academic session is in-progress are doing so at their own risk. Students who are enrolled in thesis or research and have finished their coursework are not required to enroll in additional in-person classes but are expected to maintain physical presence on campus during the fall and spring semesters. The issuance of a travel signature does not mean that your specific travel dates are endorsed by the ISSS. Entry to the U.S. is always at the discretion of the Port of Entry official, not ISSS staff.
Report the loss or theft to the local police. Get a copy of the police report. To replace your passport, contact your country’s consulate. You must get a new F-1 the next time you travel internationally in order to return to the U.S. as an F-1. Remember, you can remain in the U.S. without an F-1 as long as your passport, I-20, and I-94 are valid.
STEM / OPT
The answer to this question depends on if you have applied for Post-Completion OPT and where you are in that process. Please refer to the questions below.
If you have not applied yet, you may leave the U.S. during your 60 day grace period but you will not be allowed to return on your F-1 student visa and you will also lose the opportunity to apply for Post-Completion OPT. If you wish to return to the U.S. on your student visa and participate in Post-Completion OPT, you must send in your application and wait until receiving approval BEFORE traveling outside the U.S.
If you have a pending OPT/STEM application with USCIS, it is strongly recommended that you do NOT travel until your request has been approved by USCIS. If you have an emergency, you may attempt to travel with your receipt proving you have applied for OPT/STEM OPT. If your EAD is issued while you are outside of the U.S., CBP will expect that you carry the physical card when re-entering.
Please understand that entry into the U.S. is granted at the discretion of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer, and you travel at your own risk.