F-1 Students Traveling Outside the U.S.

If you are traveling outside the U.S., you will need the following documents in order to re-enter. Check each item in the list below for more detailed information. Carefully review your documents before leaving the U.S. to ensure they are valid and that you are carrying them with you.

If you have dependents, they are allowed to travel with or without you. They will need to bring certain documentation when traveling.

Documents You Need

Valid Passport

If your passport is expired or close to expiring, you should renew it before you travel. Your passport must be be valid for at least six (6) months into the future. Contact your home country’s embassy in the U.S. for information on renewal.

Valid F-1 Entry Visa

If your F-1 entry visa has expired or if you do not have an F-1 entry visa, you must apply for a new visa at a U.S. consulate abroad before you return (except Canadian citizens). It is not possible to renew your visa from within the United States.
Do not mail your documents from the U.S. You must be present in the country where you submit your documents to be considered for an interview waiver from the U.S. consulate.

To obtain a new F-1 entry visa

Contact the U.S. Consulate and inquire about their visa application procedures
You may need to schedule an appointment and your visa may take more than a few weeks to process
Visit the U.S. State Department website for links to U.S. Consulates around the world
If possible, schedule an appointment before you depart the U.S.
Ensure that you have all of the proper documents
You will need to present to the U.S. consulate your valid passport, valid I-20 with a travel signature, evidence of funding, and transcript
You should check the Embassy or consulate website to determine whether an official or unofficial transcript will be required
You need to be aware if a security clearance check will need to be done when you apply for a new entry visa. You may be subject to a security clearance check, and these checks can significantly delay visa processing time.

Valid I-20 Document

Request a new document if the information on your I-20 is no longer correct or your I-20 is about to expire.

Valid Re-Entry Signature

For re-entry to the U.S., your I-20 must a have a valid re-entry (or "travel") signature on page two (2) or three (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 the Immigration & Advising Coordinator before you travel.

What if I left the U.S. without getting my I-20 signed, or I forgot to take it with me?

It is important you obtain a re-entry signature from the Immigration & Advising Coordinator before leaving the U.S.
If you did not (or you forgot your I-20) and your visa is still active, you will be issued a Form I-515A by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer at your arrival port of entry (airport, land border, seaport). With this document, you will be admitted into the U.S. for 30 days
After receiving this document, you must report to or contact the Immigration & Advising Coordinator immediately to get a newly signed I-20, and you will mail this I-20 and your I-515A to the SEVP Office in Washington, D.C. These documents must reach the office before the 30-day expiration date on your Form I-515A. Before mailing, see the instructions and address printed on your I-515A.

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You should be able to provide documents that verify the funding information as listed on your I-20. If your current funding does not match the funding listed on your I-20, then you need to get a new I-20 with updated funding information.

Examples of funding documents are

Employment verification letter (if you have employment)
Bank statement (if your I-20 indicates Personal or Family Funds)
A letter from your scholarship or sponsoring agency

Evidence of Full-Time Enrollment

When re-entering the U.S., 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 obtain an unofficial transcript through MyUNIverse

Copy of the I-901 SEVIS Fee Receipt

Go to www.fmjfee.com to print a receipt if needed

Attention Students on OPT/STEM OPT

F-1 students on OPT/STEM OPT need to bring all of the following documents with you when traveling back to the U.S. Under normal circumstances, you should not experience difficulty re-entering the U.S. if you have all of the following items. There is risk, however, if you depart the U.S. without any of the following.

Your EAD for 24-Month STEM OPT
A valid F-1 visa
Your I-20 with travel signature within the last 6 months (please note: I-20 travel signatures are only valid for 6 months from the date that they were signed by a designated service officer for those on OPT/STEM OPT.)
A job or job offer

You need to carry all of these items with you when traveling back to the U.S. (do not put them in checked luggage that you will not be able to access).

The following three questions should help clarify further questions you might have regarding travel during post-completion OPT. Additionally, students on STEM OPT should see the review question below.

Can I re-enter the U.S. if my request for OPT is pending?

Yes, you may re-enter to search for or begin your employment
When you go through Customs and Border Protection, be prepared to show the immigration inspector your I-765 receipt notice (Form I-797) or USCIS email receipt, as proof of eligibility for re-entry
Additionally, if you have been offered a job, carry a copy of the job offer letter

PLEASE NOTE: If you depart the U.S. without a job offer before the EAD was issued, but then attempt to re-enter the U.S. after the EAD was issued, you might experience difficulty re-entering the U.S. if you cannot present documentation proving that you have a job offer.

You are allowed a maximum of 90 days of unemployment during OPT, including time outside the U.S. The total unemployment limit is 150 days for a 24-month STEM OPT extension

Can I re-enter 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, no longer have a job you might experience difficulty re-entering the U.S.
If you have a job or job offer, you may travel, apply for a visa (if needed), and re-enter to resume work at the job.

Can I re-enter the U.S. if I am on STEM OPT?

Yes, if you have a valid STEM OPT EAD card.
If your STEM OPT EAD card has not arrived, you cannot return on an expired Regular OPT EAD.
This will not be allowed even though the OPT EAD is valid for 180 days while your STEM OPT application is pending, if you remain within the U.S.