International students should proceed with caution for any international travel. There is increased travel risk for the foreseeable future. If an international student is planning to travel internationally soon, please review this page to be aware of strategies to mitigate risk. Please note that even when taking steps to mitigate risk, it will not get rid of the risk entirely.
Required Documents for Reentry:
- I-20 (F-1 Students) or DS-2019 (J-1 Students) With Valid Travel Signature
Students can request a travel signature on the ISS Portal under Student Requests. A travel signature is always required for reentry into the United States. International students must print and sign the I-20 prior to reentering the United States.
Travel signatures are valid for one year for continuing students. For students on OPT and STEM OPT, travel signatures are valid for six months.
- A valid passport (valid for at least six months beyond the student's return date)
- A valid U.S. visa stamp
- For current students: Evidence of continued enrollment and financial support, such as an unofficial transcript, class schedule, and financial support documentation.
- For OPT/STEM OPT students: an EAD card and evidence of continued employment such as a job offer, contract, or paystub.
Special Recommendations:
In some cases, international travel carries extra risk that may impact a student's visa status. Students must contact their ISS Advisor if the following risky conditions applies to them:
- They are close to completing their program or within the 60-day post-completion grace period
- The I-20 is close to expiring
- They have a pending OPT/STEM OPT application with USCIS
- They have an expired F/J visa stamp in their passport and need to renew their visa
- They are a continuing student traveling internationally during the academic term
- They will be outside the U.S. for more than 5 months
- Their travel is related to study abroad
If a student plans to work remotely from outside the United States while authorized for CPT, OPT, or STEM, they must obtain written permission from their employer to do so and bring that documentation with them when traveling. While working remotely while abroad is permitted, some students have experienced problems with their reentry to the United States after doing so.
No. The travel signature is only required for reentry when encountering CBP. Students can request and receive their travel signature while outside the United States.
During busy travel periods like the Winter and Summer Breaks, please anticipate longer wait times. We recommend requesting the travel signature ahead of time to account for this. ISS processes requests based on government deadlines and the order submitted to the request queue. Advisors cannot expedite requests for reasons outside these parameters.
A visa is a sticker in a student's passport placed by a U.S. consulate or embassy. It is the entry document used when presented with the I-20/DS-2019. It permits entry into the United States in a valid visa status. If a student's visa stamp is expired when leaving the United States, a new visa stamp will be needed for reentry.
If an international student’s visa expires, they will need a new visa in the proper status to be readmitted to the United States after international travel. They can apply for the visa in their home country and check with the local U.S. embassy or consulate for wait times. If the visa renewal is denied, international students must contact ISS advisor immediately as they may not be able to return to the U.S.
Students can find their most recent I-94 online. Once on the I-94 website, click “Get most recent I-94" and input your passport details.
Canadian citizens are exempt from needing a visa stamp but are required to travel with a valid Canadian passport and a travel-signed I-20 or DS-2019.
For domestic travel, F and J international students are not required to have a travel signature. Instead, they should carry their passport, I-94 record, I-20/DS2019, and EAD (if applicable) to prove their legal status and identity