Reminders for Re-entering the United States

Welcome Back, International Longhorns!

We hope those of you returning to Austin to resume your studies have had a restful summer vacation—our office is looking forward to welcoming you back to campus! As you prepare for your return, we strongly encourage you to plan ahead to ensure you do not encounter any problems while travelling.

Documents to Bring:
F-1 or J-1 student should have the following documents prepared upon re-entering the U.S.:

• Valid Passport
• Valid Visa
• Valid I-20/DS-2019 signed by an international student advisor within a year of your anticipated reentry date.
• Proof of financial support such as personal bank statement, sponsor’s letter and bank statement, or Research Assistant/Teaching Assistant verification letter.
• Proof of fulltime enrollment such as an Official Transcript or Certification of Enrollment
• SEVIS fee receipt
  (to reprint this, go to “Check Status” here: https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index.html)

Review Your I-20 or DS-2019:

Don’t forget to check your I-20/DS-2019 for a valid travel signature:

• Look at page 2 of the I-20 (F-1 students) or page 1 of the DS-2019 (J-1 students/scholars) and check the date that the document was last signed for travel by an immigration advisor.

If your I-20/DS-2019 does not have a valid travel signature, please request a new I-20 be sent to you by emailing us at hotline@austin.utexas.edu.

New TSA Powder Restriction in Carry-Ons:

In order to reduce the risk of additional screening, the TSA is now encouraging passengers to put powder substances (such as cosmetics, talcum powder, dry spices, or protein mix) of more than 350 milliliters or about 12 ounces into checked bags.

The stricter powders requirements will go into effect on June 30 on international flights bound for the United States.

You can review a comprehensive list of banned and approved items on TSA’s What Can I Bring?:
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/all.

What to Do If You Receive an I-151A: 

If you do not have all the requisite documents when entering, you could be issued a Form I-515A, which will require you to return to a Port of Entry to provide the missing documents. Please schedule an appointment with our office if this occurs.

Requests for Secondary Inspections: 

Please note that when re-entering the United States, you may be asked to a Secondary Inspection. If this happens to you, there is no reason to be alarmed, and you will simply want to provide the border officials any requested documents. This can include access to your phone and social media accounts. 

As an international student, you have rights. If you need assistance during your travels, contact the UT Police Department at (512) 471-4441. The UT Police Department is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist you. If you encounter any problems during your travels, be aware that you may call the UT Police Department and they will be able to route your call to an Emergency Advisor at the International Office.

Check I-94 after Arrival: 

Once you have arrived in the United States, be sure to check your most recent I-94 to ensure the record is correct (i.e. ensure your name, birth date, class of admission, date of entry etc. is up to date and free of errors). You can check your I-94 record here: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/. Note: For F-1/J-1 students, check that your admitted until notation says D/S (“duration of status”). 

If there is an issue with your I-94, please e-mail us at hotline@austin.utexas.edu. We will instruct you on the process to correct your I-94. Safe travels and welcome back to the University of Texas at Austin!