With Spring Break upon us, we want to provide you with important information about traveling and your immigration status. Read on to learn how to safely and smoothly re-enter the United States after your travels.
Valid Travel Signature
A valid, unexpired travel signature on your immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019) is necessary for re-entry into the United States.
F-1 Students:
- You can find the travel signature on Page 2 of your F-1 I-20.
- Enrolled students: Your travel signature is valid for 12 months or until your program end date, whichever is earlier.
- F-1 students on post-completion OPT or STEM OPT: Your travel signature is valid for six months or until the Employment Authorization Document end date, whichever is earlier.
J-1 Students:
- You can find the travel signature at the bottom right of your J-1 DS-2019.
- Enrolled students: Your travel signature is valid for 12 months or until your program end date, whichever is earlier.
If you have no travel signature or if your travel signature has expired, simply request one in myIO.
Immigration Documents Required for Re-entry into the United States
- Unexpired passport (valid at least six months into the future)
- Valid visa
If your visa has expired, you will need to apply for a new visa at the local U.S. embassy in your country. Review the “Visa Renewal” section below. Canadian citizens do not need a visa stamp.
An expired visa can be used for travel to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean (except Cuba) if the travel duration is 30 days or less. If you intend to use this benefit, be sure to read about it first on our Know Before You Travel page. - SEVIS fee receipt
Lost your SEVIS fee receipt? Don’t worry! Go to the SEVIS fee website and click on “Check I-901 Status” to obtain a copy of your receipt. - Valid I-20 or DS-2019 form with a valid travel signature (see above).
- Other recommended documents to carry can be found on our Know Before You Travel page.
If you will be traveling within the United States, we still recommend that you carry all your immigration documents with you in case of an emergency.
If you will be traveling anywhere within 100 miles of the Mexico or Canada border, carry all your immigration documents with you and have valid travel signatures. You may be stopped to have your documents checked by immigration officials.
If you will be traveling to a country other than your home country, make sure you obtain any required visa to enter that country. ISSS cannot advise on other countries’ entry requirements, so check directly with that country’s consulate or embassy.
Visa Renewal
In order to re-enter the United States, you must have a valid U.S. visa stamp on your passport. If your visa has expired, you will need to obtain a new one to return to the U.S. Review our Applying for a U.S. Visa page to learn about the process and required documents.
Here are a few tips to make it a smoother process:
- Schedule your appointment early. Wait times for appointments and processing times vary by location and can be lengthy.
- It is best to renew your visa in your home country. If you plan to renew in another country, please email hotline@austin.utexas.edu for information about the risks of third-country visa renewal.
- Collect all required documents including financial information and your official transcripts.
- Have a contingency plan in place for dealing with administrative processing and other delays.
COVID-19 Considerations
The COVID-19 pandemic is still not over. Rules and requirements can change quickly and unexpectedly. Before traveling, be sure to review our Immigration Updates page for the most up-to-date COVID-19 travel guidance, including information about vaccination and testing requirements. You should also research any current local quarantine, masking, testing and vaccination requirements for your travel destination.
We wish you safe travels!
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