If you are a current F-1 student planning to travel abroad, be sure to plan ahead! While you are in F-1 status, you are permitted to leave the U.S. and re-enter in F-1 status provided you present the required documentation. If you intend to re-enter the U.S. and continue your full-time course of study, you must always be admitted to the U.S. in F-1 status. To travel outside the U.S. students in F-1 status need these documents to re-enter the U.S.:

• passport valid for at least 6 months into the future
• valid F-1 visa
  • Canadian citizens do not need to apply for a student (F-1) visa; they may simply enter with the I-20 and valid passport. *Those entering the U.S. for the first time to study should request F-1 status at the border and must always show the Form I-20, valid passport, supporting financial documentation, admission letter, and SEVIS fee payment receipt to the immigration inspector at the port of entry.
•  I-20 with a current travel endorsement signature on page 2, signed by a DSO within the last 12 months
• Recommended: an unofficial transcript copy. Unofficial transcripts may be ordered on Garnet Gateway.
• Recommended: Proof of funding (i.e. financial aid award, original bank statements, etc.)
• Recommended: Proof of enrollment (i.e. admissions offer, letter from Registrar, etc.)

Note: This list only applies to return travel to the U.S.; you must check to see if you need a visa to enter another country (including transit visas). Check on the website of the embassy of the country you want to visit.

Tip: Read more about traveling for F-1 visa, including frequently asked questions on the Department of Homeland Security website.

Getting a Travel Signature

Travel endorsement signatures cover all return travel to the U.S. for 12 months from the signature date (you do not need to get a new signature each time you travel). If you travel outside the U.S., to return you need a travel signature on your I-20 from a DSO in the Center for Global Education, signed in the last 12 months. Travel signatures are on page 2 of the I-20.

Note: Travel signatures for students on OPT  and STEM OPT are valid for 6 months only.

You must plan ahead to get your I- 20 signed before you leave the country. Request a travel endorsement of your I-20 at least five business days prior to your departure.

Automatic Visa Re-Validation

Returning from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands

You usually must have a valid visa to return to the U.S. from abroad. However, there is a special, limited provision called Automatic Visa Revalidation that applies to some travel. If you are in F-1 status and your F-1 visa is expired, you may still return to the U.S. from a trip to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands even with an expired visa, if you meet all of these conditions:

• your passport is valid you have a valid I-20 with a valid travel signature (if you are on OPT, the signature must be signed within the last 6 months)
• you have your EAD (OPT) card (if you have graduated and been approved for OPT)
• you have an expired F-1 visa
•  you only go to Canada, Mexico, and/or the Caribbean islands (except Cuba) and do not stay outside the U.S. for more than 30 days
• you do not apply for a new U.S. visa while abroad (otherwise you have to wait for it to be approved and use it to reenter)
• you keep your I-94 record (printed from https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home) when you depart the U.S. (retain it; don’t give it up at the border)
• you are not a citizen of Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, or Cuba

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands

These are U.S. territories and thus an F-1 student does not need a visa to travel to those locations from within the U.S., or to return to the U.S. from those locations.

Obtaining a New F-1 Visa

If your entry visa has expired and your travel does not qualify for visa revalidation, you must apply for a new visa at a U.S. consulate before re-entering the U.S. Entry visas can only be issued outside the U.S. We recommend that you apply for the new visa in your home country; however, if you are unable to return to your home country and need to travel to a third country, it may be possible to apply for a visa there. We recommend in this case that you first contact the U.S. consulate in the country where you will be traveling to confirm that they will review your application. It is possible they would refuse to do so and ask you to travel to your home country. You should also be prepared for potential delays in visa issuance. A list of visa wait times is available on the Department of State website.

When you go to the consulate, you will need to bring your passport, I-20, financial documentation, and proof of full-time enrollment as well as any other documents requested by the consulate.

If you have ever overstayed your authorized stay (as noted on your I-94 document) in the U.S., you will be required to return to your home country to apply for a new entry visa.

Traveling Abroad While on OPT or STEM OPT

The following information deals with F-1 students traveling after graduation and while on OPT. Please be aware that federal regulations, official policy, and practice is subject to change; this information is provided as a guide to assist you in planning your travel.

The re-entry requirements while you are on OPT are similar to the requirements while you are a student; however, you will need to show some additional documentation. The Department of Homeland Security allows for re-entry while on OPT: “An F-1 student who has an unexpired EAD issued for post-completion practical training and who is otherwise admissible may return to the United States to resume employment after a period of temporary absence. The EAD must be used in combination with an I-20 endorsed for reentry by the DSO within the last six months.”

This means that you should be able to return to the U.S. after traveling while on OPT as long as you have the required documents:

• a valid EAD (OPT card)
• valid passport, valid at least 6 months into the future
• valid F-1 visa
  • Exception: If you are a Canadian citizen, you will not have a visa stamp in your passport.
• OPT I-20 (showing an OPT status of Requested, Pending, or Approved on page 2) with a travel signature signed within the last 6 months
• employer or job offer letter (highly recommended)
• you have not been out of the U.S. for more than 5 months
• you are coming back to resume employment
• Recommended: A copy of your SEVIS I-901 fee receipt (printable from the I-901 fee website)

Note: If you have applied for OPT, but not yet received the EAD, travel is not recommended. If you do decide to travel outside the U.S., in addition to the above, you must also carry the following:

• I-797C Notice of Action original receipt notice issued by the Potomac Service Center confirming your request for OPT.

IMPORTANT: Students who have an OPT STEM Extension application pending, should wait until their request is approved and have received the new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) before traveling abroad.

Note: Failure to have the proper documentation with you can result in you being denied reentry into the US or you being granted temporary, conditional entry with a Form I-515A.

Summary

The best-case scenario for traveling abroad while on OPT is that you have a valid passport, valid F-1 visa, valid EAD, and I-20 with a recent travel signature, and you are coming back to work on your OPT. It is recommended that you carry proof of employment or that you are actively seeking employment (e.g., job offer letter, invitation to an interview or career fair).

You will notice that your EAD says “Not valid for re-entry to the U.S.” on the bottom; this means that this card alone will not enable you to return to the U.S. You must also have the other documents listed above.

Of course, the only way to be 100% certain that you will be able to stay in the U.S. during your OPT is to not leave. However, we understand that this is not always practical or desirable. You should not be afraid to travel while on OPT but there are risks you have to be aware of:

• Expired Visa
  If your F-1 visa is expired, you will need to apply for a new one at a U.S. embassy abroad before you can come back to the U.S. If you are only traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent Caribbean islands for 30 days or less, you may be able to re-enter the U.S. even with an expired F-1 visa.

Note: If you require a new entry visa while on OPT, be aware that there is no guarantee that you are eligible for one. You are required to establish non-immigrant intent every time you apply for a non-immigrant visa. This may be harder to establish when you are working rather than studying. If you have an expired F-1 entry visa, speak with a DSO before planning a trip abroad.

• No Employment Upon Return
  If you have no employment to return to, an officer can legally refuse your entry to the U.S. If you need to travel abroad, we recommend that you carry with you proof that you are looking for employment (e.g., interview offers, registration to attend a career fair, etc.). Additionally, students who have exceeded the 90 days of unemployment are not considered  to be maintaining status and likely will be denied re-entry into the U.S.
• Change of Status Filed /H-1B Pending /Green-card Application Pending
  If any of these apply, you need to be very careful about traveling abroad because doing so can void some of these applications and/or make you ineligible to return to the U.S. on your OPT. Talk to the immigration attorney or office that is assisting you with these applications before traveling abroad.
• Expired EAD
  If your OPT period has expired and you are now in the 60-day grace period and you leave the U.S., you will need a different visa (e.g., tourist visa, H-1B work visa if you were approved) to return.

Extended Stays Outside the U.S.

If you leave the U.S. and do not register during the normal academic year for your program, your record in the SEVIS database will be terminated. If you want to return, refer to the instructions on F-1 Leave of Absence, Suspension or Withdrawal.

If you are registered full-time while outside the U.S., contact the DSO to verify that your F-1 status will remain valid.

Travel within the United States – In general, special permission is not required to travel within the U.S. We recommend that you carry your passport, I-94, and I-20 with you whenever you travel outside the Lewiston area.

Tip: It’s a good idea to have a scan of your passport identification page on your phone.

Travel to a Third Country – When traveling to a third country (a country other than the U.S. or your home country), you are responsible for knowing whether you need an entry visa for that country. Travel to Canada and Mexico is common from the U.S.

Canadian visas – Persons from many countries are required to obtain a Canadian entry visa when entering Canada from the U.S. Visas may be obtained from the Canadian Consulate General in Boston. Consult the Canadian Consulate General for visa regulations concerning your country before making travel arrangements.

Mexican visas – Tourist cards or visas may be required for travel to Mexico. Information is available from the Boston Consulate General of Mexico.