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In order to re-enter the United States after a temporary absence, you must carry the following documents:
Travel Signatures To travel outside of the U.S. and re-enter as an F-1/J-1 student, you must have a valid travel signature. The signature can be obtained at the Office of Visa Services (120 Alexander Street). You must be enrolled and maintaining your status to receive a signature. You are not required to present any additional documentation. Please allow one business day for processing. A travel signature is valid for one year from the date of issuance. If you are a J-1 student whose DS-2019 was issued by another program sponsor (e.g., IIE), please contact your program sponsor to have your document signed for travel. Evidence of Adequate Financial Support Financial support can be demonstrated by one (or a combination) of the following; A copy of your current re-enrollment reply, or a copy of your admission reply if you are a first year student; • A letter from your department outlining financial support and student status; • A scholarship or a fellowship award letter indicating the duration and amount of support; • A personal bank statement; • A letter from a financial sponsor and documentation of his/her ability to support you (bank statement, letter of employment, etc.); Applying for a new F-1/J-1 visa In order to re-enter the U.S., you must have a valid F-1/J-1 visa in your passport. A visa can only be obtained abroad, at a U.S. embassy/consulate. Exact procedures at embassies/consulates vary. Information about individual consulates can be found by accessing the U.S. Department of State website. For your visa application, at the minimum, you will need: • A valid passport • A valid I-20 or DS-2019 with a current travel signature; • Copy of your current re-enrollment reply; • Evidence of adequate financial support. Apply for your visa early to allow time for visa processing. Do not assume that the procedure and time frame for applying for a new visa will be the same as it was the last time you applied for a visa. Make a visa appointment before departing the U.S.It is important to thoroughly review all information on the specific embassy's website for local procedures and instructions. Consular websites will also explain any additional procedures. Also check the Department of State Visa Wait Times for Interview Appointment information. This does not include time required for additional administrative processing. Be prepared for delays due to increased security clearance processing by the State Department. If your field of study and research is technologically sensitive, you may be subjected to a security clearance. Please consult a Department of State telegram regarding the Technology Alert List. If subject to a security clearance, visas can be delayed indefinitely. Most clearances are resolved within 60 days of application, but the timing varies based on individual circumstances of each case. Please contact the Office of Visa Services at (609) 258-1451 to arrange an appointment with Mladenka Tomasevic to discuss the security clearance process and additional documentation you may want to take with you. F and J visas are non-immigrant visas, so be ready to show ties with your home country. Consular officials need to see that your intent is to return to your home country at the end of your studies. Please consult a Department of State telegram regarding Students and Immigrant Intent. Travel to Canada, Mexico and Adjacent Islands Most F-1/J-1 students traveling to Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands for a trip of 30 days or fewer can usually revalidate an expired visa automatically when returning to the United States. This process is known as Automatic Visa Revalidation. To qualify for Automatic Visa Revalidation, you must meet following criteria: • Currently be in F-1/J-1 student status. • Present an unexpired form I-94 (with the notation D/S). Students should not surrender the I-94 when leaving the U.S. for a contiguous territory. • Have been in lawful status while in the U.S. • Present an unexpired passport with a U.S. nonimmigrant visa stamped within (valid or expired). • Have been in one of the contiguous territories for fewer than thirty days. • Present a current I-20/DS-2019 with a valid travel signature. However, if you meet any one of following criteria, you will not be able to automatically revalidate your visa: • You applied for a new visa and it has not been issued • You applied for a new visa and were denied • You have a terminated SEVIS record indicating that you are out of status • You have been outside the U.S. for more than thirty days • You are a citizen of one of the following countries: Cuba, Iran,North Korea, Sudan, and Syria. F-1 students on OPT and J-1 students on AT F-1 students on OPT or J-1 students on AT who have unexpired visa stamps in their passports need only to obtain a new travel signature on the I-20 or DS-2019 documents prior to travel. Travel signatures should be no older than 6 months from the date you intend to travel while on OPT. The following documents will be needed when traveling: • Valid I-20/DS-2019 with a valid travel signature. • Proof of work authorization (EAD: Employment Authorization Document for F-1 students or a Academic Training letter issued by the Office of Visa Services for J-1 students). • Employer letter stating the job title, job description, beginning/end dates, and salary. Students on OPT/AT who need a new entry visa are strongly advised to discuss their travel plans Mladenka Tomasevic, the International Graduate Student Advisor. It may be more difficult to obtain a student visa while on OPT or AT as the issue of intent to return to a home country could be more difficult to prove once the student has obtained a degree and is working in the U.S. Canadian Citizens Canadian citizens are exempt from visa requirements. However, if you are a Canadian citizen, you MUST present a valid passport and a valid I-20/DS-2019 with a current travel signature at a U.S. port of entry, so that an immigration officer admits you into the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status. Entering the U.S. in other than F-1 or J-1 status (i.e., as a tourist) will make you ineligible for benefits of student status, i.e., work on campus, Optional Practical Training or Academic Training, etc. US-VISIT Program The US-VISIT program is a US Department of Homeland Security immigration and border system that involves the collections of biometrics - digital fingerprints and a photograph - from international travelers, including F-1 and J-1 students, at U.S. visa-issuing posts and ports of entry. For more information about the US VISIT program procedure can be found here. Travel to a Third Country For travel into any country other than your home country, you must check with an embassy/consulate of the country you plan to visit to inquire about specific visa and entry procedures. a complete and official listing of the foreign consular offices in the U.S. can be found here. |
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