International Student Services

Travel

If you need to travel outside the US while you are on an F-1 status, you must request a travel endorsed I-20 by emailing [email protected]. To allow enough time for processing and mailing, we recommend you request your travel I-20 well in advance of your trip. The travel I-20 can be mailed out to the student or made available for pickup on campus. If picking up your I-20 in person, please bring a valid ID.

When returning to the US, you must make sure you have the following on hand:

1. Travel endorsed I-20.
2. Passport that is valid for at least 6 months into the future from the date you are attempting to re-enter the US.
3. F-1 visa that is valid on the day you attempt to re-enter the US.

If your F-1 visa has expired or if you were issued an F-1 status after applying for a COS with USCIS, you will need to apply and receive a new F-1 visa before re-entering the US.

In some cases, F-1 visa holders with an expired F-1 visa may be allowed to travel to Mexico, Canada, or adjacent islands and re-enter the US with an expired F-1 visa. This process is known as Automatic Visa Revalidation. You can learn more about this policy by going here or emailing [email protected].

If you are attempting to re-enter the US and did not receive a travel endorsed I-20, you may be denied entry to the US or issued an I-515A, which is a document issued by the US Port-of-Entry that grants a temporary status of 30 days. If you are issued an I-515A form, email [email protected] immediately to begin the process to correct your F-1 status.

F-1 students may travel freely within the US, but it is always recommended to carry your travel documents with you.