Traveling on a Student Visa
Do you need a travel signature?
Depending on where and when you travel to, as an F-1 or J-1 student or scholar, you may need to visit the ISSI before you leave the US to get a new travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019.
Please use the menus below to help determine whether or not you need to come to the ISSI to have any documents signed before you travel.
Please select your travel destination:
Travel within the United States, or to U.S. Possessions
You do not need to come to the ISSI to have your I-20 signed before your travel.
It is recommended that when you travel that you bring all of your I-20s or DS-2019s with you, as well as a valid passport that expires no less than 6 months in the future. However, you do not need to contact the ISSI for an updated travel signature for your trip.
Travel to Canada, Mexico, or a Caribbean island other than Cuba
What will your status be when you travel?
I will be a full-time student and will continue my studies when I return my trip
The signature at the bottom of Page 3 of your current I-20 (if you are on an F-1 visa) or on the bottom right of your DS-2019 (if you are on a J-1 visa) must not be older than one year on the day you return to the United States.If it will be older than one year, then you need to come to the ISSI at least two weeks prior to your departure to have your I-20 or DS-2019 signed before your trip begins.
What to bring with you when you travel
When you travel you will need to take with you all of your I-20s or DS-2019s, a passport that will be valid for at least 6 months on the date you return, and an F-1 or J-1 visa that will be valid the day you return to America.If you will need to renew your US visa while home, we encourage you to bring with you all of your I-20s or DS-2019s, proof of funding, an official transcript, an Enrollment Verification form, and a class schedule showing registration for any future term of study. Official transcripts and Enrollment Verifications are both available through the Office of the Registrar, while a list of registrations for an upcoming term can be printed through your MyNEU account.
Please refer to SEVIS' website for details on renewing your student visa, and for information on visa revalidation that is only available under specific conditions that you must determine if you qualify for.
Travel Visa Information!
Please know that it is your responsibility to determine if you need a visa for any of your travels outside of the US, and to also secure such visas. The ISSI is unable to assist you in obtaining a travel visa for any nation. As a starting point to determine if you will require a travel visa, please refer to the website(s) of the appropriate foreign consulates and embassies in the United States.I will be on OPT or Academic Training
The signature at the bottom of Page 3 of your current I-20 (if you are on an F-1 visa) or the signature on the bottom right of your DS-2019 (if you are on a J-1 visa) must not be older than 6 months on the day you return to the United States.If it will be older than 6 months, then you need to come to the ISSI at least two weeks before your departure to have your I-20 or DS-2019 signed before your trip begins.
What to bring with you when you travel
When you travel you will need to take with you all of your I-20s or DS-2019s, a passport that will be valid for at least 6 months on the day you return, an F-1 or J-1 visa that will be valid the day you return to America, your Employment Authorization Card, and proof of employment (e.g. a job offer letter from your current employer).If you will need to renew your US visa while home, we encourage you to bring with you all of your I-20s or DS-2019s, proof of funding, your Employment Authorization Card, and a job offer letter from your current employer(s).
Please refer to SEVIS' website for details on renewing your student visa, and for information on visa revalidation that is only available under specific conditions that you must determine if you qualify for.
Travel Visa Information!
Please know that it is your responsibility to determine if you need a visa for any of your travels outside of the US, and to also secure such visas. The ISSI is unable to assist you in obtaining a travel visa for any nation. As a starting point to determine if you will require a travel visa, please refer to the website(s) of the appropriate foreign consulates and embassies in the United States.My OPT Application will be pending
You are strongly advised not to leave the United States while your OPT application is in a pending status.I will have finished OPT, Academic Training or classes and will be in my grace period
If you leave the United States during your grace period, then there is no guarantee that you will be allowed back into the United States on your F-1 or J-1 visa.I will have completed one academic program in Winter 2013, and will start a new one in April or May 2013
If your visa will still be valid when you return to the US, and you also have the I-20 or DS-2019 for your new program, then you may travel without getting a travel signature on the I-20 or DS-2019 for your new program. Please make sure to take all of your old I-20s or DS-2019s with you when you do travel.If your visa will not still be valid on the day you return to the US, then you are strongly advised not to travel outside of the United States between the end of the Winter 2013 term and the start of your next classes in April/May.
Travel to Africa, Asia, Australia, Central America, Europe or South America
What will your status be when you travel?
I will be on OPT or Academic Training
The signature at the bottom of Page 3 of your current I-20 (if you are on an F-1 visa) or the signature on the bottom right of your DS-2019 (if you are on a J-1 visa) must not be older than 6 months on the day you return to the United States.If it will be older than 6 months, then you need to come to the ISSI at least two weeks prior to your departure to have your I-20 or DS-2019 signed before your trip begins.
What to bring with you when you travel
When you travel, you will need to bring with you all of your I-20s or DS-2019s, your Employment Authorization Card (EAD Card), and a copy of your job offer letter.If you will need to renew your US visa while home, we encourage you to bring with you all of your I-20s or DS-2019s, proof of funding, your Employment Authorization Card, and a job offer letter from your current employer(s).
Please refer to SEVIS' website for details on renewing your student visa.
Travel Visa Information!
Please know that it is your responsibility to determine if you need a visa for any of your travels outside of the US, and to also secure such visas. The ISSI is unable to assist you in obtaining a travel visa for any nation. As a starting point to determine if you will require a travel visa, please refer to the website(s) of the appropriate foreign consulates and embassies in the United States.I will be a full-time student and will continue my studies when I return from my trip
The signature at the bottom of Page 3 of your current I-20 (if you are on an F-1 visa) or the signature on the bottom right of your DS-2019 (if you are on a J-1 visa) must not be older than 12 months on the day you return to the United States.If it will be older than 12 months, then you need to come to the ISSI at least two weeks before your departure to have your I-20 or DS-2019 signed before your trip begins.
What to bring with you when you travel
When you travel you will need to take with you all of your I-20s or DS-2019s, a passport that will be valid for at least 6 months on the date you return, and an F-1 or J-1 visa that will be valid the day you return to America.If you will need to renew your US visa while home, we encourage you to bring with you all of your I-20s or DS-2019s, proof of funding, an official transcript, an Enrollment Verification form, and a class schedule showing registration for any future term of study. Official transcripts and Enrollment Verifications are both available through the Office of the Registrar, while a list of registrations for an upcoming term can be printed through your MyNEU account.
Please refer to SEVIS' website for details on renewing your student visa.
Travel Visa Information!
Please know that it is your responsibility to determine if you need a visa for any of your travels outside of the US, and to also secure such visas. The ISSI is unable to assist you in obtaining a travel visa for any nation. As a starting point to determine if you will require a travel visa, please refer to the website(s) of the appropriate foreign consulates and embassies in the United States.My OPT Application will be pending
You are advised not to leave the United States while your OPT application is in a pending status.I will have finished OPT, Academic Training or classes and will be in my grace period
If you leave the United States during your grace period, then there is no guarantee that you will be allowed back into the United States on your F-1 or J-1 visa.I will have completed one academic program in Winter 2013, and will start a new one in April/May 2013
If your visa will still be valid when you return to the US, and you also have the I-20 or DS-2019 for your new program, then you may travel without getting a travel signature on the I-20 or DS-2019 for your new program. Please make sure to take all of your old I-20s or DS-2019s with you when you do travel.If your visa will not still be valid on the day you return to the US, then you are strongly advised not to travel outside of the United States between the end of the Fall 2012 term and the start of classes in January 2013.