Travel

International students, scholars, and employees should take time to prepare for international travel, as certain documents are required for either re-entry into the United States or visa acquisition at a U.S. Consulate abroad. It is also important to be mindful of any travel advisories that can be in place.

General Travel Information and Recommendations

  • Check all immigration documents before travel to ensure validity.  This includes travel signatures for F and J visa-holders.
  • You may need a visa to enter the country to which you are travelling if it is not your home country.  Please be sure to check with that country’s Embassy or Consulate in the U.S. several months prior to your anticipated travel.
  • You may only use your visa documents to re-enter the U.S. for the purpose outlined on the visa documents.  For instance, if you have completed your academic degree, you cannot enter the U.S. using an I-20 that specifies that you are still studying.  If you are no longer working for the University of Pittsburgh, you cannot enter the U.S. using an I-797 approval notice that specifies that you are working for the University of Pittsburgh.
  • For individuals in F or J visa status, your Form I-20 and F-1 visa or Form DS-2019 and J-1 visa will no longer be valid if you depart the U.S. for a period of five months or more if you are not continuing with your research and/or will not be enrolled while abroad.  Please notify OIS of such a prolonged absence so we may provide the best advice for future re-entry to the United States.
  • Graduate students and researchers who are nationals of the People’s Republic of China should review OIS’ information about Presidential Proclamation 10043, especially if they plan on renewing their visa stamp.

Documents to Carry

Be sure to have the following documents with you when you are planning to re-enter the United States.  If flying, do not pack these documents in your checked luggage; have them with you in your carry-on luggage.

F-1

OPT,
STEM OPT

J-1

H-1B,
O-1

TN

E-3

Additional Documents to Carry During Travel or When Applying for a Visa Stamp

Valid passport 
Most foreign nationals must have a passport valid six months beyond their intended period of stay in the United States

Valid U.S. visa stamp which matches your current immigration status 
(Some exceptions for Canadians and Automatic Revalidation cases outlined below).  A valid visa stamp in an expired passport is acceptable.

 

 

 

 

Most recent Form I-20, with valid travel signature Travel signatures for enrolled students are valid for one year from the date signed; travel signatures for post-completion OPT participants are valid for 6 months, only.  Also carry all previously-issued I-20’s.

 

 

 

 

 

Most recent DS-2019, with valid travel signature 
Travel signatures are valid for one year from the date signed.  Also carry all previously-issued DS-2019’s.

 

 

 

Form I-797 Approval Notice 
Always required for H and O status. Sometimes required for TN and E status (speak with OIS for clarification).

 

 

 

Financial Documents 
You must provide proof of adequate financial support, which should cover the amount listed on your I-20 or DS-2019.

 

 

 

 

 

Unexpired Employment Authorization Document (EAD) 

 

Job Offer Letter / Employment Verification Letter

 

 

 

Copy of Forms I-129 
Always needed for H and O status. Sometimes required for TN and E status. 

 

 

 

 

Copy of Labor Condition Application (LCA) 
Provided by OIS at time of approval.

 


(Students)

 

 

 

Optional – Academic Transcripts 
Enrollment Verification and Transcripts can be obtained from the Office of the Registrar

C.V. or resume 
Optional when travelling; Required for visa application process

 

 

 

 

Proof of Degree(s) and/or Academic Credential Evaluation 

 

 

Documents to support your ‘non-immigrant’ intent Documents which can help to prove your familial, financial or other ties to your home country, and verify that you have no intentions of immigrating to the U.S. 

 

 

 

Three most recent paystubs

 

 

 

SEVIS Fee receipt 
Proof of payment of the SEVIS Fee

How to Apply for a New Travel Signature – F and J status, only

Individuals with F or J status must be sure they have a valid travel signature on their I-20 or DS-2019 in order to re-enter the U.S.  Travel signatures are generally valid for one year from the issue date, except for F-1 post-completion OPT participants.  Travel signatures for post-completion OPT participants are only valid for 6 months from the date issued.   Travel signatures can be requested two ways, and should be requested at least 2 weeks ahead of planned travel:

  • Visit the Office of International Services during normal business hours.  You may drop off your document and pick it up the next day, after 1:00 pm.
  • F-1 Students (including OPT and STEM OPT) – Log into My OIS and submit a ‘Travel Signature - F Status’ e-form, located in the "F-1 Students" section. You will receive a digitally signed I-20, which you will need to print and sign.
  • J-1 Students – Log into My OIS and submit a ‘Travel Signature - J Student Status’ e-form, located in the "J-1 Students" section. You will receive a digitally signed DS-2019, which you will need to print and sign.
  • J-1 Scholars and Interns – DS-2019 travel signatures are valid for one year from the date signed. Please review your DS-2019 to confirm if you have a valid travel signature. If you do not, you may either visit OIS during normal business hours to obtain a new signature in person or please login to My OIS and submit a 'Travel Signature J Scholar' e-form, located in the "J-1 Scholars / Interns" section. You will receive a digitally signed DS-2019 via email, which you will need to print and sign. 

Individuals in H, O, E, and TN statuses do not require travel signatures.

Upon Return to the U.S.

  • Check and print your I-94 Admission information at www.cbp.gov/i94.  Report any errors to OIS.
  • Upload copies of new immigration documents (passport, visa stamp, I-94 record) into the “Biographical Information” section of your My OIS record.

Travel to Canada, Mexico for Less Than 30 Days 

In some cases, you may be eligible to return to the U.S. from abroad with an expired visa stamp using the “Automatic Visa Revalidation” process. You may be eligible if you:

  • Are travelling only to Canada or Mexico;
  • Will return to the U.S. no more than 30 days after departing;
  • Have a valid (unexpired) Form I-94;
  • Are not travelling to your home country;
  • Have not applied for a new U.S. visa while abroad; and
  • Are not a citizen of Cuba, Iran, Sudan, or Syria.

If you are in F-1/F-2 or J-1/J-2 status you may also use Automatic Visa Revalidation for travel to some of the Caribbean islands other than Cuba. You can find a list of the adjacent islands and more information at the Department of State website: 

Travel via Cruise Ship

If, upon return, you find that you have trouble retrieving your new I-94 information, you will need that previous I-94 information to correct your record. If you took a “closed loop” cruise (beginning and ending at the same port in the U.S.), then your I-94 information will show your previous entry before the cruise. This is okay, since the government does not consider the cruise to be a “significant” entry to the U.S.

Travel to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and certain other U.S. territories 

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are part of the United States.  As such, you will not need a visa to return to the U.S. from these locations.   However, students and scholars should always carry a passport, I-20/DS-2019, and I-94 during such travel.  Please verify that your travel does not involve transit through or short stays in other countries, since full documentation (including a visa) for return to the U.S. may be necessary.

Travel Advisories

Be sure to check if there are any travel advisories posted for the countries to which you are travelling.  Both the U.S. Department of State and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention have information on their websites about areas in the world that may present high-risk situations for travelers (i.e. severe weather, medical, political, etc.).  You may also want to check with resources in your home country about travel advisories.

Applying for a U.S. Visa Stamp

Visa application requirements and wait times vary from one country to the next.  Check the website of the U.S. Embassy in the country to which you will travel for specific information and requirements, and to schedule an interview for the earliest date possible.  Allow enough time abroad for visa processing. See the resources below for information. 

Administrative Processing

Administrative Processing (“AP”) is the term used by the U.S. Department of State (“DOS”) when a Consular Officer has determined that a visa application requires additional background checks prior to a visa issuance. AP is inconvenient, and can cause delays in your re-entry to the U.S. Review OIS’ Administrative Processing Fact Sheet for more information. Unfortunately, OIS is not able to intervene in administrative processing, or the visa application process. .

Visa Renewal Document Checklist

OIS has created a Visa Renewal Document Checklist to assist you.