Traveling In the US

Regulations require you to keep your immigration documents with you at all times.  This includes your passport, visa, I-20, and I-94.  While in town you should be fine carrying photocopies of your documents. If you leave town, you should carry your original documents with you. Remember, if you fly, never put your documents in your check-in luggage.

 

Traveling outside of the US

Travel Signature

We do not issue travel I-20’s.  Your current I-20 is the one you need to travel with.  Before you leave the US though, you need to ensure you have a travel signature on the second page of your I-20.  This signature is valid for one year from the date it is signed.  As long as you re-enter the US before a year from that date you will be safe to return to the US.  Without this signature, you may not be allowed to reenter the US.

If you need the signature you can bring your I-20 by our office and have it signed, or if you are on OPT and can’t come to SAU you can request a new I-20 by completing the Document Pick-up form.

New Visa

If your visa has expired then you will need to arrange a visa interview while you are in your home country to receive a new valid visa.  You should take a copy of your transcript along with the other required interview documents. You can get an unofficial copy of your transcript from Campus Connect or from the Registrar’s Office.

 

Current Student- Documents to carry with you while traveling

Carry the following documents with you while you travel
Valid passport and visa
You current I-20
• With a valid travel signature on the second page of your I-20.
Unofficial transcript
Financial support information

Travel documents while on OPT

Traveling while on OPT is risky and is discouraged, but if you need to travel please keep the following information in mind.

Carry the following documents with you while you travel
Valid passport and visa
You current I-20
• You should already have your travel signature on the second page of your I-20.  If it isn’t there or it is beyond a year from that date please contact our office.
Unexpired EAD card
• Traveling before you have received your EAD card is extremely risky.  You will be UNABLE to reenter the US without your EAD card.  So you could end up stuck out of the US while you wait for your card.
Employment Offer Letter
• • While this document is not required, it is highly advised to have some proof of employment.

Travel documents while on OPT STEM

Traveling while on OPT STEM is risky and is discouraged, but if you need to travel please keep the following information in mind.

Carry the following documents with you while you travel
Valid passport and visa
You current I-20
• You should already have your travel signature on the second page of your I-20.  If it isn’t there or it is beyond a year from that date please contact our office.
Unexpired EAD card
• Traveling before you have received your EAD card is extremely risky.  You will be UNABLE to reenter the US without your EAD card.  So you could end up stuck out of the US while you wait for your card.
Employment Offer Letter
• • While this document is not required, it is highly advised to have some proof of employment.

Travel with pending STEM OPT Extension application

If your current EAD has expired, don’t travel while your STEM OPT extension is pending, you will not be able to return to the U.S.

 

Traveling Abroad During the Semester

It is highly advised not to leave the US during the semester.  The dates of our semesters are recorded in SEVIS so when you go through Customs the officer there will see that you are traveling while you should be in class.  As an F1 student, you are here to study and must maintain your status by following the attendance policy established by the institution.  Failure to do so could lead to you losing your status.  Our office does not provide permission to leave the US during the semester for short trips outside of the country.

If you do need to leave during the semester you should take the documents listed above for current students.