TravelCenter for International and Cultural Education

Checklist for F-1 or J-1 students traveling outside the United States

Before you travel:

  • Meet with your PDSO or RO (Jeff Anderson) in CICE. Please make an appointment with Jeff in advance. This meeting is important to help ensure that you will not have immigration problems.
  • Get your I-20 or DS-2019 signed. Bring your I-20 or DS-2019 to your appointment with Jeff. His recent signature shows US immigration officials that you are still enrolled as a student at Gustavus. We have backup DSOs/AROs (see listing below) who can sign I-20s or DS-2019s in urgent cases where Jeff is not available. 
  • Check your Passport validity. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of re-entry to the United States. Immigration law provides that you will not be allowed to re-enter the United States if your passport expires less than 6 months from the date you enter, unless you are from a country with an agreement to extend passport validity (List of countries in CBP Field Inspector's Manual). Renew your passport if needed. You may renew your passport at the Consulate of your home country in the U.S. you may find the website at U.S. Department of State list of foreign consular offices in the U.S.
  • Check expiration date of your F-1 or J-1 visa. Check your visa stamp to make sure it is for multiple-entry, and is still valid by the date you intend to return. If you need to renew your U.S. visa, you should closely examine the consulate website to determine the procedures for renewing your visa and the documents required. For links to the websites of U.S. embassies and consulates, go to the U.S. Department of State list of Embassies & Consulates.
  • Order a Transcript if you need to renew your F-1 or J-1 visa. Some Consulates require a recent official transcript to renew your visa. Order your Transcript from the Gustavus Registrar well in advance of your departure. There is no additional charge for transcripts. The transcript you can access on Webadvisor is not considered an "official" transcript.
  • Consider legal issues. If you have had any legal issues (an arrest or citation for any offense that is more severe than a parking ticket), in the U.S. or abroad, at any time in your life, you should consult with Jeff or an attorney before deciding to travel outside of the U.S.
  • Consider whether you need a visa for any other countries to which you are traveling. Check to see if you need a visa for any country you will be visiting, or that your flight will be transiting through, and obtain the proper visa well in advance, if required.

What to bring when you return to the United States:

  • I-20 or DS-2019 endorsed by a DSO or RO (recommended within last 6 months / required within last 12 months).
  • Valid F-1 or J-1 visa.
  • Passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry.
  • Evidence of Financial Support. Documentation that shows you have sufficient funds to cover your educational and living expenses indicated on your I-20 or DS-2019. This can include bank statements, statements of income, etc. Usually you will not be asked for this, but it is best to have it in case you are.
  • Your Gustavus student identification (Three Crowns Card). This is more proof that you are a student. You should not need it, but it could be helpful if immigration officials question you.

After you return to the United States:

  •  I-94 record. The United States Department of Homeland Security uses an electronic system, which records each time you enter or leave the U.S. Soon after each entry to the U.S. you should go to the I-94 Website to retrieve your I-94 record. It is important to check carefully to make sure that DHS properly entered your name, entry date, immigration status (F-1 or J-1), that the "Admit Until Date" is "D/S", and that all of the other information is correct. If there are mistakes, that can be a problem for you later. 
  • Please contact Jeff Anderson if you have any concerns. 

Travel contacts:

Possible additional concerns for travel outside of the United States:

Some students may be more concerned than usual about traveling outside of the U.S. and being able to renew a visa or re-enter the U.S. without problems. There is always some risk, when traveling outside of the U.S. If you need to renew your visa, it is possible that the U.S. Consulate denies that visa application, or that the application is delayed and you are unable to get the new visa in time to return for the start of the semester. It is possible that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) decides not to re-admit you to the U.S. when you arrive. Traditionally, those risks have been very small, and most students feel they are outweighed by the importance of visiting home. It is hard to know if that risk will remain very small for most students, or if it will increase somewhat. It is hard to predict future changes to immigration laws and policies, how long it will take to implement those changes, who those changes will affect, and how. There are no clear answers, but below is some general advice that could be helpful to anyone considering travel outside of the U.S.

  • Some immigration attorneys or advisors are warning against unecessary travel for all international students. That would be the most cautious approach. Traveling outside of the U.S. and returning should be the same as usual for most students, but there is fear that could change. Each student will need to make the decision for himself or herself, after weighing the risks with the desire to travel. It could be a difficult decision, without really knowing how much risk there is. Jeff Anderson is happy to talk with you extensively about it, to help you make your decision. 
  • Travel outside of the U.S. could be a greater risk for students from one of the seven countries (Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen) designated in President Trump’s September 24, 2017 proclamation expanding two previous executive orders restricting travel. The restrictions on travel apply differently depending on the particular country and type of visa. The restrictions do not apply if you already have a valid visa. If you are from one of the seven designated countries, you should consult with Jeff Anderson or an attorney before deciding to travel outside of the U.S.
  • In addition to the seven countries designated in the travel ban, citizens of other countries could face an increase in U.S. government scrutiny, when applying for visas or entering the U.S. Students from countries in the Middle East, North Africa, or Muslim majority countries, may be at greater risk of having problems renewing a visa or re-entering the U.S. Currently there are no travel restrictions for students from other countries, but there is fear that could change, and that students from counties in the Middle East, North Africa, or Muslim majority countries are more likely to be negatively impacted.
  • It is very important, as always, for students to maintain their F-1 or J-1 status by continuing to be enrolled as a full time student and to avoid unauthorized employment.
  • Avoid any criminal activity (generally anything that could cause you to be arrested or cited for any offense that is more severe than a parking ticket).
  • Engage in peaceful protests only. Avoid violence or marching on restricted areas such as roadways or any activiites that would be considered illegal.
  • If you have had any legal issues (an arrest or citation for any offense that is more severe than a parking ticket), in the U.S. or abroad, at any time in your life, you should consult with Jeff Anderson or an attorney before deciding to travel outside of the U.S.
  • It is legal to stay in the United States beyond the expiration date on your F-1 or J-1 visa, as long as you continue to be a student and maintain your F-1 or J-1 status. If your F-1 or J-1 visa is expiring soon, it is not necesssary to renew it.
  • Make sure your passport is valid. Make plans to renew your passport if it will be expiring soon.
  • The requirements for re-entering the U.S. from abroad should be the same, though there could be expanded security checks. You should make extra sure that you have all of the necessary documents (see checklist above), before you travel. 
  • When planning your return flight from abroad, you should be prepared for increased questioning or checking of documents. You should allow more time for connecting flights.
  • Most changes to immigration law require an administrative process or Congressional approval, which can take months or years, or may not happen at all. Jeff Anderson will pay attention to anticipated changes and keep you updated.
  • If you are concerned, please talk with Jeff Anderson prior to making a decision about traveling outside of the U.S.

If you are traveling inside the U.S. but not leaving the country, you still may want to bring your immigration documents (passport, visa, I-94, I-20 or DS-2019). Some local law enforcement officials or airline officials may ask, so it can save you a hassle to have them. Also, many states now have strict immigration laws of their own. Some require you to have immigration documents. So, it is advised that you have your immigration documents when traveling inside of the U.S., even though they are not required in most places. On the other hand, it is also very important not to lose those documents, so it is really up to you to make that decision. But you do not need your DSO or RO Jeff Anderson to sign your I-20 or DS-2019 if you are not leaving the U.S.