Travel Checklist for F-1 and J-1 Students
At the port of entry into the U.S., be prepared to present the following items:
___ I-20 (F-1 students)
You must have your SEVIS I-20 with you when you travel, even for travel within the United States. Ask the International Programs Advisor to sign the second page of your I-20 before you leave the U.S. This signature will be valid for six months, for multiple entries. It is usually a good idea to carry all I-20s you have ever been issued, not just the most recent one.
Or___ DS-2019 (J-1 exchange visitors)
You must have your SEVIS DS-2019 with you when you travel, even for travel within the United States. Ask the International Programs Advisor to sign the "travel validation" section of the DS-2019 form before you leave the U.S. It is usually a good idea to carry all DS-2019s you have ever been issued, not just the most recent one.
___ Valid Passport
You must have your passport with you for all travel, including travel within the United States. You must have a valid passport when seeking admission or readmission to the United States, and your passport must remain valid throughout your stay. (Canadian citizens are not required to have a passport unless entering the U.S. from outside the Western Hemisphere.)
___ Valid U.S. Visa
You must present a valid, unexpired visa in the category for which admission is being sought each time you enter the U.S. (Canadian citizens are exempt from the visa requirement; however, landed immigrants of Canada are generally required to obtain a visa). If your visa expires while you are in the U.S., the next time you travel abroad you must obtain a new visa in the proper category in order to be readmitted to the United States. Apply for the visa in your home country, unless circumstances or travel plans make this impossible. If you apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate in another country, your application may be reviewed more critically than if you applied at home. In-person interviews are required for most visa applicants. You are encouraged to contact the U.S. Consulate, http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions_embassy.html, as early as possible to schedule the visa interview appointment. Anticipate delays in visa issuance due to enhanced security reviews.
An exception to the rule requiring a valid, unexpired visa exists for students in F-1 and J-1 status who travel for less than 30 days solely to Canada or Mexico or islands in the Caribbean except Cuba. Your visa will be considered to be "extended" (and "converted" to the proper visa category if you had changed status while in the U.S.) to the date of reentry, eliminating the need to obtain a new visa at a U.S. Consulate before that particular reentry. This procedure is known as "automatic visa revalidation." Note that if you apply for a new visa while in Canada, Mexico and islands in the Caribbean, you will not be able to return to the U.S. unless the visa is granted. Also, citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Cuba, Sudan, and North Korea are not eligible for automatic visa revalidation.
___ Financial Evidence
It it usually a good idea to carry evidence (for example, a bank statement) detailing the source and amount of your funding. Consular and immigration officers exercise considerable discretion in determining whether your financial support is sufficient to cover all academic and living expenses.
___ Current Class Schedule
You can print your current class schedule from your online account in Web4U: http://www.wwu.edu/web4u.
Entry into Another Country
Before you leave the United States, contact the consulate of the country to be visited to inquire about visa and travel procedures. If you plan to visit Canada, contact the Canadian Consulate in Seattle (http://www.studyvec.com/seattle-visa-trip/page2.html) to determine if you need a visa to enter Canada.
Travel after Completion of Studies
F-1 students: If you travel outside the U.S. after completion of studies you may return to the U.S. in F-1 status provided you are in possession of either:
- A new 1-20 indicating a new program of study, passport, visa and evidence of financial support, or
- An Employment Authorization Document (EAD), I-20 evidencing Practical Training and signed for travel within the last six months, proof of employment, passport and visa.
J-1 students: If you travel outside the U.S. after completion of studies you may return to the U.S. in J-1 status provided you are in possession of either:
- A new DS-2019 indicating a new program of study, passport, visa, and evidence of financial support, or
- A DS-2019 evidencing Academic Training and signed for travel within the last twelve months, proof of employment, passport and visa.