Travel

• Traveling Outside of the U.S.

  
  Traveling Outside of the U.S.

  When reentering the U.S. after traveling outside of the country, you must be prepared to show CBP the following documents:

  Continuing/Currently Enrolled Students	Students on Post-Completion OPT/STEM
  Original I-20 signed for travel within the last 12 months*	Original I-20 signed for travel within the last 6 months*
  Valid passport. Passport should be valid at least 6 months beyond your planned arrival date to U.S.	Valid passport. Passport should be valid at least 6 months beyond your planned arrival date to U.S.
  Unexpired F-1 visa (Canadians are exempt from visa requirement)	Unexpired F-1 visa (Canadians are exempt from visa requirement)
  Proof of Enrollment: Undergraduates: Enrollment Verification from the Registrar Graduates: Good Standing Letter from your department	Current and valid EAD card
  	Proof of Employment (Offer Letter / Recent Pay Stubs)

  *Travel signatures are endorsed on page 2 of your I-20, and can only be issued by a P/DSO from Visa and Immigration Services

  Travel Signature

  F-1 students must have a valid travel signature on their I-20 to re-enter the US.

  • If you're pursuing a degree, the signature is valid for one year. If you already have a travel signature on your Form I-20 but it will be more than one year old when you will return to the US, you need to get a new signature.
  • If you're on post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM, the signature is valid for 6 months.

  To request a travel signature, please complete the "Travel Signature Request" in accessVIS. Once you have submitted the request, your VIS advisor will review it and determine your eligibility. If approved, a new I-20 will be sent to you electronically. The U.S. government no longer requires F-1 students to obtain original signatures (This also applies to their dependents). 

  IMPORTANT:  It is your responsibility to see if you need any visitor's visas to enter the country to which you plan on traveling. Your F-1 student visa is only for entry to the U.S.

• Traveling Within the U.S.

  
  Traveling Within the U.S.

  If you are planning a trip within the United States it is important that you have your I-20, passport, visa and Stony Brook ID card with you for ALL travel, even travel within New York State.

  If you are applying for a change of nonimmigrant status, have an immigration petition or EAD card application pending, be sure to carry your U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services (USCIS) receipt notice (Form I-797). This notice proves that you have an application pending with USCIS.

• Automatic Visa Revalidation

  
  Automatic Visa Revalidation

  Travel to Canada, Mexico, and neighboring islands (except Cuba) is handled somewhat differently than travel to other countries.

  You still have to carry your immigration document with a valid travel signature, but the entry visa can be expired. There is a special provision called automatic revalidation that allows certain international visitors with expired entry visas to make brief visits (less than 30 days) to Canada, Mexico, and the neighboring islands (for F and J visa holders only), then return to the U.S. without applying for a new visa.

  If you take a cruise to the Caribbean, when you return, make sure the customs officer enters your I-94 information. If an entry stamp hasn't been added to your passport, politely request one before you leave the booth.

  In order to take advantage of Automatic Revalidation, all of the following must apply:

  • The visit is ONLY to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands and you may NOT travel to any other country.
  • You did not apply for a new U.S. visa stamp while on this trip.
  • Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your date of reentry to the U.S.
  • You must possess an unexpired I-94 record.
  • You must have maintained and intend to resume your nonimmigrant status.

  Automatic Revalidation is not available to nationals from countries identified as state sponsors of terrorism. Individuals who apply for a new visa while on this trip, but are denied such a visa, are also not eligible to benefit from the Automatic Visa Revalidation option.

  IMPORTANT: This information only pertains to reentering the U.S. You may need a visitor's visa, or an eTA, in order to enter Canada. Click here for more information.

• Reminders

  
  Important Reminders

  • F-1 students with expired U.S. visas who are traveling to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands for up to 30 days, who will not be applying for a new U.S. visa while there, AND who will be resuming their studies upon their return should discuss their eligibility for Automatic Revalidation with an International Student Advisor before traveling.

  • Canadian nationals should be sure to carry with them financial documentation that verifies the information on their SEVIS Form I-20 when returning to the United States.

  • Absence from the United States for more than five months requires a new SEVIS Form I-20 and F-1 Visa for reentry. Be sure to notify your Visa and Immigration Advisor no less than 45 days prior to return to the U.S. of your intention to return.

  • Click here for travel tips for F-1 Students on OPT or those planning a change of status to H-1B.