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News
Travel Advisory
For
International Students
and Scholars
Purpose
This travel advisory has been prepared by the International Students and
Scholars Office (ISSO) to keep you up-to-date on the many recent changes
in federal regulations. In response to the events of September 11, 2001,
the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United
States Department of State (DOS) have instituted many important changes
of which you should be aware as they may significantly influence your
travel plans.
This advisory will provide information about changes related
to the specific issues listed below.
- Recommended immigration status check at the ISSO
- Documents for re-entry into the United States
- Applying for a U.S. visa stamp at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate
abroad
- Travel to Canada, Mexico and the adjacent islands (other
than Cuba)
Immigration Status Check
As of August 1, 2003, all international student and scholars
in F-1 and J-1 immigration status must have a record in the
electronic Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
(SEVIS). Your Certificate of Eligibility Form I-20 for F-1
status or DS-2019 for J-1 status must be a SEVIS generated
document with an identifying SEVIS number on the top right
hand section of your document. Your SEVIS record contains
information about your program of study or research and the
dates of your registration. In order to ensure that all the
information in the database is accurate, we recommend that
you stop by the ISSO and complete an “immigration status
check” prior to your travels. When you re-enter the
United States, the Port of Entry officer may check the SEVIS
database and we want to ensure that all the information in
it is as accurate as possible to facilitate your entry into
the U.S.
Documents Required to Re-enter the United States in F-1
or J-1 Status
The following documents are required to re-enter the United
States in F-1 or J-1 status:
- Valid passport
- Valid visa stamp in your passport (except for Canadian
citizens)
- Valid SEVIS Form I-20 (for F-1 status) or DS-2019 (for
J-1 status), endorsed for travel by the ISSO
Procedures for Nonimmigrant Visa Applications
Changes in policies and procedures have significantly
increased the processing times for visa stamp applications
at U.S. Embassies and Consulates. We anticipate additional
changes and therefore the information provided in this
advisory is subject to revision at any time. If you
intend to travel outside of the U.S., we strongly suggest
you contact your advisor at the ISSO so you may be
given the most current information available.
In addition, we recommend that you contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate
at which you intend to apply for the visa to inquire about their specific
application process. A list of links to the websites of all U.S. Embassies
and Consulates abroad can be found at http://usembassy.state.gov/.
There have been a number of changes to the application procedures
for a nonimmigrant visa stamp. The changes have led to significant
delays in visa issuance.
The major changes include:
- Required personal interviews
- Additional Security checks throughout the visa application
process
- Supplementary nonimmigrant visa application forms DS-157
and DS-158
1) Required personal interviews
Current visa processing procedures require personal interviews
and thus the U.S. Department of State recommends that all
visa applicants expect delays to accommodate for this requirement.
If you are traveling during a holiday period please be
reminded that U.S. Embassies and Consulates are often closed
for extended periods. Please check the U.S. State Department
website for updated information – http://usembassy.state.gov
2) Security Clearance
The Department of State has been performing additional
security checks at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates for
visa applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 from predominantly
Muslim countries. Although the DOS has not published an
official list of countries, it is likely that these procedures
apply to citizens of the following countries: Afghanistan,
Algeria, Bahrain, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia,
Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco,
North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia,
Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen
It is estimated that the security checks could take anywhere
from 20 business days to several months. Citizens of the
above-mentioned countries, who plan to travel and apply for
a new visa stamp, must be aware that the process could take
much longer than it has in the past.
Even if you are not from one of the countries listed above,
we recommend that you consult with an advisor in our office
if you plan to travel and apply for a new visa. The consular
official will determine if you are subject to a security
check based on a number of different sources of information
including, but not limited to, your application forms.
Security checks are not limited to citizens of the countries
listed above and are at the discretion of the visa officer.
If your application is subject to a security check you
will most likely experience a significant delay in your
visa issuance. An advisor at the ISSO may be able to help
you determine if you may be subject to a security clearance.
Please recognize that potential delays in visa application
processing may make it impossible for you to return to
resume your studies or activities on time. Therefore, if
you need a new visa, please seriously consider your travel
plans. Travel over winter intersession is of particular
concern since typically the U.S. Embassies and Consulates
experience a high volume of visa applications during that
period and many offices close or reduce their hours during
the holidays.
In addition, many students
and scholars studying or conducting research in areas considered
to be sensitive technology and/or on the Technology Alert List (TAL)
are subject to special security clearance by the Department of State
when applying for a visa. Although the Officials at US Embassies
and Consulates use an unpublished list when making determinations,
you may wish to refer to the Department of State Technology Alert
List at the following address for guidance: http://www.bu.edu/isso/forms/tal.pdf
If visa applicants apply for a visa
stamp at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in
a third
country (a country other than their country of citizenship),
they must remain in that third country while they wait for
visa approval and possible security clearances. Finally,
please also be reminded that citizens of countries on the
DOS’s
list of “states
that sponsor terrorism” (currently
Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Syria, North Korea and Cuba) are
prohibited from applying for visas at U.S. Embassies or Consulates
in third countries.
3) Supplementary Nonimmigrant
Visa Application Forms:
DS-156: All nonimmigrant visa applicants are required
to complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form DS-156 to apply
for a nonimmigrant visa. This form can be obtained at the U.S. Embassy
or Consulate abroad as well as on the DOS website at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html.
Please be advised that the standard machine-readable, nonimmigrant
visa application fee is now $100 plus the reciprocity fee for your
country.
DS-157: The Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form
DS-157 is now required of all male visa applicants between
the ages of 16 and 45 regardless of their nationality and
regardless to which U.S. Embassy or Consulate they apply
for a visa. Please note that consular officials also have
the discretion to require any nonimmigrant visa applicant,
regardless of age or gender, to complete the Form DS-157,
if deemed necessary. The form requires the applicant to list
all countries to which he/she has traveled, previous employers
and previous schools attended. Please be prepared to provide
this information. You may access the form and download it
from the DOS website at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html
DS-158: The Contact Information and Work
History for Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form DS-158 is
now required of all individuals
applying for student visas. The form requires the applicant
to list contact information of family members and a work
history that includes dates and contact information of
previous employers. Applicants should be prepared to provide
this detailed information. It may be advisable to bring
a CV or resume with you. You may access the form and download
it from the DOS website at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html
Changes in Visits to Canada, Mexico or Adjacent Islands
with Expired U.S. Visas Stamps
As of April 1, 2002, there have been two significant changes
to the Automatic Visa Revalidation benefit.
Automatic Visa Revalidation allows nonimmigrant visa holders
to travel to "contiguous territories" (Canada,
Mexico and the adjacent islands, except Cuba) for a visit of
30 days or fewer, and return to the U.S. with an expired U.S.
visa stamp, provided they entered the U.S. in a nonimmigrant
visa category and have and are maintaining valid nonimmigrant
status. The adjacent islands include: The Bahamas, Barbados,
Bermuda, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica,
Martinique, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Trinidad and Tobago, The
Leeward Islands (Anguilla, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Nevis, St.
Kitts and the British Virgin Islands), the Windward Islands
(Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent) and other British,
French or Dutch territories or possessions in or bordering
on the Caribbean Sea.
The two changes to this policy are as
follows:
- Citizens of certain countries are no longer eligible
for Automatic Visa Revalidation
- Nonimmigrant visa applicants who are denied a visa are
no longer eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation
1. Citizens of certain countries are no longer eligible
for Automatic Visa Revalidation
Citizens of countries identified by the Department of State
as a “state that sponsors terrorism” (currently
Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Syria, North Korea and Cuba) are
no longer eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation. Please
be advised that the countries included on this list are subject
to change.
2. Individuals who apply for a new visa stamp are not eligible
for Automatic Visa Revalidation while their application
is pending or if they are denied a visa.
An individual who chooses to apply for a nonimmigrant visa
stamp at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in a contiguous territory
(Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands, except Cuba) is
not eligible to return to the U.S. while the application
is pending or if the application is denied at the U.S.
Embassy or Consulate.
If the visa application is denied, the applicant will be
required to travel directly elsewhere (most likely to their
home country) to apply again for a U.S. visa stamp before
they may return to the U.S. Please note that this new restriction
applies to citizens of all countries, not just the 7 countries
listed above.
In summary, individuals traveling to the contiguous territories
(Canada, Mexico and the adjacent islands, except Cuba) for
a stay of 30 days or fewer who have an expired U.S. visa,
valid passport, valid immigration documents (i.e. SEVIS Form
I-20 or DS2019) and a valid I-94 card are still eligible
for Automatic Visa Revalidation unless they are citizens
of the seven above named countries. All others are eligible
to take advantage of automatic visa revalidation and return
to the U.S. with an expired visa stamp.
Additional Information
The ISSO is pleased to provide you with information, advice,
and assistance on any visa or immigration matter, which relates
to your activities at Boston University. If you have any
questions or would like additional information, please visit
our office or call to make an appointment to meet with your
ISSO Advisor and visit our website at http://www.bu.edu/isso.
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