Travel Tips

for

International Students and Scholars

Revised

August 24, 2009

Purpose 
These travel tips have been prepared by the staff of the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) to advise you of important information that will help facilitate your lawful exit and re-entry to the U.S.

This advisory will provide information related to:

A. Travel Endorsements (commonly known as "Travel Signatures")
All international students and scholars in F-1 and J-1 immigration status are required to present an unexpired Form I-20 (if in F-1 status) or an unexpired Form DS-2019 (if in J-1 status) bearing a valid travel endorsement, usually referred to as a "travel signature," from an official at the ISSO at the port of entry when returning to the U.S. from a trip outside the country. Travel signatures are valid for one year, except for travel to Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands.  When traveling to one of these countries, we recommend that the signature be no older than six months. The ISSO generally requires one business day to process a travel signature request.  For students in F-1 status who are in a period of Optional Practical Training following graduation, the travel signature is valid for only six months for travel to anywhere outside the U.S..

Additional information about traveling outside the U.S. can be found at:

For F-1 students:
http://www.bu.edu/isso/students/current/f1/travel/index.html

For J-1 students and scholars:
http://www.bu.edu/isso/students/current/j1/travel/index.html


B. US-VISIT Entry-Exit System
Many international students and scholars will be required to comply with the entry and exit requirements of the U.S. Visitor and Immigration Status Indication Technology (US-VISIT) system when traveling through a U.S. port.

Upon arrival in the U.S., persons seeking to enter in any nonimmigrant classification are subject to an inkless fingerprinting process and a digital photograph. US-VISIT biometric entry procedures are currently in place at 116 airports, 15 seaports and in the secondary inspection areas of 154 land ports of entry.

Upon departure from the U.S., you will be required to surrender your I-94 card, if you received one upon entry, to have your departure recorded.

More information is available at: http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/content_multi_image_0006.shtm

C. 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:

1. Valid passport
   
   

2. Valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp in your passport (except for Canadian citizens)
   
   

3. Valid SEVIS Form I-20 (for F-1 status) or DS-2019 (for J-1 status), with a travel signature from the ISSO.
   
   IMPORTANT NOTE:  Travel signatures are generally valid for one year when returning from most countries.   We recommend, however, that the signature be no older than six months when traveling to Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands.
   
   Students on F-1 Optional Practical Training should also have a signature that is no more than six months old on the date of re-entry to the U.S., regardless of the country visited, as well as their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and a letter from an employer verifying they have a job in the U.S.

D. New Passport Requirements for Citizens of Canada and Bermuda
Beginning June 1, 2009, citizens of Canada and Bermuda will be required to present a valid passport when entering the United States by land or sea.  Citizens of Bermuda are also required to obtain a nonimmigrant visa to enter the U.S. in a student or scholar immigration classification to study, conduct research or be employed at Boston University.

For more information, visit the Department of State web site at http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/crossingborders.

E. Applying For a U.S. Visa Stamp at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate Abroad
Processing times vary among U.S. embassies and consulates. If you intend to travel outside of the U.S. and need to apply for a visa to return, we strongly recommend that 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 procedures. A list of links to the web sites of all U.S. embassies and consulates abroad can be found at http://usembassy.state.gov.

You can also get information on wait times for appointments and visa issuance at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php.

Factors that affect visa application processing include:

1.  Required Personal Interviews
As a general rule, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas are required to schedule a personal interview with the consulate so that the consular post can take fingerprints of the applicant. Consular posts in a few countries have drop-off or mail-in visa application procedures for students and scholars renewing visas if they have already been fingerprinted during a prior application.

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. Department of State web site for updated information – http://usembassy.state.gov

2.  Security Clearances
In recent years, the Department of State has been performing security checks at all U.S. embassies and consulates particularly for male 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.

In addition, many students and scholars studying or conducting research in areas considered to be sensitive technology and/or are on the Technology Alert List (TAL) are subject to special security clearance by the Department of State when applying for a visa. Although the Department of State no longer publishes updates to the TAL, the August 2002 version, the last published, will provide you with an overview of the types of areas the Department of State considers sensitive.  The TAL can be downloaded at http://www.bu.edu/isso/forms/tal.pdf .

Security checks can take anywhere from three business days to three months or more, but most are approved in no more than three to four weeks. Citizens of the above-mentioned countries who plan to travel and apply for a new visa stamp must be aware of the potential for security clearances and plan for possible delays.

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. Security checks are not limited to citizens of these countries and are at the discretion of the consular officer. A security check is based on a number of different factors including, but not limited to, information in your visa application forms, and your field of study or research. An advisor at the ISSO may be able to help you determine if you are likely to 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 U.S. embassies and consulates typically experience a high volume of visa applications during this period and many consulates close or reduce their hours during the holidays.

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 may not return to the U.S. while they wait for approval and a possible security clearance.

Finally, please also be reminded that citizens of countries on the Department of State's list of "State Sponsors of Terrorism" (currently Iran, Sudan, Syria and Cuba) are prohibited from applying for visas at U.S. embassies and consulates in third countries. An updated list is maintained on the Department of State's web site at http://www.state.gov/s/ct/c14151.htm.

3.  Nonimmigrant Visa Application Forms:

DS-156 or DS-160: All nonimmigrant visa applicants are required to complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Application to apply for a nonimmigrant visa.  The standard machine-readable, nonimmigrant visa application fee is $131 plus the reciprocity fee for your country (http://travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity/index.htm).

Certain consulates now require the use of the electronic version of the Nonimmigrant Visa Application form which is the DS-160.  The DS-160 combines the information collected in the DS-156, DS-157 and DS-158 (see below).  If are not required to use the DS-160 and you choose to complete the DS-156, you may also need to complete one or both of the following forms.

DS-157: The Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form DS-157 is required of all male visa applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 regardless of their nationality and regardless of the U.S. embassy or consulate to which 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. The form requires the applicant to list all countries to which the applicant has traveled, previous employers and previous schools attended. Please be prepared to provide this information.

DS-158: The Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form DS-158 is 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.

The above forms can be obtained at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad as well as on the Department of State web site at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html.

Additional information on applying for a visa can be found on the ISSO web site at:

For F-1 students:
http://www.bu.edu/isso/students/current/f1/renewing/index.html

For J-1 students and scholars:
http://www.bu.edu/isso/students/current/j1/renewing/index.html

F. Travel to Canada, Mexico or Adjacent Islands on an Expired U.S. Visa
Entry to the U.S. normally requires a valid visa stamp in your passport.  However, an exception exists for nonimmigrant students and scholars who travel for 30 days or fewer solely to Canada or Mexico, or, in the case of F, J and Q-2 nonimmigrants only, to Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands (other than Cuba).  The rule, known as Automatic Visa Revalidation, permits these travelers to return to the U.S. with an expired U.S. visa stamp, provided they had previously entered the U.S. in a nonimmigrant visa category and have been 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.

Exceptions to the rule:

1. Citizens of certain countries are not eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation
Citizens of countries identified by the Department of State as states that sponsor terrorism (currently Iran, Sudan, Syria and Cuba) are not eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation. The countries included on this list are subject to change. An updated list is maintained on the Department of State's web site at http://www.state.gov/s/ct/c14151.htm.

2. Individuals who apply for a new visa stamp.
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. under Automatic Visa Revalidation 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 restriction applies to citizens of all countries, not just the five countries noted above.

3.  Citizens of Mexico and Adjacent Islands
Citizens of Mexico and countries of the adjacent islands are not eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation when traveling to their home country.

To be eligible for Automatic Revalidation, you must retain your I-94 Arrival/Departure record (small white card stapled in your passport) and present it upon re-entry to the U.S.  For students in F-1 or J-1 status and scholars in J-1 status, you must have a travel signature on your Form I-20 or DS-2019 that is no older than six months from the date of re-entry to the U.S.   Scholars in H-1 or O-1 status should also have their I-797 Approval Notice available to present at the port of entry.

G.  Traveling to U.S. states and territories outside the continental U.S.

If you travel directly to, then return directly from, Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands or any other U.S. territory, you are considered to be traveling within the U.S. Therefore, the visa in your passport (if you are normally required to have one) does not need to be valid upon re-entry to the continental U.S. However, in most cases, you will be required to go through a U.S. Customs and Border Protection port-of-entry inspection – usually before leaving the outlying state or territory -- where you must present your immigration documents to prove that you have continued to maintain lawful status while in the U.S. This includes passport, visa (expired/unexpired), I-94 Arrival/Departure Record and any other status-related documentation. We recommend that students in F-1 status and all J-1 exchange visitors have a valid travel signature on their Form I-20 or DS-2019 upon re-entry. (See section A above regarding travel endorsements).

Scholars in H-1B status should pay particular attention to their travel itinerary to ensure that they will travel directly to a U.S. territory. Travel through another country outside US territory may require a valid H-1B visa stamp as employees in H-1B status do not qualify for automatic visa revalidation in the Caribbean islands (See "automatic visa revalidation" in Section F above).

Please consult with an ISSO advisor before traveling to one of these states or territories.

H . NSEERS Special Registration Departure Procedure
If you were designated as an NSEERS "Special Registrant" upon entry to the U.S.*, you must comply with the established departure procedures by presenting yourself to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer at a designated port of departure when exiting the U.S. Failure to depart as specified is considered a violation of nonimmigrant status and can result in difficulty returning to the U.S.

* If you were designated as a Special Registrant, it will be noted on your I-94 Arrival/Departure record by an immigration official at the port of entry.

Detailed information about NSEERS is available on the ISSO web site at:
http://www.bu.edu/isso/news/2003/2007-09-09-registration.html

I. Traveling after Completion of Your Program (Students)
Students in F-1 status may remain in the U.S. for up to 60 days after completing their program of study or after completion of Optional Practical Training.  Students in J-1 status may remain for 30 days after completing the program or completing Academic Training following the end of the program.  However, once you depart during this 60-day or 30-day "grace period," you may not re-enter the U.S. in F or J status unless you have a new I-20 or DS-2019 to begin a new program of study.  In other words, you cannot come and go to the U.S. using your current I-20 or DS-2019 during the grace period.  Once you leave, the grace period ends.

J. Traveling after Termination of Employment/Research (Scholars)
Scholars in J-1 status may remain in the U.S. for up to 30 days following the expiration of their Form DS-2019 or after they terminate their employment/activity, whichever is earlier.  However, once you depart during this 30-day "grace period," you may not re-enter the U.S. in J status unless you have a new DS-2019 to begin a new period of exchange.  In other words, you cannot come and go to the U.S. using your current DS-2019 during the grace period.  Once you leave, the grace period ends.

No other scholar-related nonimmigrant status permits a grace period.  Therefore, scholars in H, TN, O and other non-immigrant classifications are expected to depart the U.S. immediately upon terminating employment with Boston University unless they have taken other steps to maintain a valid status (e.g., a new employer has submitted a petition on their behalf).  You may not re-enter the U.S. using Boston University-related immigration documentation if you are no longer employed at BU.

K. Check your documents upon Reentry to the U.S.
Each time you re-enter the U.S. from outside of North America, you will be issued a new I-94 Arrival/Departure Record (small white card stapled in your passport).  It is important that you check the card for carefully for errors as soon as the port of entry official issues it to you.  If there are errors, respectfully notify the official of the error and request a correction.

If you notice an error on your I-94 card after you have departed the port of entry, bring the I-94 and all other immigration documents to the ISSO.  An ISSO advisor will review the documents and instruction you with regard to have the errors corrected, if necessary.

Click here to see a sample I-94 card with notes on how to check for errors.

Form I-20 (F-1 students) and Form DS-2019 (J-1 students and scholars) are stamped upon your initial entry to the U.S.  If you are subsequently issued a new I-20 or DS-2019, a port of entry official may stamp the new form upon your next entry.  If so, it is important that you check this stamp and the accompanying notations for errors.

L. Additional Information and Assistance from the ISSO
The ISSO is pleased to provide you with information, advice and assistance on any visa or immigration matter relating 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.

REMINDER:  Make copies of your immigration documents and keep them in a safe place separate from the originals.  When you return from traveling outside the U.S., make a copy of your new I-94 card to add to your records.

ISSO
Boston University
November 20, 2009