Travel Information for F-1 Students
Traveling Domestically within the U.S.:
- You do not need special permission to travel within the United States
- This also includes Alaska and Hawaii
- However, you must always carry the following documents whenever you travel outside Rio Grande Valley:
- Your UTRGV Student ID Card
- Your passport
- And the most updated I-94 with a copy of the I-20
Traveling Internationally outside the U.S.:
Who This Applies To:
- This section is for international students with F-1 visas
- It explains how to reenter the U.S. after international travel
- If you have a different visa:
- F-2 or J visa holders should contact ISS for guidance
Important reminder:
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will decide if you can enter the U.S.
- This decision is made at the airport or port of entry
- It is based on your documents and situation at that time
- UTRGV cannot guarantee reentry
What You Should Do
- Use this information to prepare before traveling
- Make sure your documents are complete and up to date
- If you have questions:
- Contact International Student Services (ISS)
Documents required to reenter the U.S.:
1 ) Valid Passport:
- Must be valid for at least 6 months after your re-entry date
- Some countries are exempt from this rule
- To see if your country qualifies, please refer to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Travel Website
2 ) Valid F-1 Visa:
- Must be valid at the time of reentry
- Exception:
- You may reenter with an expired visa if:
- You travel to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands
- Your trip is less than 30 days
- You may reenter with an expired visa if:
- See the Automatic Visa Revalidation section for more details.
3 ) SEVIS Form I-20, endorsed for travel by DSO:
- Your Form I-20 must be signed for travel
- The signature must come from a Designated School Official (DSO)
- Important:
- Get your signature before leaving the U.S.
- Each signature is valid for one year
- To receive a signature, please complete "Request Travel Endorsement Signature on Form I-20"
- Processing time:
- May take up to 5 business days
- May take longer during busy periods, especially toward the end of semester, school break, and holiday.
Optional But Recommended Documents:
1 ) Evidence of Financial Resources:
- Bank statements, Sponsor letter, or Scholarship letter
- Should cover:
- One year of your expenses
- Indicated on the first page of your I-20
2 ) Evidence of Student Status:
- Recent tuition receipts, Transcripts, or Class schedule
Automatic Visa Revalidation:
What It is:
- You may reenter the U.S. with an expired F-1 visa in some cases
- This applies if you travel to:
- Canada
- Mexico
- Certain nearby islands
- Your trip must be:
- Less than 30 days
When You Are NOT Eligible
-
You cannot use Automatic Visa Revalidation if any of these apply:
- You applied for a new visa and it is still pending
- You applied for a new visa and it was denied
- Your SEVIS record shows that you are out of status
- You stayed outside the U.S. for more than 30 days
- You are a citizen of:
- Cuba
- Iran
- North Korea
- Sudan
- Syria
Before You Travel
- Review guidance from:
- Make sure you meet all eligibility requirements
- Carry all required travel documents
Additional Information
-
A list of “adjacent islands” is available on:
Travel while on Post-Completion OPT/STEM OPT:
- When returning to the U.S., you must show the same documents (mentioned above) as current students
- You will present them to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer
- In addition, the following documentation is required depending on your OPT status:
If Your OPT Application Is Pending:
- You may return to the U.S. to search for a job.
- Bring:
- Bring the original Notice of Action (receipt notice) issued by USCIS
- You can access this form through your USCIS Online Account
If Your OPT Is Approved:
- You must carry your Form I-20 with the most updated employer information on page 2.
- To request an updated I-20, complete the "Request for I-20 After OPT Update" form.
- Bring your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card.
- Bring a Letter from your Employer confirming employment or a job offer. The letter should:
- Be printed on the employer’s letterhead
- Include supervisor contact information
- Provide a brief job description related to your field of study
- Confirm that the position is commensurate with your education level
- Specify that the employment period falls within your OPT authorization period
Extended Stays Outside the U.S. (stay outside of the U.S. for more than 5 months)
- If you will be outside of the U.S. for more than 5 months:
- You will be required to get a new I-20 prior to returning to the U.S.
- Immigration regulations state that a stay outside of U.S. within 5 months is considered a break in F-1 status.
- After an absence of more than five months:
- An F-1 student is no longer admissible to the U.S. as a "continuing student."
- After five months the student must be issued a new "initial" I-20 and pay a new SEVIS fee.
- Please contact ISS for additional questions.
- For more important information regarding your student's travel guidelines, forms, and other information, visit: