For F-1 Students
For J-1 Exchange Visitors (Students and Scholars)
For H-1B and O-1 Visa Holders (Temporary Workers and Aliens of Extraordinary Ability)
Travel to Canada, Mexico & Neighboring Islands
In order to return to the United States after a temporary absence, F-1 students must present specific documents to the immigration inspector at the port of entry:
- a valid passport* (valid six months into the future);
- a valid F-1 entry visa stamped in the passport (certain exceptions apply);
- a SEVIS I-20 Form with a travel signature on page 3 from an IS Advisor within the last year (for continuing students) or within six months (for students on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training);
- original financial documentation;
- a copy of the academic transcript; and
- an EAD and a letter from the current employer (for students authorized for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training).
To obtain a travel signature, bring the original I-20 Form to OIP. Processing takes at least three days. Therefore, I-20 Forms should be submitted at least one week prior to departure.
*Please note: Some students will need to renew their passports during the course of their studies or post-completion training period. If the visa is still valid at this time, there is no need to apply for a visa renewal. Students in this circumstance should travel with both passports: the expired passport containing the valid U.S. visa, and the valid passport, which does not contain a visa stamp.
If the F-1 entry visa stamp in your passport has expired and you plan to travel outside the United States, you must return to a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad to obtain a new F-1 visa. F-1 visas may never be renewed inside the United States. Students should generally allow 2-8 weeks for processing. Students engaged in post-completion OPT should be aware that it can be difficult to renew an F-1 visa during OPT. Consulates interview most of visa applicants, so it is advisable to contact the consulate for an appointment prior to finalizing travel plans.
Some students will also be subject to Security Advisory Opinions because of their countries of national origin, citizenship, fields of study, or at the discretion of the Consular Officer. Security Advisory Opinions commonly take one month, but may require as long as 4-6 months in rare cases.
Please note that some students may be subject to Special Registration upon their return to the United States.
Entry/Exit Border Procedures
Please see our page on US-VISIT for detailed information on entry/exit procedures.
During entry procedures, students should be patient and answer all questions clearly. Omission or misrepresentation of information can result in denial of entry. If you encounter any serious difficulty, please call OIP at (202) 687-5867 between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, or the Georgetown Department of Public Safety (DPS) at (202) 687-4343 after hours or on weekends. DPS will contact an OIP staff member to assist you.
For More Information
Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.
(Students and Scholars)
In order to return to the United States after a visit abroad, J-1 students and scholars must present:
- a valid passport* (valid six months into the future);
- a valid J-1 entry visa stamped in the passport (certain exceptions apply);
- original DS-2019 Form with a travel signature from the program sponsor within the last year (for current students and scholars) or within six months (for students on post-completion Academic Training);
- original financial documentation;
- a copy of the academic transcript (current students only);
- AT authorization letter for students on post-completion AT.
*Please note: Some students will need to renew their passports during the course of their studies or post-completion training period. If the visa is still valid at this time, there is no need to apply for a visa renewal. Students in this circumstance should travel with both passports: the expired passport containing the valid U.S. visa, and the valid passport, which does not contain a visa stamp.
To obtain a travel signature, bring the original DS-2019 Form to OIP. Processing takes at least three days. Therefore, DS-2019 Forms should be submitted at least one week prior to departure. Non-Georgetown sponsored students and scholars need to request a signature from their sponsor.
If the J-1 entry visa stamp in your passport has expired and you plan to travel outside the United States, you must return to a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad to obtain a new J-1 visa. J-1 visas may never be renewed inside the United States. Exchange visitors should generally allow 2-8 weeks for processing. Students on post-completion AT should be aware that it can be difficult to renew a J-1 visa during AT. Consulates interview most of visa applicants, so it is advisable to contact the consulate for an appointment prior to finalizing travel plans.
Some students will also be subject to Security Advisory Opinions because of their countries of national origin, citizenship, fields of study, or at the discretion of the Consular Officer. Security Advisory Opinions commonly take one month, but may require as long as 4-6 months in rare cases.
Please note that some students and scholars may be subject to Special Registration upon their return to the United States.
Entry/Exit Border Procedures
During entry procedures, students and scholars should be patient and answer all questions clearly. Omission or misrepresentation of information can result in denial of entry. If you encounter any serious difficulty, please call OIP at (202) 687-5867 between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, or the Georgetown Department of Public Safety (DPS) at (202) 687-4343 after hours or on weekends. DPS will contact an OIP staff member to assist you.
Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.
Travel Outside of the United Stated for H-1B Temporary Workers and O-1 Aliens of Extraordinary Ability
In order to return to the United States after a visit abroad, H-1 and O-1 scholars need to present:
- a valid passport* (valid 6 months into the future);
- a valid H-1 or O-1 entry visa stamped in the passport (certain exceptions apply);
- the employee portion of the I-797 approval notice; and
- copy of their most recent pay stub (recommended).
*Please note: Some scholars will need to renew their passports during their employment. If the visa is still valid at this time, there is no need to apply for a visa renewal. Scholars in this situation should travel with both passports: the expired passport containing the valid U.S. visa, and the valid passport, which does not contain a visa stamp.
If the H-1 or O-1 entry visa stamped in the passport has expired, the scholar must return to a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad to obtain a new visa before returning to the United States. Consulates interview most of visa applicants, so it is advisable to contact the consulate for an appointment prior to finalizing travel plans.
When scholars reenter the United States and present the passport, entry visa and I-797 approval notice, the immigration inspector will issue a new I-94 card.
Please note that scholars may be subject to Special Registration upon their return.
Entry/Exit Border Procedures
During entry procedures, scholars should be patient and answer all questions clearly. Omission or misrepresentation of information can result in denial of entry. If you encounter any serious difficulty, please call OIP at (202) 687-5867 between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday through Friday, or the Georgetown Department of Public Safety (DPS) at (202) 687-4343 after hours or on weekends. DPS will contact an OIP staff member to assist you.
For More Information
Please visit the Frequently Asked Questions on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website.
Travel to Canada, Mexico & Neighboring Islands
Travel to Canada, Mexico and neighboring islands (except Cuba) is handled somewhat differently than travel to other countries. Upon departure from the United States, students and scholars are not required to surrender the I-94 card. International visitors should keep the I-94 card in a safe place during the stay abroad.
There is a special provision called automatic visa revalidation which allows those whose U.S. entry visa has expired to briefly visit Canada, Mexico, Saint Pierre, Miquelon, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, the Windward and Leeward Islands, Trinidad, Martinique, and other British, French and Netherlands territories or possessions in or bordering the Caribbean Sea (except Cuba) and return to the United States without applying for a new visa at a U.S. consulate. The following rules apply to automatic visa revalidation:
- The time outside the United States must not exceed 30 days and may be spent only in Canada and Mexico (for F, J, H or O) or adjacent islands (for F and J only).
- You must not be a citizen of a country that the Department of State has determined to be a sponsor of terrorism. Currently this includes Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria.
- You must have a valid Form I-20, Form DS-2019, or I-797 approval notice (for H and O visa holders). Those in F-1 and J-1 status must have a valid travel signature on the I-20 or DS-2019 Form.
- You must have a valid passport (valid six months into the future).
- You must have maintained status while in the United States and intend to resume that status when you return to the United States.
- You must present your valid I-94 card.
Many students and scholars will need tourist visas to enter Canada, Mexico and neighboring islands. Contact the embassy of the country to which you intend to travel and check on entry visa requirements before making travel arrangements. If you are an F-1 or J-1 visa holder, you will need a valid travel signature from your IS Advisor before applying for the visa to enter these countries. If you have problems obtaining an entry visa, contact your IS Advisor.
NOTE: Federal regulations prohibit those who have been denied a visa at one of the U.S. consulates in Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands from returning to the United States. Those whose visa applications are denied must return to their home country and apply for a new visa at the U.S. consulate in the home country prior to returning to the United States. For information on how to make an appointment for a visa interview in Canada or Mexico, click here.