Travel within the United States
When traveling within the United States you are advised to carry your Form I-94, your passport and your I-20 or DS-2019 with you. Form I-94 is a little white card that is usually stapled into your passport.
For many years, a regulation has existed which states that international visitors to the U.S. (including students and scholars) must carry their "registration document" with them. This regulation was not very well known and was rarely enforced. With increased security precautions, particularly at airports, it is advisable for students and scholars to make sure that they are in compliance with this regulation. The "registration document" for F-1 and J-1 students and scholars is Form I-94.
Note:
It is an excellent idea to make copies of these important documents and keep them in a different place from your original documents.
Regulations
Section 264.1 or the Title 8, Code of Federal Regulations (8 CFR)
Additional Information
Information regarding the regulations is available at the NAFSA: Association of International Educators website.
Visiting Canada or Plan to Apply for a New U.S. Visa in Canada
This is a brief explanation-- for full details see the links listed at the end of this section. Canada is used as an example since it is so close but the changes also apply to Mexico and certain other areas.
Due to changes in procedures for security screening of U.S. visa applicants, the State Department has modified the "Automatic Revalidation of Visa" benefit.
Currently, the "automatic revalidation of visa" benefit allows certain nonimmigrants who have expired U.S. visas to reenter the United States after a 30-day or less visit to "contiguous territory' (Canada or Mexico) or to adjacent islands other than Cuba without having to obtain a new U.S. Visa prior to reentry. (Keep in mind that it is necessary to have the expired visa on one's person at the time of reentry). H visa holders are not (and have never been) eligible for automatic revalidation upon return from adjacent islands - this only applies to F and J visas.
Modifications as of April 1, 2002:
Visitors to Canada
Citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba will no longer be able to take advantage of the automatic revalidation benefit. In other words, if you are a citizen of one of these countries and your U.S. Visa has expired, you will not be able to reenter the U.S. after a short trip to Canada.
Applying for New U.S. Visas in Canada
Any nonimmigrant (not just someone from the seven countries listed above) who chooses to apply for a new U.S. Visa in Canada and is refused a new U.S. Visa or has an application for a new U.S. Visa pending will not be able to reenter the United States.
Special Note
The risk of denial is higher for those who must prove their ties to their home country in order to get a visa (such as F and J visas) than it is for those who do not have to prove ties (such as H visa), but there is always a risk of denial for any visa applicant. Those considering applying for a visa in Canada or Mexico should take this into account when making plans.
Passport Validity
Passports are required to be valid at least six months into the future on the day you return to the U.S. from your trip abroad.
Links
Department of State Official Public Notice (requires Abode Acrobat)
NAFSA's Practice Advisory
Leaving and Reentering the United States
The most important point to consider is whether or not you will need a new visa to reenter the U.S. ("Visa" refers to the visa stamp in your passport, not your I-20 or Ds-2019 form.)
When you reenter the U.S., the visa stamp in your passport must reflect your current visa status (F, J, etc.), the visa must be unexpired and, if the visa has a limited number of entries, it must have a remaining valid entry available on the intended date of reentry to the U.S.
If the visa stamp in your passport has expired or does not have a remaining valid entry available, you must apply for a new visa. Read the information regarding applying for new visas and consider your travel plans carefully. Depending on your particular circumstances, you may decide not to take the risk of a visa delay or a visa denial.
Note: Special conditions apply to short trips to Canada or Mexico. Canadian citizens generally are not required to possess a visa stamp to enter the U.S. Note: the new immigrations regulations require Canadian permanent residents to possess a valid visa for entry to the United States.
Travel Documents
- A passport which must be valid for at least six months on the day
that you reenter the United States.
- A valid visa stamp in your passport.
- An I-20 or DS-2019 with a recent signature. The signature on page
3 of your I-20 or the travel validation on your DS-2019 should be
no more than one year old. Note: Travel signatures on the I-20 must be dated after the date of your initial entry to the U.S.
- As an extra precaution, students may want to carry a copy of their
official University of Michigan-Dearborn transcripts and financial
support documents.
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F-1 students on OPT also need to carry their EAD card and verification
of employment.
What to Expect When Traveling
When you reenter the United States, you should expect more thorough screening procedures at airports and other ports of entry. Your identity and the validity of your visa will be checked against law enforcement databases. You may also be subject to in-depth questioning about your immigration status, travel history, the purpose of your visit, background,and other issues, and potential inspection of personal belongings and luggage, photocopying of documents, etc.
During these entry procedures, it is best to be honest, patient, and courteous with all government officials even if they are not so with you. Remain patient and answer all questions clearly. If you do not understand a question, make sure that you ask for clarification before answering. Omission or misrepresentation of information can cause serious problems.
U.S. Visitor and Immigration Status Indication Technology (US-VISIT)
The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will implement the U.S. Visitor and Immigration Status Indication Technology system (US-VISIT) on December 31, 2003.
US-VISIT, described as a "check-in/check-out system", will collect biographic information and biometric identifiers on all foreign nationals entering the United States, to determine whether an individual is eligible to enter the United States or should be prohibited from entering because of security risks such as past visa or criminal violations or terrorist connections.
During its initial phase, the system will be implemented at international air and sea ports of entry. Upon arrival, the foreign national's travel documents will be scanned and his or her photograph and fingerprints will be taken. Border officers will then collect comprehensive information on the visitor, including name; date of birth; citizenship; sex; nationality; immigration status; passport number and country of issuance; country of residence; U.S. Visa number, date of issuance, and alien registration number, where applicable; and complete address in the United States. The visitor will be checked against various national security and law enforcement databases to determine eligibility.
Upon departure, the foreign national's identity will again be verified and departure information will be collected. The system is also intended to track changes and extensions to the foreign national's U.S. immigration status. Note that US-VISIT will ultimately replace the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS).
Special Registration Program (National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS))
When you reenter the United States, you may be required to follow "special registration" or "NSEERS" procedures. This involves being fingerprinted and interviewed. If you are a citizen or national of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan or Syria, you are required to be registered in NSEERS at the port of entry when you arrive in the United States. Note, however, that an immigration or consular officer has the authority to register any foreign national at the port of entry if the officer believes that an individual warrants further monitoring for national security reasons.
In particular, males age 16 or older who are nationals or citizens of the following countries are likely to be registered at the port of entry: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. If you are required to register, you must then comply with the program's regulations on departure from the U.S.
Departure Control for Special Registrants
If you were required to follow "special registration" or NSEERS (National Security Entry-Exit Registration System) procedures the last time you entered the US -- you will know if this was the case -- you must be sure to comply with the departure control rules. As an NSEERS registrant, you may depart the United States only through a port that has been authorized for departure control. At the authorized port, you must report to a special departure control office, where your departure will be verified and your registration will then be closed.
Be aware that departure control offices may have limited hours of operation and may not be conveniently located to your airline. If you do not do this it may be difficult or impossible for you to reenter the United States. Be sure to allow enough time at the airport for this procedure so that you will not miss your flight.
Visa has Expired
If you plan to leave and reenter the United States and will need a new visa, please read the following information carefully. NOTE: "Visa" refers to the visa stamp in your passport, not to your I-20 or DS-2019. Please also read the advisory on changes in the "automatic visa revalidation" benefit.
Be prepared for longer and more complex visa application procedures at U.S. consulates and embassies. It's a good idea to read about the procedures at the consulate where you plan to apply for your new visa BEFORE you travel. Links to US consulates and embassies are at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions_embassy.html
The State Department has warned that visa issuance may take as long as six to eight weeks; most cases will be processed to completion in less time, but in some instances, security clearances may take much longer than the stated eight-week period. It is wise to check the Technology Alert List before making travel plans; sometimes students and scholars are surprised to discover that their field is on the list.
You may be required to appear for a personal interview. Under the new guidelines, most applicants will be required to appear for an interview, except where the applicant seeks the renewal of a previously-issued visa in the same nonimmigrant category at the consular post of his or her usual residence and where there is no evidence of visa ineligibility or noncompliance with U.S. immigration laws. It is important to note that these exceptions are not mandatory; consular officers are authorized to require a personal interview of any applicant for a nonimmigrant visa.
Visa Application Forms
All nonimmigrant visa applicants must complete and submit Forms DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application) and DS-158 (Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant). You can view these forms at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi_forms.html.
All male nonimmigrant visa applicants between the ages of 16 and 45, regardless of nationality and regardless of where they apply, must complete and submit a DS-157 (Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application) in addition to the DS-156 and DS-158. Copies of these forms are available at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi_forms.html. Consular officers have also been given the discretion to require the form to be completed by applicants outside this group, on a case-by-case basis. For example, female applicants could be required to fill out the form.
Security and Background Checks
When applying for a visa to the United States, you may also be subject to additional security and background checks. Though the State Department has provided only limited information on the circumstances that will prompt the checks, the following may trigger additional screening:
Involvement in High-Technology Fields
If you work in high technology, engineering, or the sciences, you should be prepared to be questioned closely about the details of your job. Visa delays may result as consular officers seek security advisory opinions from federal agencies on your work background. In particular, for those conducting research in certain technologically sensitive fields on the Technology Alert List , the Department of State is required to conduct a security clearance prior to issuing an initial U.S. entry visa or extension of visa through a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Clearance may take one month to several months or more.
Citizenship, Nationality or Country of Birth
Citizens of certain countries may be subject to increased scrutiny. Although the State Department has declined to release the list of countries on national security grounds, it is thought to include Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Nationals or citizens of Cuba and North Korea are being subjected to increased scrutiny as well.
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