Whenever you plan to travel outside the United States, be sure to follow these procedures:
- Check that your passport and visa are valid. If they are not, you will need to return to your home country to renew these documents before you may re-enter the United States. (Special circumstances apply if you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean and will be gone less than 30 days. Consult the International Student and Scholar Services office for more information on this condition.)
- Verify that the information on your SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 is correct.
- Bring your SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019* to the ISSS office before leaving for travel outside the United States to obtain an updated travel signature if yours will be expired on the day you plan to re-enter the US. Travel signatures are valid for six months and must be valid on the day you plan to re-enter the US. ISSS requires six business days to fulfill this request.
- *If you are a J-1 sponsored by another organization, you will need to obtain the travel authorization from the program officer at your sponsoring organization.
- While you are outside the United States, take great care not to lose any of your documents. You will need them to re-enter the United States.
