How to Travel to Another Country With an F1 Visa

If you are an international student currently studying at an educational institution in the United States through a valid F-1 nonimmigrant visa, you should be aware of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, ICE, guidelines for your re-entry to the United States after travel abroad. Foreign students must follow the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, SEVIS, requirements to maintain valid visa status. Confirm that you have the necessary documents, such as your passport, SEVIS I-20 form and F-1 visa, before you travel to another country, or acquire the necessary documents before your chosen return date.

Instructions

1

Discuss your travel plans with the Designated School Official or other contact person at your school's office for international students. Ask the international-students office to complete and sign a SEVIS I-20 form that confirms your compliance with SEVIS requirements to maintain active student status. The I-20 form must include an endorsement of your plans to travel to another country. Keep the I-20 form with you during your travels because you must produce this document for your re-entry to the United States.

2

Examine the expiration date of your passport. The United States requires a passport that will remain valid for at least an additional six months after the date of your re-entry, unless the United States has agreed to accept passports that are valid up to the date when you plan to re-enter. Choose the return date of your trip accordingly, unless you plan to obtain a new passport from your country of origin before the end of your travel plans.

3

Confirm that your F-1 nonimmigrant visa will not expire during your travel outside the United States. Plan to complete your travel before the expiration of your F-1 visa, unless your international travel plans only include less than 30 days of travel to Canada, Mexico or specified islands adjacent to the United States that allow you to participate in automatic visa revalidation according to U.S. immigration laws. Prepare to follow the visa application procedures of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services to obtain a new F-1 visa before you are allowed to re-enter, if your F-1 visa has expired or will expire during your planned time abroad.

4

Gather documents that show your ability to pay your tuition costs and living expenses. Place these documents with your passport, F-1 visa and SEVIS paperwork in case you need to show this information upon inspection at a U.S. point of entry when you return from your travel abroad.

5

Embark on your trip with all of the documents that you have gathered. If your travel plans should change, confirm that you still have the required documents to re-enter the United States upon your new return date.