F-1 students need to have the following documents in order to re-enter the US:

  • Valid Passport
    Your passport must be valid beyond 6 months from the date on which you plan to return to the US. If you need to renew your passport you should contact the embassy of your home country located in Washington, DC. Information about foreign embassies located in Washington, DC can be found at Electronic Embassy.
  • Unexpired Visa
    You should check to see if the F-1 visa sticker in the passport is still valid for re-entering the United States after departure. If not, a new visa must be obtained at a U.S. consulate or embassy in the country you are visiting by presenting evidence of financial support and either your current I-20 or a new one as appropriate. It is not possible to obtain F visas while in the United States. Information about U.S. Embassies is available at Electronic Embassy.
  • Valid FORM I-20 with the International Students’ Advisor signature on page 2.
    The signature is valid for twelve months and multiple entries. To obtain a signature, you should bring your most recent form I-20 to the Center for International programs at least a week before your planned departure from the United States. 

Additional requirements for F-1 Students on Optional Practical Training

To re-enter after completing a course of study and starting optional practical training, a student must have filed the practical training application and received the EAD card. The student will need the following items to re-enter the U.S.:

    • a valid EAD card (OPT card) or I-797 proving that the student has applied for Optional Practical Training (OPT)
    • a job offer letter or other proof of employment

Travel to Canada, Mexico, or Adjacent Islands

Students who are maintaining nonimmigrant status may travel to these countries for 30 days or less and return to the U.S. using an expired F-1 visa stamp in their passports. The student retains the Form I-94 (departure record) when leaving the country and shows this form to re-enter. The visa is considered automatically extended to the date of re-entry. However, a new visa sticker is not issued.

Adjacent islands include: 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 on the Caribbean. Cuba is not included.

Travel to Third Countries

Students may need visas to enter third countries (countries other than the U.S. and their home country). They should contact the consulates or embassies of third countries to obtain information on visa requirements and procedures necessary to enter these countries months before travel. Information about embassies and consulates is available at Electronic Embassy.

Additional Information for Students

In the following cases, consult with the International Student Advisor at least two weeks before departure:

  • You will need to renew/ apply for a new visa.
  • You will be out of the U.S. for more than five months.
  • You are planning to travel to Mexico or Canada to renew or change the U.S. entry visa.
  • Your I-20 or DS-2019 has expired or will expire within 30 days of your expected return to the U.S.
  • You have applied for U.S. legal permanent resident status (green card).

J-1 students need to have the following documents in order to re-enter the US

  • Valid Passport
    Your passport must be valid beyond 6 months from the date on which you plan to return to the US. If you need to renew your passport you should contact the embassy of your home country located in Washington, DC. Information about foreign embassies located in Washington, DC can be found at Electronic Embassy.
  • Unexpired Visa
    You should check to see if the J-1 visa sticker in the passport is still valid for re-entering the United States after departure.

  • Valid DS-2019 with the Exchange Student Advisor's signature