Please see the links below for specific information:
- Documents Needed for Travel
- OIA Travel & FAQ Document - Winter 2019
- About Travel Signatures
- Visa Renewal Information
- Automatic Visa Revalidation for Short Trips to Canada, Mexico or the adjacent Caribbean islands
- Grace Period
- Customs Declarations and Bringing Items into the U.S.
- Tell Us About Your Travel Experience & Traveler Redress Information Program (TRIP)
- General Travel Tips & FAQs
Documents Needed for Travel
To reenter the U.S. from abroad, you will need the following documents based on your status:
| Student Type | Required Documents |
|---|---|
| F-1: Current Student |
Note: Always use your most recently issued I-20 form. |
| F-1: Student on OPT |
Note: Students re-entering the U.S. after program end date but before OPT start date must have their EAD with them. |
|
F-1: Student on STEM OPT Extension or pending STEM OPT Extension |
|
| F-2: Dependent of Current Student |
|
| F-2: Dependent of Student on OPT |
|
| J-1: Current Student & Their Dependent |
|
| J-1: Student on Post-Completion Academic Training (AT) |
|
| J-2: Dependent of Student on AT |
|
Travel Signatures
Travel signatures, also called 'travel endorsements', are OIA adviser signatures that can be found on your I-20 (page 2) or DS-2019. When OIA provides a travel endorsement on your document, it is confirming to the U.S. government that you are eligible to return to the University. Anytime you travel internationally in F or J (including F-2/J-2 dependents), you must have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 at the time of re-entry to the U.S.
Travel Signature on I-20 (F-1 Student): Page 2
Travel Signature on DS-2019 (J-1): Page 1
F
Travel Signature Validity
Travel signatures are valid for 12 months from the signature date listed on the I-20/DS-2019 (shown above) regardless of the number of times in that 12-months you have traveled abroad and re-entered the U.S. If you are an F-1 student on post-completion OPT, then your travel signature will be valid for 6 months only. Travel signatures are located on page 2 of I-20s or in the lower right hand corner on page 1 of DS-2019s.
For the example listed above:
- Travel Signature Issued: 12/07/2000
- Travel Signature expired: 12/06/2001 (one year validity)
- Expiration for student on OPT: 06/06/2001 (6 months validity)
For a complete list of documents needed to re-enter the U.S. please see "Documents Needed for Travel" on our website.
Getting a New Travel Signature
Need a new I-20 (F-1) or DS-2019 (J-1) for travel or visa renewal, due to a lost or damaged document, or do you just want a reprint due to recent updates to your document? You can submit the form via the following link: https://internationalaffairs.uchicago.edu/content/i-20ds-2019-reprint-shipment-request-form
Please note that OIA will also hold Travel Signature Tablings on campus during peak travel seasons, these are announced in our newsletter.
Federal regulations allow OIA to email versions of the I-20 and DS-2019 to you for travel, visa acquisition, etc. Once received by email, you are required to print and sign your most current I-20 or DS-2019, and carry it with you on your return travels to Chicago/U.S. Be sure to print, sign and carry your I-20 or DS-2019 in your carry on luggage as you will not have access to your checked bags until after you clear passport control. A copy on your phone screen is insufficient and may cause delays at entry. If you do not have your I-20 or DS-2019 with you, you may be issued a Form I-515A (conditional entry into the U.S. in F-1/J-1 status). Form I-515A allows you to enter the U.S. conditionally—if issued to you, please follow-up with your OIA adviser after you return.
Visa Renewal Information
Visa stamps are available outside the U.S. only. Their sole purpose is for entry into the country; once you are in the U.S., you only need to renew an expired visa if you leave the U.S. and want to return in the same status. Please see this page for more information on the difference between a visa and status.
Visa Eligibility
You continue to be eligible to apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa for the duration of your F-1 or J-1 status, including any periods of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Academic Training (AT) that follow your program. OPT and AT are continuations of your F-1/J-1 status, respectively, and you remain eligible to apply for a visa anytime your SEVIS record is still active (e.g. until your OPT/AT end date). However, visa approval and issuance is always up to the individual consular officer reviewing your case.
Visa Application/Renewal Materials
To renew your visa, you will need the following documents:
| F & J Students and their Dependents |
|
|
Recommended Additional Documents |
Letter from PI or faculty advisor for those in advanced areas of science or technology in case of background check |
Current visa wait times can be viewed on the State Dept website. Look specifically at the wait times for "student/exchange visitor visas."
Third-Party Countries & Visa Applications
OIA recommends applying for a new visa in your home country whenever possible. Attempting to renew your visa in a "third party country" (i.e. not the U.S. and not your home country), can cause application delays or even rejections. Accepting and approving third party applicants is at the discretion of the specific embassy or consulate you wish to visit.
If you are hoping to renew your visa in a third party country, you must check with the individual embassy or consulate at which you want to apply. Verify:
- If they accept third party applicants
- If it is likely your application will be delayed or rejected, and
- If they have an estimated time frame for third party applications
Often third party countries must clear your application with your home country, which can cause significant application delays or even rejections.
Visa Validity and Arrest Records
If you have had a U.S. arrest or conviction for a crime in the U.S., including driving under the influence of alcohol or driving while intoxicated, it is possible that your visa has been revoked without you being aware of it. If you are in this situation, contact the embassy/consulate where you received your visa to check its validity. If it has been canceled or revoked, contact OIA and we can also assist you in finding a reputable immigration attorney, if the need for such services were to arise. See the OIA news article additional information.
Practice your Visa Interview
You will only have 2 or 3 minutes to make your case for the visa, and you should have thought about certain issues in depth. For example, you should be prepared to explain what you are studying, what you plan to do after your studies are completed, why you want to study in the U.S. rather than your home country, why you will return to your home country after completion of your studies, and more.
It is important to note that F-1 and J-1 statuses are strictly non-immigrant statuses; if you show immigrant intent, the visa will be denied. At your visa interview, you should truthfully answer all questions, but you should only answer the questions asked and not offer any additional information. For more tips on applying for a non-immigrant visa, please see this document from NAFSA.
Administrative Processing (Background Check)
In response to applications for visas, consulates may refer the applicant to "administrative processing" (background check), based on any number of factos. These can include (but are not limited to): the applicant's field of study or research, country of citizenship, location of the visa application, or on ties that may be actual (by citizenship or birth) or assumed, such as with a country having a predominantly Arab or Muslim population. Students from China often receive background checks, as well as students applying for a visa in a third party country.
These checks usually take six to eight weeks, although occasionally they take longer. Once the Visa Officer initiates a security check, the consulate must wait for an answer from Washington, D.C. to issue an entry visa. No matter how long the delay lasts, neither the University of Chicago, the consulate, or the Department of State in Washington can influence the length of the background check. Pleas by universities or applicants that the delays are causing inconvenience or hardship do not have an effect on the process.
Security checks may be repeated. Even after you have undergone one security check in the past, another may be made each subsequent time that you apply for a visa, even after a short visit abroad, and even if you will be returning to continue your study or employment at the same institution in the U.S. Please notify your adviser if you are subjected to a background check. It is also wise to discuss the possibility with your PI or academic adviser before you travel, notifying them that you may be delayed in your return to research, classes, etc. Please remain patient with the system.
To help prevent background checks based on third party visa applications (visa applications in countries other than your home country), we always recommend applying for your visa in the country that issued your passport.
If you might be subject to a background check based on your research in a field of science or technology that is tagged for closer scrutiny based on the so-called Technology Alert List, you may be able to forestall or at least shorten the check if you bring a letter from your department or PI with you detailing your research. Please have your faculty advisor or PI follow these guidelines when writing the letter.
Automatic Visa Revalidation: Short Trips to Canada, Mexico or the adjacent Caribbean islands
F and J students whose visas have expired and who plan to travel to Canada, Mexico or the adjacent Caribbean islands for 30 days or less may re-enter the U.S. as though their visa were still valid. This applies also to F and J students who changed their status in the U.S. and whose visa is in the category in which they entered the U.S. Your F-1/J-1 status must still be valid when you return.
Documents required for reentry to the U.S. include:
- Valid I-20, DS-2019 or I-797 Approval Notice form; I-20 or DS-2019 must have valid travel signature
- Valid passport
- Expired visa (either in current passport or previous passport)
- Approval Notice of change of status, if applicable
- I-94 Departure record printout
Automatic revalidation does not apply to students who are nationals of Iran, Syria, Sudan or Cuba or who applied for an F or J visa during their visit and were denied. It also does not apply to those who are returning from another country via Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean islands.
More details can be found here and here. You can also review our Automatic Visa Revalidation handout here.
Grace Period
'Grace Period' refers to the cushion of time before and after your F-1/J-1 program that allows you to be in the U.S. to prepare for your program or prepare for departure. The length of the Grace Period varies for F-1 and J-1 students. Only certain activities are allowed during your grace period. The grace period is not shown on your I-20/DS-2019 or any other document.
J-1 Student Grace Period Length:
-
Pre-program: Enter U.S. up 30 days before your DS-2019 start date
- This grace period at the beginning of your program allows you time to settle in and begin looking for an on-campus job, if you so choose.
-
Post-program: Following completion of DS-2019 end date, you have a 30 day grace period
- During the grace period following your end date you may NOT attend classes or work
F-1 Student Grace Period Length
-
Pre-program: Enter U.S. up 30 days before your I-20 start date
- This grace period at the beginning of your program allows you time to settle in and begin looking for an on-campus job, if you so choose.
-
Post-program: Following completion of I-20 end date or Optional Practical Training EAD end date,you have a 60 day grace period
- During the grace period following your end date you may NOT attend classes or work.
Activities Allowed in Grace Period
During the grace period following your end date you may NOT attend classes or work (unless you've been approved for post-completion OPT). However, you can finish incomplete work, incuding working on your thesis, or other required academic completion tasks, such as taking the Bar Exam if you are a Law graduate.
This grace period is just an opportunity to prepare for departure. You can travel within the U.S. or apply for a different immigration status during this time. Once you exit the U.S. you will not be permitted to re-enter in F or J status if your program of study has finished or you have not been approved for post-completion OPT. You can re-enter the U.S. in another status, such as tourist, if you choose.
Complying with the Grace Period
Once your I-20/DS-2019 end date passes, you must do one of the following by the end of the grace period:
- Leave the U.S., thus ending your F-1/J-1 status
- F-1: Have an application for OPT pending (if eligible)
- J-1: Have approved Academic Training (if eligible)
- Transfer your SEVIS record to another school (if eligible)
- Have a Change of Status application pending (consult with your new sponsor for guidance)
Customs Declarations and Items Brought Into the U.S.
In addition to providing immigration documents to U.S. officials, you may need to inform Customs officials about certain items you are carrying into the U.S. in your luggage. You will be asked to fill out a customs declaration form on the airplane before landing. You must read this form carefully and fill it out completely.
It is unlawful to bring some items into the U.S., including certain foods and produce. See the links below for more information.
Visit the CBP website to find the following information:
- What items must be declared when entering the U.S.
- Bringing in Currency/Cash
- Bringing food into the U.S. - restricted items and declarations
Tell Us About Your Travel Experience
In the event you would like to share with OIA your experience traveling to the U.S., with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and more, please send us an email at: international-affairs@uchicago.edu. Please know that by sharing your information, we will not take action based on what you provide. Sharing your experience will help OIA gain a better sense of students' individual entry experiences. If you have travel issues and need assistance, please contact your OIA adviser. All questions are optional, but filling in all of the fields will provide a more complete picture of your travel experience and may help identify patterns.
U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security - Traveler Redress Information Program (TRIP)
The Traveler Redress Information Program (TRIP) is managed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and allows students, scholars, their dependents, or other travelers to the U.S. to submit inquiry and seek resolution to difficulties they experienced at U.S. ports of entry (e.g. O'Hare International Airport, etc.). If you feel you have been incorrectly delayed or questioned and would like to submit an inquiry, please visit the following webpage: https://www.dhs.gov/dhs-trip
General Travel Tips
- Valid documents, including a valid visa, do not guarantee admission to the U.S. Admission is always granted at the discretion of the port of entry officer.
- Always use the most recently issued I-20/DS-2019 form. All previous documents should be kept for record keeping purposes, but are not required for travel.
- Authorization to work in the U.S. does not exempt you from visa requirements.
- The I-94 Record changes each time you enter the U.S. If you have a paper I-94 card, it is to be surrendered each time you leave the U.S. When you re-enter, you will be issued an Electronic I-94 Record (except for trips under Automatic Revalidation or if you are arriving from a land border, which will still generate a paper I-94). Canadian citizens are usually issued just one I-94 record that is valid for multiple entries and departures.
- A travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 form is not required to leave the U.S. (although it may be required to obtain entry to Canada or Mexico as proof of return in the case of a third country national).
- If you have to leave the U.S. suddenly, for example because of an emergency, and don't have a travel signature on your I-20/DS-2019 to return, contact our office as soon as possible via e-mail to international-affairs@uchicago.edu. We can assist you while you are abroad.
- If you will be visiting a third country, ensure that you have the proper entry documents for that country. To locate a consulate in Chicago or elsewhere in the U.S., go to: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/consularnotification/ConsularNotificationandAccess.html
- Under no circumstances should you re-enter the U.S. on a B-1/B-2 visa or under the visa waiver program while you are enrolled here. Enrollment in a course of study and employment are prohibited under those statuses and you would be in violation of that status and would have to leave and re-enter the U.S. again to resume your studies.
- The re-entry requirements refer to those who will be outside the U.S. for a temporary absence (a short break of 5 months of less). They do not apply to students who are returning from an official leave of absence.