All students and scholars entering and departing from the U.S. by air have their travel history reported on an electronic I-94.
Students and scholars should check their I-94 EVERY TIME they return to the U.S. to ensure they entered in the correct status as mistakes are occasionally made.
Check your I-94 here.
If you cannot find your I-94 or there is an error on your I-94, please contact IPE as soon as possible. Having an incorrect I-94 will cause issues when you apply for a Social Security Number, Driver's License, or OPT.
An F-1 student who has an unexpired EAD issued for Post-Completion OPT and who is otherwise admissible may return to the U.S. to resume employment after a temporary absence. The EAD must be used in combination with an I-20 endorsed for re-entry by IPE (OPT travel signatures are only valid for 6 months).
- It is not recommended that you depart the U.S. if you have a Cap-Gap I-20 (expired EAD) as you are at risk of denial at the port-of-entry into the U.S.
- If you are outside the U.S. and you do not have a job offer at the time of re-entry, it is possible you will not be permitted to re-enter. We strongly recommend that you DO NOT travel without a valid job offer.
- Re-entering the U.S. using a tourist visa (B-1/B-2 or the "visa waiver program") will forfeit your F-1 status, and automatically cancel your permission to work in the U.S.!
| It is NOT ADVISABLE TO LEAVE THE U.S. with a planned re-entry date that is after your I-20 end date if you have not yet received your EAD. If you depart the U.S. without the EAD, and your pending OPT application is denied within the 60 day grace period, you will NOT be permitted to re-enter in F-1 status any more, and you will forfeit your ability to re-apply for OPT! |
Valid Passport
You must have a passport that is valid for at least 6 months into the future unless your home country has a passport agreement with the U.S. To see a list of countries that have this agreement (as of Nov. 1, 2006) please click here.
If your valid visa stamp is in your expired passport, you will use both your old expired passport and new passport to re-enter the U.S.
Valid Visa
A valid visa in your passport is also required for re-entry (except for certain circumstances). If your visa has expired, you will need to go to a U.S. consulate or embassy ideally in your home country to apply for the new visa stamp. You may not renew your visa within the U.S.
If your valid visa is in your expired passport, you will use both your old expired passport and new passport to re-enter the U.S.
NOTE: If your visa expires while you are still in the U.S., this is OK! You can remain in the U.S. on an expired visa as long as you maintain your status. Once you leave the country, you will need a valid visa to return.
A Valid I-20 (F students) or DS-2019 (J students and scholars) with a valid travel signature
A valid travel signature on the I-20 or DS-2019 is required for re-entry for F or J students and scholars.
For a visit of less than 30 days to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean (except Cuba), you are allowed to re-enter the U.S. with an expired visa. This process is known as “Automatic Visa Revalidation.” Inform IPE if you plan to use Automatic Visa Revalidation to ensure your paperwork is correct. You will need your:
- Passport
- Visa
- Signed I-20 or DS-2019
Please note if you apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa in Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean and are denied, you will not be able to return to the U.S. using Automatic Revalidation.
***Note: Check with the specific country's embassy website to see if you are required to have a tourist visa in order to visit the country you are visiting***
Nationals of Cuba, Iran, Sudan, and Syria are not eligible for automatic revalidation of an expired visa.
