International Travel Information

• Always contact ISS before you travel outside of the US! We need to check your documents and advise on any necessary precautions to take when re-entering the US.
• When traveling outside of the US for fewer than 5 months, you will need the following documents to re-enter the US:
  • Passport valid for 6 months beyond your date of re-entry
  • Valid entry visa
  • Current I-20 or DS-2019 with valid travel signature
  • Financial information showing proof of funds to cover tuition and living expenses
• If you need to request a travel signature, please click below to make your request:

Request a Travel Signature

Whenever you leave the U.S. for a temporary trip, the Office of International Student Services (ISS) takes great care to be sure that you have all of the documents and signatures you need to return. We will check to see if you will need to apply for a new visa before you return, and if there are any reasons why you might have difficulty in obtaining one.

When submitting your request for a travel signature, please answer the questions carefully. It is very important to us that you have a good trip and that you have no difficulties when you return. When you return to the U.S. you are required to provide ISS with a copy of your new visa stamp if you obtained a new visa during your trip.

If you need to request a travel signature, please click below to make your request:

Request a Travel Signature

Once your request is approved, you will be issued a new I-20 with a travel endorsement from an international advisor on page 2.

• If you are currently enrolled in a program of study, the travel signature will be valid for 1 year.
• If you are on Post-Completion OPT or the STEM OPT Extension, the travel signature will be valid for 6 months.

If your I-20 has already been signed for travel but you are not sure if it will be valid when you plan to return to the US, please contact our office at iss@marshall.edu for assistance.

If you plan to travel to Mexico or Canada, we advise that you research whether you need to apply for a visa for entry into those countries.

• For information about Mexico’s entry requirements, please see Visit Mexico.
• For information about Canada’s entry requirements, please see Visit Canada.

Automatic Visa Revalidation: In most cases, students can revalidate an expired visa automatically when returning from a visit to Canada, Mexico, or one of the islands adjacent to the US, provided the visit is less than 30 days and you have a valid I-20 and unexpired I-94. To find out which islands are defined as “adjacent islands,” please visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Travel website.

For additional information, please see automatic revalidation on the U.S. Department of State website.

Traveling outside of the US is not recommended while your OPT application is PENDING with USCIS. Travel may result in USCIS deeming the application abandoned.

After OPT is approved, you must be prepared to show the following at the port of entry upon your return to the US:

• EAD card and Approval Notice
• Employment offer letter
• I-20 with valid travel signature (only valid 6 months)
• Valid US visa entry stamp
• Valid passport

The linked OPT Travel Chart outlines the risk involved with traveling during various stages of OPT approval.

The following is a list of best practices for all non-immigrant visa holders who conduct travel outside of the United States. This list is non-exhaustive, and does not replace normal pre-trip planning considerations:

1. Marshall University’s Office of International Student Services recommends checking the Travel Advisories for your intended destination on the Travel.State.Gov website and on the interactive, color-coded map.
2. Contact the Office of International Student Servicesto stay informed of changes in immigration laws and policies, updated travel instructions, and additional travel guidance from Marshall University. Please ceck this website frequently for additional resources and updates on international travel.
3. We advise making copies of all important immigration documents, such as your passport, visa, most recent I-94, and financial information. Bring one copy with you on your travels and keep one copy in a safe place back in the US.
4. If you are on OPT, you should also bring your EAD card, Approval Notice, and employment offer letters.
5. Make sure that you have the contact information for a friend in the US and an international advisor at Marshall University in the event you are detained.
6. Know Your Rights if stopped by law enforcement officials for any reason.

If Your Visa Will Expire Prior to Your Return to the US

Unless you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or other contiguous territories for less than 30 days, you will need to get a new visa stamp to re-enter the U.S. You will need to stop at the American Embassy/ Consulate nearest to where you are going. You will need to bring the following items with you:

1. Current Form I-20 or DS-2019 endorsed for travel and all I-20’s or DS-2019’s you have ever been issued
2. Valid passport (unless passport exempt)
3. Proof of financial support as listed on the form I-20 or DS-2019
4. Evidence of intent to return home following completion of study (such as employment letters, property ownership, immediate family, etc.)
5. Copy of your Marshall University admissions letter and any transcripts you may have
6. Students on Optional Practical Training should bring their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and proof of employment

Visa processing times and procedures do vary by country. For example, some Embassies/ Consulates may want to see a recent transcript, and others won’t. Some Embassies/ Consulates require a personal interview, and others don’t. It is therefore recommended that you have a friend or relative call the U.S. Embassy/ Consulate in your home country to find out processing times and procedures. Or you may want to call the visa processing office at the Department of State at 202-663-1522 for more information or visit their website. Upon your return you are required to report to the Office of International Student Services immediately with your new visa. We have to maintain a copy of it in your student file.

If Your Passport is Expired or Will Expire in Less Than 6 Months from the Date of Re-entry to the US

You must renew your passport before re-entering the United States. In most cases, to enter the United States, you must have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the date you enter or re-enter. However, certain countries have an agreement with the United States that allows you to enter on a current passport up to the actual date of expiration. For a list of those countries, please visit the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement website and expand the question titled “What if I have an expired passport or one that will expire in less than six months?”

A US visa is a document that is used for entry into the United States. You can only apply for or renew your visa at a US Embassy or Consulate outside of the United States. A directory of US Embassies and Consulates can be found here. The US visa is placed on a page in your passport and verifies that a consular officer deemed you eligible to apply for admission to the US in a particular classification, such as F-1 student, J-1 student, etc.

At the US Port of Entry, a Customs and Border Protection officer will make the final decision on whether you are eligible to enter the US and determines your length of stay.

Important Information about Your Visa

1. Take note of your visa expiration date. If your visa expires while you are in the US, do not worry. You can stay in the US with an expired visa as long as you are maintaining your student status. If you are planning to travel outside of the US, you will need to have your visa renewed before you return.
2. Your F-1 visa entry stamp is issued when you arrive at the Port of Entry. It should have F-1 or J-1 as the class and “D/S” as the expiration. D/S means that you have been granted Duration of Status, which means that you can remain in the US as long as you are maintaining F-1 status.
3. If you lose your passport, your visa cannot be replaced in your new US passport. You will have to apply for a new visa at a US Embassy or Consulate abroad.
4. You may have more than 1 visa in your passport, but you can only inter the US in one status. The visa which is used to grant admission to the US becomes the status you will hold. For example, if you have a valid B-2 visa and a valid F-1 visa in your passport and you are admitted to the US with the F-1 visa, you will be in F-1 status in the US. Your admission status can also be viewed on your I-94.

If you would like to invite your friends or family to visit the US, they may apply for a B-2 visitor visa if they do not already have one. Many students request an Invitation Letter from our office for friends or family to take to their visa appointments.

Please note: the Invitation Letter does not guarantee issuance of a B-2 visitor visa.

You may submit a request for an Invitation Letter at the link below.

Request Invitation Letter

International students may travel freely within the US. You do not need a travel signature on your I-20.

It is a good idea to keep your important documents with you or in a safe place at all times, but you should not need to present your visa or I-20 while traveling within the US.