New Travel Resource Page from Study in the States
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through its Study in the States website has updated its resources about the steps an F-1 student should take before traveling outside of the United States. Students who travel internationally, for annual vacation or during a school break, should take the appropriate steps before any travel to ensure a smooth reentry into the United States which includes:
Meet with Designated School Official (DSO)
When meeting with the DSO, F-1 students should ensure that their record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is up-to-date and in Active status.
F-1 students should make sure their Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status” is signed by the DSO within the last year, and that travel outside the country is not for more than 5 months. F-1 students should also make sure that they have the school’s most up-to-date contact information, including both a daytime telephone number at the school and a 24-hour emergency phone number.
If the F-1 student has a pending practical training application, it is not recommended that the F-1 student leave the United States. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may send a request for evidence while the F-1 student is travelling.
If USCIS approves the F-1 student’s practical training application, the F-1 student will receive an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), which USCIS will only send to a U.S. address. The F-1 student is expected to have the EAD in hand to re-enter the United States. Visit the Travel page on ICE.gov/SEVP for more information about traveling with pending applications.
What to Bring to U.S. Ports of Entry
When entering the United States, the F-1 student will arrive at a port of entry and meet with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers for primary and sometimes a secondary inspection.
The CBP officer may ask questions about the reason for travel and to inspect important documents like:
Student visa
Form 1-20
Passport
The passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of reentry for certain countries.
Be sure to hand-carry all of these items and do not put them in checked baggage.
Form I-515A
If the F-1 student arrives at a U.S. port of entry without the signed required documents, has not paid the I-901 SEVIS Fee on the current Form I-20 or has a SEVIS status issue, a CBP officer may issue the F-1 student a Form I-515A, “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor.” The Form I-515A admits the F-1 student to the United States for 30 days while the F-1 student obtains and submits the proper documentation to SEVP.