Check your Travel Documents

If you are preparing to the enter the US from abroad to begin or resume study or employment at Tufts, please make sure to check your travel documents and carry physical copies of your most recent immigration documents with you.

If you are an F-1 / J-1 student or J-1 scholar, make sure to download, print and sign the most recent version of the Form I-20 or DS-2019 electronically transmitted to you.
If you are an H-1B employee, you must carry your most recent hard copy of the original I-797 approval notice.

Initial Entry to the US
If you are arriving in the US for the first time, please review our Arrival page for a complete list of documents you need to present at the US Port of Entry. If you are experiencing a visa delay and may not arrive in time for orientation or the start of the semester, please make sure to reach out to your International Center Advisor.

Re-Entry to the US after the Break
If you are returning t0 the US following the break, please review our General Travel Guidance page for a complete list of documents you need to present at the US Port of Entry. Continuing F-1/J-1 students and J-1 scholars must have a valid travel signature on their Form I-20 (page 2) or DS-2019 (page 1). Travel signatures are valid for one year from the issuance date. Students who are on post-completion OPT should get travel signatures every six months while on OPT, and can follow the same online process for requesting an updated I-20 with a new travel signature.

If you forgot to get a travel signature before leaving for the summer, don't panic - you do NOT need to get your I-20 or DS-2019 signed in order to leave the US. Instead, you can request an updated I-20 or DS-2019 through the Travel Signature section of our web site. After we receive your request, we will send you an electronic I-20 or DS-2019 with an updated travel signature.

Visas
Initial and continuing students, scholars, and employees must have a valid student, scholar, or employee visa to enter the US (except Canadian citizens). Do not to enter the US as tourist or ESTA, and avoid using a Global Entry program if this is linked to your ESTA authorization.

Travel Emergency
If you experience difficulties or delays upon entering the US contact the International Center via phone for immediate assistance. Visit our Emergency page for information on how to contact us. Download our Immigration Emergency Card to your smart phone.

Visit our Travel Resources page for more information on entering the US from abroad. If you have any questions about international travel during the summer, please contact internationalcenter@tufts.edu.