Required and Recommended Documents
Carry the following required documents if you are returning to the US in F-1 or J-1 student status following a temporary absence. You must have these documents
Note: F-1 students may receive updated I-20s from the International Center electronically as PDF documents. However, students should still print out a copy of the PDF to show when entering the US. J-1 students are required to receive a paper (non-electronic) version of Form DS-2019 and carry the original paper form with them when traveling.
Obtaining a Travel Signature from the International Center
If your I-20 (or DS-2019) needs an updated travel signature, please go to our Travel Signature page to submit an online request for a travel signature.
Notify the International Center
When making travel plans, be sure to notify the International Center if your plans include time outside of the United States for any of these reasons:
These situations can have a significant impact on your F-1 status and your ability to return to the US as an F-1 student. Talk to an advisor if any of these or similar situations apply to you.
Customs and Border Protection Inspection
When you return to the US, you will undergo inspection by a US Customs and Border Protection officer, who will review your passport, F-1 / J-1 visa, and I-20 / DS-2019. Do not use any other visa if you are returning as an F-1 / J-1 student, since entering under another visa may render you ineligible to continue studying.
After you have arrived, check your I-94 admission record to make sure all information is correct, including your visa type and 'admit until' date (which should always indicate duration of status, or "D/S")
Read this information sheet from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) about what to do if you have problems with Customs and Border Protection upon arriving in the US.
Required Documents
F-1 students who have completed their studies and have applied or are approved for post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or the 24-month STEM extension of OPT must have the following documents to return to the US following a temporary absence:
Recommended Documents
Students Being Sponsored by H-1B Employers
Contact the International Center if you are on OPT and do not have valid employment, or if your passport or visa will expire in the near future. You must also contact the International Center if you plan to discontinue your OPT or STEM Extension.
Carry the following required documents if you are returning to the US as a J-1 exchange visitor (visiting scholars, professors, and researchers). You must have these documents
Contact the International Center if your travel will require an extended departure from the US or a visa renewal while you are overseas, or if you have completed your J-1 program ahead of schedule and are leaving more than 15 days prior to the expiration of your Form DS-2019.
International employees currently at Tufts in a non-immigrant status such as H-1B, TN, O-1, or E-3 status should plan travel carefully. In general, documents required to return to the US following a short trip abroad will include:
Employees should check their I-94 admission record immediately after returning to the US, to ensure that the information on the form are correct. In particular, check the Class of Admission, which should correspond with the appropriate visa type (H-1B, etc.) and the "Admit Until" date, which should reflect the I-797 or employment expiration date (some I-94s may also include an additional ten day grace period). If any information on the I-94 admission record appears incorrect, contact the International Center immediately.
Contact the International Center if you expect to be outside of the US for an extended period of time beyond a standard business vacation or holiday period, or if you intend to discontinue your employment with Tufts.
Domestic travel within the US's 50 states and its territories (including Puerto Rico and Guam) does not require you to have a valid visa or other international travel documents. However, if you are traveling outside your immediate residential area, you should carry your original travel documents for identification purposes, which may be needed for boarding your flight or embarking on a train ride. These may include:
Travel near the US Border with Canada and Mexico: The US Border Patrol periodically conducts checkpoints within 100 miles of the US border with Canada and Mexico. These checkpoints may take place on highways or on buses traveling near the border. If you are traveling within these zones, carry your original travel documents as listed above. View this web site for more information about border zone checks.
When returning to the US following an overseas trip, you must generally have a valid visa (F-1, J-1, H-1B, etc.) along with other supporting documents in order to re-enter the US. However, you may be able to return to the US following short-term travel to Canada, and Mexico and certain adjacent islands of the Caribbean on the basis of an expired US non-immigrant visa, under US rules concerning the "automatic revalidation of visa validity." To qualify for automatic revalidation of an expired visa, your travel meets the following requirements:
If you are planning a trip to Canada, Mexico or any of the Caribbean islands, you should also check visa requirements for those countries. In particular, Canada maintains its own visa and immigration requirements and imposes strict limitations on who may enter Canada without a visa. The International Center is unable to advise on how to apply for a Canadian visa, but you can research Canadian visa requirements and application procedures by clicking on the link. For travel to Mexico, citizens of many countries may be exempt from Mexican visa requirements if trips are short-term and you have documents valid for re-entry to the US. Check Mexican visa requirements here.
Travel to Cuba raises special considerations and precautions. While travel to Cuba is not prohibited, take into account these factors: