Travel

It is important that you carry the following documents with you if you plan to return to the United States in F-1 or J-1 student status after a temporary absence abroad:

Required Documents

• Unexpired passport that will be valid at least six months into the future on the day you return to the United States
• Unexpired F-1 or J-1 visa
• Unexpired Form I-20 or DS-2019 with a travel signature from an ISSO adviser dated within the past year. Visit the Travel Signature section of this site for more instructions.

Recommended Documents

• Evidence of current enrollment at Clark University, such as an Enrollment Verification Letter or Transcript
• Evidence of financial ability to cover estimated costs, such as a bank statement, certificate of deposit, or recent scholarship letter
• J-1 students on post-completion academic training: proof of employment

Extended Leaves

Please notify the ISSO if you plan to travel outside of the U.S. for any of these reasons:

• A leave of absence
• A study abroad experience
• Termination or withdrawal from the University

These situations may impact your F-1 status and your ability to return to the United States as a student. Speak with an ISSO adviser if you are planning an extended time away from the University. You do not need to notify the ISSO if you travel during regularly scheduled school breaks.

Required Documents

If you are an F-1 student who has completed their studies at Clark University and are on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT Extension, you need to have the following documents with you to return to the United States after a short, temporary absence abroad:

• Unexpired passport that will be valid at least six months into the future on the day you return to the United States
• Unexpired F-1 visa
• Unexpired I-20 (for F-1 students) with a travel signature from an ISSO adviser from the past six months)
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card
• Proof of Employment

Note: The ISSO does not recommend that you travel outside of the United States while your application for Post-Completion OPT or STEM OPT is pending with USCIS. For more information please see SEVP’s Travel Frequently Asked Questions.

Contact the ISSO if you have questions about travel.

• When you return to the U.S., you will go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) where a CBP officer will review your I-20 or DS-2019, F-1 or J-1 visa, and your passport. Do NOT use another visa to enter the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 student. If you enter the U.S. under another visa, you may become ineligible to continue studying.
• Be sure to check your I-94 admission record  AFTER you go through Customs and Border Protection to verify that all the information is correct: visa type, name, and “admit until date.” Your “admit until date” should indicate duration of status, or “D/S.”
• If you experience any issues when you re-enter the United States, you can contact University Police, and the dispatcher will get in touch with an adviser from the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) to assist you.
• Clark University Police Emergency Number: 1-508-793-7575
• The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) has a resource on what to do if you have issues with CBP when arriving in the United States.

On August 27, 2024, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) issued a Policy Alert announcing a new interpretation of the Five-Month Temporary Absence Rule for F-1 students.  Federal regulations state that students in F-1 status maintain nonimmigrant status if they return to the U.S. after a temporary absence of five months or less [8 CFR 214.2(f)(4)]. The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) has allowed an exception to the 5-month rule for F-1 students enrolled in an authorized study abroad program.

The new USCIS alert has created confusion as it conflicts with the SEVP’s long-standing agency exception guidance. Professional international education organizations and institutions of higher education are actively engaged to seek clarification in support of F-1 students enrolled in approved academic activities abroad and we are closely monitoring this federal development. The International Student and Scholars Office and Office of Study Abroad will provide additional updates to the Clark community as available. In the interim, if you are a Clark student who has been outside of the U.S. for more than five months due to an approved Academic Activity, please contact the ISSO isso@clarku.edu to request a letter of support for re-entry into the U.S. as a proactive measure.

Required Documents

Make sure you bring the required documents if you are returning to the U.S. as a J-1 exchange visitor (visiting scholars, professors, and researchers):

• Unexpired passport valid at least six months into the future on the date of your return to the U.S.
• Unexpired J-1 entry visa issued by a U.S. consulate (Canadian citizens do not typically need entry visas to enter the U.S.)
• Unexpired Form DS-2019 with a travel signature from an ISSO adviser not more than one year old. Visit the ISSO Portal to request a travel signature.

Recommended Documents

• Evidence of the purpose of your J-1 activity at Clark, such as your appointment or invitation letter, a brief letter from your department or supervisor confirming your current role at Clark, or copies of paychecks (for J-1 exchange visitors employed by Clark)

Contact the ISSO regarding extended travel plans or changes to your J-1 program.

Given the complex nature of immigration regulations and travel, it is important to discuss with the ISSO if you any of the following situations apply to you:

• You are planning an extended absence  from the U.S. (example sabbatical, leave from the University)
• You will need to renew your visa while abroad
• You plan to complete your J-1 program more than 15 days before the program end date on your DS-2019

Plan your travel carefully if you hold non-immigrant status such as  H-1B, TN, O-1, or E-3 as the regulations are complex and change frequently. In general, you will need the following documents to re-enter the U.S. after an international trip:

Required Documents

• Unexpired passport that will be valid at least six months into the future on the date of your return to the U.S.
• Unexpired entry visa issued by a U.S. consulate (*note: Canadian citizens do not typically need entry visas to enter the U.S.)
• Copy of USCIS Form I-797 approval notice indicating approval of your non-immigrant status
• Proof of ongoing employment at Clark, such as a letter from your department manager or supervisor and/or copies of your recent paystubs from Clark

We recommend consulting with the ISSO before making any travel plans.

If you have a Clark-sponsored visa, submit your request for a travel signature (I-20 or DS-2019) through the ISSO Portal here.

• F-1 students: Select I-20 Reprint Request and choose “travel” as the reprint reason
• J-1 exchange visitors: Select DS-2019 Reprint Request

Please note that, F-1 I-20 holders and J-1 DS-2019 holders  are permitted to travel with an I-20 or DS-2019 that has been electronically signed.

• If you are an F-1 or J-1 student and you requested a travel signature on your Form I-20 or DS-2019, you will receive an email notifying you when your travel document is ready  to download from the ISSO Portal. Please make sure to download, print, sign, and keep a copy of this newest reprint for your records.

If you are traveling outside of your immediate residential area, the ISSO suggests that you carry the following documents with you:

• Valid, unexpired passport
• Valid, unexpired Form I-20 (F-1 students) or Form DS-2019 (J-1 exchange visitors)
• A printout of your most recent I-94
• Other evidence of your immigration status and activity at Clark, such as an appointment letter or Enrollment Verification Letter

Note: Domestic travel includes travel to Puerto Rico and Guam.

If you are traveling to any other country, it is important for you to determine whether you need a visa to enter that country. Visit that country’s embassy website for information.

You may be allowed to exit and return to the United States with an expired visa if you travel to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. To meet the qualifications for “automatic revalidation,” your travel must meet the following requirements:

• You are traveling directly to and from Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent Islands.
• Your trip is 30 days or less.
• You have a non-immigrant U.S. visa (even if expired).
• You hold a valid I-94 that indicates your current non-immigrant status.
• The purpose of your travel was NOT to apply for a new F-1, J-1, or H1-B visa at a United States consulate in one of those locations.

To return to the U.S., you must also have a valid I-20 or DS-2019 with travel signature, or an I-797 approval notice showing you have been approved for H1-B status. It is recommended that you consult with the ISSO before attempting to re-enter the U.S. with an expired visa from Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean.

• Visas are only issued at U.S. consulates or embassies outside of the United States. You need a visa if you are outside of the U.S. and intend to enter or re-enter the U.S. to start or continue your employment or studies at Clark. You CANNOT apply for a visa from within the United States.
• Each U.S. consulate or embassy has its own processes and procedures. Check with the U.S. consulate or embassy near where you will apply to learn more from them. Usually, you will need to apply for a new visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy in your country of citizenship or permanent residence. Questions about how to apply for a visa should be directed to the consulate or embassy where you are applying for your non-immigrant visa.

• Please visit Clark’s resource on “Applying for a Visa.”
• Helpful information about the process and rules for studying in the United States as an international student can be found on Study in the States.

No, you do not need to leave the U.S. F-1 and J-1 students are admitted to the United States for Duration of Status. This means that you can remain in the United States as long as you have a valid Form I-20 or DS-2019 and are maintaining your nonimmigrant status.

As long as the expiration date on your visa has not passed and your visa has not been canceled, you may use it to enter the United States. Keep in mind that you must enter the U.S. using a visa consistent with your purpose for entering the U.S. For example, if you have an F-1 student visa and you want to use your F-1 visa to enter the U.S. to continue your studies or OPT experience, you can use your visa.