International Students

Travel Information

On this page, you will find information related to traveling internationally during and after your program of study.

Current Travel Issues

COVID-19

As of May 23, 2023, all COVID-19 testing and vaccination requirements for travel to the United States have ended.

If you will be transiting through another country on your way to the United States, please make sure you check to see travel requirements for the transit country. The transit country may still require proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test to enter their country.

Travel Requirements

When traveling outside the United States, you will need specific documents in order to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 immigration status. In addition to an unexpired passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the date you will return to the U.S., you will need the following documents:

  • Unexpired I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature
  • Unexpired F-1 or J-1 visa
  • Unexpired EAD card if you are an F-1 student currently authorized for post-completion OPT or STEM Extension

You are also encouraged to travel with copies of your term schedule for the upcoming term, unofficial transcripts showing that you have been enrolling full-time, and proof of financial support (for example, bank statements or proof of scholarships or other financial sponsorship during your studies). If you are on post-completion OPT or STEM Extension, carrying proof of your current employment is advised.

Travel Signatures

You will need a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 in order to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 during your studies or during a period of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Academic Training (AT). You may request a travel signature by completing the Travel Signature Request eform in WorldLink.

Please keep in mind that travel signatures are not issued for a specific trip outside the U.S. and that students do not need to request specific permission for each trip. Our office applies a travel signature to each I-20 or DS-2019 we issue during a student's program of study, and those signatures are valid for travel during their period of validity. Travel signatures have are valid for the following durations:

  • F-1 student, continuing studies: 12 months
  • F-1 student, on OPT or STEM Extension: 6 months
  • J-1 student, continuing studies or on Academic training: 12 months

On Form I-20, the Travel Signature can be found on page 2, in the Travel Endorsement section. On Form DS-2019, the Travel Signature can be found in the Travel Validation by Responsible Officer section in the lower right corner of the form. I-20 documents may be digitally or electronically signed by a DSO and sent to you by email. DS-2019 documents may be digitally signed by an A/RO and sent to you by email. Once received, you must print and sign the I-20 or DS-2019 in order to travel with it. 

Travel with an Expired Visa

While you typically need an unexpired visa in order to re-enter the U.S., there is an exception if you or your dependents are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands (excluding Cuba) that allows you to enter the U.S. with an expired visa under a program called “Automatic Visa Revalidation”. In order to enter the U.S. using Automatic Visa Revalidation, you must meet all of the following requirements:

  • Your trip is shorter than 30 days, including your departure and return dates
  • You do not travel to any other territories aside from Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands (excluding Cuba)
  • You were maintaining valid F or J nonimmigrant status prior to your departure
  • You will resume the same F or J nonimmigrant status upon returning to the U.S.
  • You do not apply for a new F or J visa during your travel outside the U.S.

If you meet all of the above requirements, you will be considered to have a valid visa on the date of your return to the U.S. (the visa is re-validated for that date automatically). Automatic visa revalidation applies to nonimmigrants in F or J status, except for nationals of the following countries: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria.

For more information on returning to the United States using Automatic Visa Revalidation, you can review resources published by the Department of State and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

To find out if you need a visa to visit Canada, please visit the website for Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

To find out if you need a visa to visit Mexico, please visit the Visas page of the website for the Consulate General of Mexico in Portland.

Travel During the Term

If you need to travel in the middle of the term, you should keep in mind that you are required to primarily in in-person or hybrid coursework, and should therefore be physically present in the U.S. during the term while classes are in session.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may refuse entry and you may be sent home if they deem that you are not maintaining status. To resume your studies in the U.S. after being denied entry, you would need a new Initial I-20 and this would reset any off-campus employment or practical training (CPT/OPT) eligibility you had gained. ISSS cannot assess the risk of such a denial, but we wish you to be aware of this risk when making travel plans.

If you have an emergency that requires you to travel in the middle of the term, you should consult with your instructors and confirm that your travel will not have a negative impact on your coursework. We strongly recommend that you obtain written approval from your instructors that travel is okay and that you are meeting the in-person requirement for your enrollment for the term.

In addition to the travel documents outlined above, you should carry this written approval when traveling.

Know Before You Go

We want you to have a safe and worry-free trip! Here are some tips for international students traveling outside the U.S. during their studies.

  • Don’t Pack a Pest While packing for a trip, it is important to know what foods and medicines, as well as plant and animal items, are not allowed in the United States.
  • Can Border Agents Search Your Electronic Devices? It's Complicated (American Civil Liberties Union) The ACLU offers information on travelers' rights.
  • Digital Privacy at the U.S. Border (Electronic Frontiers Foundation) Although this information is somewhat specific to travel to the U.S., many countries authorize their immigration and customs agencies to conduct searches of electronic devices at their borders, often with limited oversight and a broad scope of authority. Maintaining your digital privacy can smooth not just your travel, but also reduce the impact of loss or damage to your devices during travel. EFF's pocket guides may be helpful tools to review prior to and after travel to the U.S.
  • Article about passengers' rights on domestic flights. (The Atlantic)  While the article says you may not be required to show ID when deboarding a domestic flight, we advise international students to cooperate with law enforcement in all situations.
  • If a non-citizen admits to an immigration official that he or she has ever used marijuana, the person can face very serious immigration problems. Read this important WARNING FOR IMMIGRANTS ON LEGALIZED/MEDICAL MARIJUANA (PDF).