Travel & Visas

• Students: Submit a Travel Outside the U.S. request in the ISSS Portal 
• J-1 Scholars & Interns: Email the Report Travel Form to our Scholars & Interns (J-1) team.
  • If you will continue working while outside the U.S., make sure you verify that is okay with your host department and export control office.
  • J-1 Research Scholars or Professors only: If you plan to travel outside the U.S. for more than 30 days, you must include the address where you will spend most of your time outside the U.S. on your Report Travel Form. We will need to add an Out of Country marker to your J-1 SEVIS record so it stays active.

F-1 Students

Travel signatures are valid for one year unless you are on OPT or STEM OPT. If you are on OPT or STEM OPT then your travel signature is valid for 6 months.

J-1 Students, Interns, & Research Scholar

Travel signatures are valid for one year or until your DS-2019 program end date, whichever is shorter.

J-1 Short-Term Scholar

Travel signatures are valid for 6 months or until your DS-2019 program end date, whichever is shorter.

You will also need the following for re-entry to the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1: 

• Active F-1 or J-1 status 
  • J-1s are required to continue to maintain health insurance coverage for themselves and any J-2 dependents while outside the U.S. 
  • See our Health Insurance page for additional information about health insurance requirements.
• Your I-20 or DS-2019 (with travel signature) that contains your up-to-date program information 
• A valid and unexpired visa
  • If your visa was for single entry (marked with an S or 1), you will need to apply for a new visa before returning to the U.S.
  • Citizens of Canada and Bermuda may not need a visa - Read more here
  • **You may be able to re-enter the U.S. on an expired visa if your trip is eligible for automatic revalidation. Please review the rules of automatic revalidation and/or consult an immigration attorney before traveling using this method. ISSS also recommends you print out and carry a copy of the automatic revalidation rules with you in case you need it at the port of entry. 
• Your most recent passport and it must be valid for at least six months beyond the date you intend to re-enter the US.
  • For further information on passport renewal and how to update ISSS of your new passport, click here.

• Bring your EAD card with you. The card should not expire before you return.
• We also recommend you bring a letter of employment or a copy of your job offer letter – if you are currently unemployed, you are still allowed to re-enter and continue your OPT/STEM OPT.

If you have a pending application with USCIS, you should consider international travel with caution. There is always a chance that you will receive a Request for Further Evidence (RFE) when you are away, so it is important to maintain a valid U.S. address both with ISSS and on your application. During this time, USCIS can sometimes view leaving the U.S. as abandoning your application, so it is important to consider the risks of travelling internationally while your application is still pending.  

You are still permitted to travel within the U.S. during this time. 

Pending Optional Practical Training (OPT)

• If your OPT is approved while outside the U.S., you must have your EAD card upon re-entry. Remember, USCIS will only send your EAD card to a valid U.S. address. 
• If your OPT is approved before your departure, but you have not procured a job yet, you cannot reenter the United States and your OPT will end.  
  • If you have a job, you may travel and reenter the U.S. 
  • Tip: it is always good to bring your job offer letter with you during international travel on OPT. 
• Reentry to the U.S. in any other status than F-1 will invalidate your OPT work authorization. This also applies to any F-2 dependents.

Pending STEM OPT

• You may travel outside the United States if your current 12-month OPT EAD card is valid and will remain valid until you plan to re-enter the U.S. 
• If your 12-month OPT EAD card has already expired and your application for STEM OPT is still pending with USCIS, we do not recommend leaving the United States.   
• Once your STEM OPT has been approved, if you need to travel internationally you should take both EAD cards, your I-20 signed for travel within the last 6 months, employer letter, and a valid passport with unexpired F-1 visa to show at the Port of Entry upon your re-entry to the U.S.  

Export Control & University Requirements 

If you plan to bring A&M devices and/or access A&M systems overseas, you may be subject to inspection at Port of Entry. Before departing from the U.S., ISSS strongly recommends you review the Export Control Guidance Regarding International Travel as well as the GA-48 Information and FAQs with your supervisor and/or your business office. If you plan to remain employed while outside the U.S., you, along with your supervisor and/or business office, will need to review the process for an International Alternate Work Location and system procedure 33.06.01.M0.03.pdf. 

Resources:

• J-1 Scholar and Student Intern Remote Work
• J-1 Academic Training Remote Work
• F-1 Employment

• watch list issues
• screening problems at ports of entry
• situations where travelers believe they have been unfairly or incorrectly delayed, denied boarding or identified for additional screening at U.S. transportation hubs

• Class of Admission: F-1 or J-1
• Admit Until Date: D/S

• You can submit an online request to CBP to correct an I-94
• If you cannot resolve this online, then you’ll need to contact CBP's Deferred Inspections Office, which is a unit within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
• The local Deferred Inspection office for Bryan/College Station is in Houston:
  • Houston Deferred Inspection Location
    • Address: 19581 Lee Road, Humble, TX 77338
    • Phone: 281-443-4350 extension 221 OR 281-230-4600 extension 1
    • Fax: 281-443-0241

Late Arrival  

• ISSS Deadline: For all F-1/J-1 international students, the latest date to arrive in the U.S., enroll full-time, and complete the mandatory ISSS check-in through the ISSS Portal is the Census Date on the academic calendar. For Spring 2026, that is January 28, 2026   
• Be aware there are multiple deadlines and you must meet ALL deadlines!  
  • Check with your academic department for:
    • Last day to arrive in the U.S. and begin in-person enrollment  
    • Last day to register (without a late fee)  
    • Last day to add/change/drop courses 
  • Check with Student Business Services for tuition fee payment due dates.
  • Check with your employer if you have a graduate assistantship or other student employment:   
    • Last day for you to arrive and complete employee onboarding  
    • Last day for you to qualify for non-resident tuition waiver  
    • Last day for you to enroll in any employee benefits, such as health insurance 

• Not be able to maintain F-1/J-1 status  
• Not be able to add/change/drop courses  
• Be responsible for certain fees, (e.g., late fees)  
• Not be able to keep your student employment and/or qualify for a non-resident tuition waiver  

• You have approval from your academic department to arrive late.  
• You have sufficient financial resources other than a graduate assistantship to support your study at Texas A&M University.  
• Submit a General ISSS Request in the ISSS Portal and say that you need an I-20/DS-2019 with a new program start date within the same admission term because you will arrive late. ISSS will use the ISSS Deadline mentioned above as your new program start date.  

Deferred Admission 

Late Arrival 

• Typically, you will not need an updated I-20/DS-2019 for re-entry to the U.S. after the semester begins as long as you have a valid travel signature.   
• You need to notify your department if you will arrive after the first day of classes.    

 Stuck Abroad

• If you have traveled outside the U.S. and will be unable to return to the U.S. to resume studies, you must consult with your academic department to determine your academic options for taking a leave of absence or continuing your enrollment.  
• You may not be able to keep your student employment. Consult with your department and/or HR representative to see what options you have.   
• After discussing with your academic department, you must consult with ISSS to determine your options for taking a leave of absence from your F-1/J-1 status or continuing to maintain your status while you are abroad.  
• Visit Enrolling from Outside the U.S. for additional information.  

Notify your host department and ISSS if you are going to arrive after the scheduled program start date. Work with your host department to adjust your J-1 program dates. 

Once new program dates are finalized, your host department must submit an updated job or invitation letter to j1scholars@tamu.edu so ISSS can amend the program dates on your DS-2019. 

Distance to Bryan/College Station: The distance from George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) to Bryan/College Station is approximately 100 miles.

• Ground Shuttle: Offering daily shuttle service between Houston IAH Airport and the Bryan/College Station Ground Shuttle Office, with shuttles arriving at IAH every 1.5 hours from 7:30 AM to 7:30 PM. Additional transportation arrangements are required from the Ground Shuttle Office to your final destination. For an extra fee, drop-offs at other addresses in Bryan/College Station are available. While reservations are preferred, walk-up bookings are accepted for an additional $7.00 USD fee if space allows. 
• Greyhound Bus: Offers daily bus service from Houston to College Station. To reach the Greyhound bus station at 7000 Harrisburg Blvd in Downtown Houston from IAH, you can take a Houston Public Bus (Bus 102 – Downtown), taxi, Uber, or other transportation such as shuttle wizard, hitch, etc. The bus ride takes about one hour, while a taxi or Uber takes approximately 35 minutes. From the Greyhound bus station, you can take a bus to Bryan/College Station, with a typical departure time of 5:45 AM daily. Upon arrival in Bryan/College Station, you will need to arrange a taxi or Uber to reach your final destination.

• Galveston Limousine:  This service exclusively offers transportation to Texas A&M University at Galveston (TAMUG).

Distance to Bryan/College Station: The distance from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport to Bryan/College Station, Texas is approximately 103 miles.

Greyhound Bus: Offers daily bus service from Austin to College Station. To reach the Austin Eastside Bus Plaza at 363 Shady Lane from Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, you will need to take a public bus (CapMetro - Bus 1518), taxi, Uber, or other transportation such as shuttle wizard, hitch, etc.

It takes approximately 20 minutes on the CapMetro line, or approximately 10 minutes by taxi or Uber to get from Austin Airport to the Austin Eastside Bus Plaza. You would then take a Greyhound Bus from Austin to Bryan/College Station bus station, then taxi or Uber to your final destination. There is typically only one bus each day leaving at 1:55 pm.   

Distance to Bryan/College Station: The distance from DFW International Airport to Bryan/College Station is approximately 200 miles.

American Airlines has 3 daily flights from DFW international Airport to Easterwood Airport in College Station (CLL Airport code).

Greyhound Bus: Offers daily bus service from Dallas to College Station. To reach the Greyhound bus station at 205 S Lamar Street in downtown Dallas from DFW International Airport, you can take the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) train on the Orange Line to Parker Road, or opt for a taxi, Uber, or other transportation such as shuttle wizard, hitch, etc. Once at the bus station, you'll find convenient services ready to take you directly to College Station. 

Starting Your Journey

To start your journey from DFW International Airport to the downtown Dallas Greyhound bus station, you can take the DART train on the Orange Line, which takes about one hour, or a taxi or Uber, which takes approximately 35 minutes. You might choose other transportation such as shuttle wizard, hitch, etc.

Once at the Dallas Greyhound bus station, you'll board a Greyhound bus to Bryan/College Station. There are two daily departures: one at 12:01 AM, taking about 8 hours, and a faster option at 1:15 PM, taking only 4.5 hours. Upon arrival at the Bryan/College Station bus station, you can take a taxi or Uber to reach your final destination.

Distance to Bryan/College Station: The distance from San Antonio International Airport to Bryan/College Station is approximately 175 miles. 

Greyhound Bus: Greyhound Bus lines provides daily bus transport from San Antonio to College Station. You would need to take a public bus (VIA Metro – Route 7), taxi, Uber or other transportation such as shuttle wizard, hitch from the San Antonio International Airport to the San Antonio Bus Station located at 500 N St Mary's St, San Antonio, TX. 
It takes approximately 30 minutes on the VIA Metro line, or approximately 15 minutes by taxi or Uber to get from from the San Antonio International Airport to the San Antonio Bus Station. 
You would then take a Greyhound Bus from San Antonio Bus Station to Bryan/College Station bus station, then taxi or Uber to your final destination. There are two buses daily, one leaving at 1:05 in the morning and the other leaving at 12:10 in the afternoon. 

Public Bus System - The Brazos Transit District (BTD) is the public bus service in Bryan/College Station. It is a fixed route system, but it does not have fixed stops. TAMU students can ride the BTD buses with their TAMU ID for no additional costs. If you have dependents with you, they can purchase a yearly bus pass from BTD for $35.00 USD. This bus pass will allow them to use both BTD and TAMU buses.  

The Texas A&M Bus System offers convenient transit service approximately every 8-10 minutes during class sessions, providing transportation to campus from numerous off-campus apartment complexes. Additionally, several routes pass by a variety of grocery stores and department stores, making it easy for students to access essential shopping destinations.

Cycling in College Station

Cycling is a popular and eco-friendly way to get around College Station. The city offers several bike lanes and trails for safe and convenient travel. You can rent scooters for short-term periods (2-days, 1-week, or any other available period). They can also provide you with insurance and helmets.Please refer the following list of options:

• Aggieland Scoots
• Veo Ride 

Get I-20 or DS-2019 from ISSS

• New F-1/J-1 Student: Start I-20/DS-2019 Application
• New J-1 Scholar or Intern: Start DS-2019 Application

Submit DS-160 Visa Application

• More visa application info for F-1s
• More visa application info for J-1s
• List of U.S. Embassies and Consulates

Pay the SEVIS I-901 Fee

• You can pay the fee online at fmjfee.com
• See the I-901 Frequently Asked Questions to learn more

Visa Interview

• Check visa appointment wait times
• 10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Student Visa
• List of U.S. Embassies and Consulates

Number of Entries

• If your visa has a number in this section, that is the number of times you can enter the U.S. using that visa before the expiration date.
  • Some visitors may receive a single-entry visa
• If your visa has an M in this section, you can use the same visa to re-enter the U.S. multiple times before the expiration date.

212(e) Annotation for J-1 Exchange Visitors

Visas issued to students and scholars participating in the Exchange Visitor Program will list whether they are subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement in the Annotation section.

This will be specified by stating one of the following classifications:

• Subject to Section 212(e)

• Not Subject to 212(e) – Two Year Rule Does Not Apply

• Zhang & Feuerbacher Visa & Immigration 
  • Paid guides: https://www.zfvisaguides.com/ 
  • Free YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/@ZFvisa
• Argo Visa (paid): https://www.argovisa.com/

• Attending Your Non-Immigrant Visa Interview at the U.S. Embassy in London —US Embassy London (2018)
• Required Documents Needed For A Non-Immigrant Visa Interview—US Embassy South Africa (2017)
• U.S. Embassy Insider on Non-Immigrant Visas—U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (2017)
• Don’t wait in line, arrive “Just on Time” for your U.S. visa interview appointment—US Embassy India (2017)
• Non-Immigrant Visa Application Process—Us Embassy Bridgetown (2016)
• Applying for a U.S. Visa in New Delhi—U.S. Embassy India (2015)
• Applying for a Non-Immigrant Visa (U.S. Embassy Manila)—U.S. Embassy in the Philippines (2014)

• Common reasons for denials and explanations of denial notices

If you have further questions about your denial or reapplying for the visa, you consult an immigration attorney or contact ISSS. Students can send an email to our general email contact and scholars/interns can email our Scholars & Interns (J-1) team.

If you email our office, include a copy of the denial notice and any other relevant information (questions you were asked, how you answered, what documentation you submitted, etc). If you need a new document from ISSS, see the section below.

• J-1 Scholars or Interns: Contact our Scholars & Interns (J-1) team to get an updated DS-2019 with a new program start date.
• Students:
  • Plan A: Enroll online from outside of the U.S. temporarily. (This option is only available for graduate students)
    • Contact your academic department to see if you can enroll from outside the U.S.
    • If you do enroll, submit an Other Student Check-In to ISSS.
    • Then submit a new I-20/DS-2019 request in the ISSS Portal to get program dates for a future semester.
  • Plan B: Defer your admission to a later semester and apply for an immigration document to start in the corresponding semester you are admitted to. (This option is available for graduate and undergraduate students)
    • Contact your academic department and the Office of Admissions to defer your admission. Email admissions@tamu.edu using Subject: Admission Deferral Request.
    • Apply for a new I-20/DS-2019 in the ISSS Portal

Leave of Absence or Withdrawal Request

You should connect with ISSS before submitting a Leave of Absence or Withdrawal request if you will take temporary absence (not enrolling) when school is in session. 

1. Submit the Enrollment Abroad Request to notify ISSS. 
   1. You should submit your request 15 business days prior to your departure from the U.S.
      
      1. For reference, the TAMU academic calendar is available here.
   2.  Your academic advisor must complete a recommendation for this request; this is part of the Enrollment Abroad Request.
   3. This process must be completed every semester (including summer) when you enroll abroad. 

While You Are Abroad:

1.  You are expected to maintain full-time F-1 status and must not exceed the limitation on distance/online courses.
   1. You must be fully enrolled during major semesters (Fall and Spring, and/or Summer if it is your first or final semester at TAMU) or get an exception.  
   2. You will be subject to the TAMU health insurance requirement and must pay the health insurance fee if you do not qualify for a waiver. 
      1. You must meet the insurance requirement set by TAMU System policy.
   3. You must maintain a valid international permanent address (IN) in the Howdy Portal.
   4. You should inform ISSS if you plan to apply for OPT. You are not eligible to apply for OPT while outside the U.S.
2. Upon processing your request, ISSS will update your SEVIS record to reflect that you are located outside the U.S. pursuing a full course of study for the specified term while continuing to maintain F-1 status.
3. After completing your time abroad, you are required to update your Student Local Physical (SL) address in the Howdy Portal.
4.  If you decide to remain abroad for more than one year, please Connect with ISSS

• Per the University Rule on Student Travel (13.04.99.M1), all students traveling abroad must register their travel with Education Abroad before traveling. Education Abroad is charged to monitor international mobility from undergraduate and graduate students, whether the experience is credit or non-credit-bearing.
• Graduate students may participate in various experiences abroad, including but not limited to internships, research (conferences, collecting dissertation data and materials), coursework with an experiential learning component, or faculty-led programs. While these experiences may be part of their responsibilities as a GAT, GAL, GAR, or GANT, they remain students while traveling and must register with Education Abroad. 
• All students participating in experiences not coordinated by an affiliate provider, Texas A&M department, or student organization must also register. Each program or registration process with Education Abroad will have different deadlines and a designated staff member to assist with questions, the application process, and general trip preparations. For details, visit Choosing a Program.
• You can connect with Education Abroad if you have any questions.

• It is critical that your academic department, ISSS, and the graduate and professional school (if applicable) are made aware of your plans to enroll abroad. 
• Paying federal income taxes and filing the appropriate paperwork with the U.S. government is required by law. Failure to comply can result in serious immigration, financial, and legal consequences. For tax resources, please visit our Legal and Tax Resources page.
  • Most international students in F-1 status and their F-2 dependents are considered NONRESIDENTS for tax purposes and therefore DO have to file a tax form with the U.S. government for each tax year they are in the U.S., even if they earned NO income.
• You can Connect with ISSS if you have any questions.