For Traveling Outside the United States
F-1 and J-1 travelers are required to have a valid travel signature on their I-20 or DS-2019 in order to return after traveling outside the United States. It's recommended to take any F-2 or J-2 dependents with you when you leave the U.S. for a significant amount of time.
How to request travel signatures from ISSS:
- Students: Submit a Travel Outside the U.S. request in the ISSS Portal
- J-1 Scholars & Interns: Email travel signature request to j1scholars@tamu.edu with the details below:
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If you plan to travel outside the U.S. for more than 30 days, you must also send us the address where you will spend most of your time outside the U.S. We will need to add an Out of Country marker to your J-1 SEVIS record so it stays active.
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.
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.
How Long is Your Travel Signature Valid?
| F-1 Students | J-1 Students, Intern, & Research Scholar | J-1 Short-Term Scholar |
|---|---|---|
| Travel signatures are valid for one year, unless the student is participating in OPT/STEM OPT. | Travel signatures are valid for one year or until your DS-2019 program end date, whichever is shorter. | Travel signatures are valid for 6 months or until your DS-2019 program end date, whichever is shorter. |
| OPT/STEM OPT: Travel signatures are only valid for 6 months. |
Other Requirements for International Travel
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.
- For additional information about 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.
- Additional documents for F-1s on OPT/STEM OPT:
- 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 are traveling to a country other than your home country, make sure to check if you need a visa to visit that country. Government websites or your home country’s embassy are useful resources to check this.
Additionally, check for any travel restrictions for your destination country, the U.S., and any countries you may have a layover in.
For Traveling Within the United States
You will need some form of identification while traveling within the U.S. This could be:
- A passport
- State ID card
- Driver’s license
ISSS also recommends you carry your most recent I-20/DS-2019 with you if you plan to travel outside the local area.
The U.S. includes the 50 states, Washington D.C, and the territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and Northern Mariana Islands.
I-94 and Re-entry Issues
General Travel Issues
If you get stuck at the port of entry and need assistance from ISSS, you can contact the office emergency line at anytime at 979-845-1824 and press 2.If you run into repeated delays or problems with re-entering the U.S., you can try submitting an inquiry through the Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP).
Issues that can be addressed by DHS Trip include, but are not limited to:
- 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
You can also file a complaint with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) by visiting the following link.
I-94 Issues
You should check your I-94 every time you enter the U.S. You can check it online on the I-94 Website. I-94s should show the following for F-1 or J-1 travelers:- Class of Admission: F-1 or J-1
- Admit Until Date: D/S
If you have the wrong class of admission or your admit until date shows a specific date, then you need to get your I-94 corrected by contacting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). They can also assist with any other problems with your I-94 and travel history record.
- 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
Passport Renewal
F-1s and J-1s are expected to maintain an active passport while participating in their programs with Texas A&M. ISSS strongly advises that you begin seeking renewal for your passport at least 6 months before it expires.
You must follow the instructions from your home country government to renew your passport. You may be able to do it while inside the U.S. by contacting your home country’s embassy or consulate. If that’s not possible, then you will need to travel to get your passport renewed.
For a list of foreign embassies and consular offices in the United States, visit the website of your home country’s diplomatic mission or the U.S. Department of State website.
After you have renewed your passport, you should submit the updated version to our office:
- Students should submit a Passport Update request in the ISSS Portal (under General Student Services)
- Scholars/Interns should email the new passport to j1scholars@tamu.edu
Late Arrival Information
Scholars/Interns
Notify your host department of your late arrival. You also need to email j1scholars@tamu.edu so ISSS can adjust the program dates on your DS-2019 if needed.New Students
If you will not enter the U.S. until after the program start date on your I-20/DS-2019, then you need to get an updated document from ISSS. 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 because you will arrive late.Fall 2024:
- The latest date to arrive in the U.S. and submit a check-in to ISSS is September 17, 2024.
- You need to notify your department if you will arrive after the first day of classes. Your academic department may have an earlier late arrival deadline! If they do, then their deadline is prioritized over the ISSS deadline.
Current Students
- Typically you will not need an updated I-20 for re-entry to the U.S. 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.