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International Office

Travel

Travel Letter Request Form
Submit at least two weeks prior to departure

International Travel Advice

If you are planning international travel, please familiarize yourself with potential visa/immigration issues that could affect your exit from and re-entry into the United States, including, but not limited to, visa issuance at U.S. consulates and embassies, security screening, and the visa/immigration obligations of foreign nationals traveling to the United States. 

We encourage you to make an appointment with an advisor in the International Office to discuss your circumstances and travel plans. Foreign nationals should complete and submit a Travel Letter Request as soon as possible prior to traveling.

Please Read: Travel Guidelines for Foreign Nationals (PDF - updated April 2011)

Travel Advisory for Persons with Pending Permanent Residency (updated November 2007)

 

Travel within the U.S. during TSRI Program

All foreign nationals traveling inside the U.S. should carry their valid passport, I-94 arrival card and valid form F-1 I-20, J-1 DS-2019 or H-1B I-797 approval notice depending on their current non-immigrant status. Foreign nationals in WB, B-1 or TN status should carry their valid passport and I-94 arrival card.

Int'l Travel and U.S. Re-entry during TSRI Program

All foreign nationals in a non-immigrant visa status who plan to travel outside the U.S. temporarily must first submit the travel letter request to the International Office at least two weeks prior to departure. This allows International Office staff the opportunity to review your immigration history and confirm the validity of your passport, visa and documents before you travel.

Travel to Mexico or Canada

Automatic Revalidation: Generally, in order to enter the U.S., non-immigrants must present a valid, unexpired visa stamp in the passport in the category for which application for admission to the U.S. is made. An exception to this rule exists for some non-immigrants who travel for less than 30 days solely to Canada or Mexico, or, in the case of F and J non-immigrants only, to Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands other than Cuba. The Automatic Revalidation rule may allow the expired visa stamp to be automatically revalidated on the day the non-immigrants seeks re-admission to the U.S. Non-immigrants must have a valid passport, a valid I-94 card, and entry documents related to their specific immigration status to seek re-admission using the Automatic Revalidation rule.

A non-immigrant is not eligible for Automatic Revalidation if they have applied for a U.S. visa during their travel. Further, citizens of Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan and Syria are not eligible for Automatic Revalidation. Automatic Revalidation is given at the discretion of the Port of Entry Officer. Please discuss your travel plans to Canada, Mexico or the adjacent islands with the International Office Staff in advance.

Special Registration

Special Registration, also called the National Special Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), is a U.S. government system that assists with tracking of certain foreign nationals. A person is generally informed if they are subject to NSEERS special requirements upon entry to the U.S. Failure to comply with NSEERS requirements can lead to criminal charges and/or deportation. Visitors subject to NSEERS are not eligible for re-entry using Automatic Revalidation.

U.S. VISIT

The Department of Homeland Security has implemented the U.S. VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) program to function as the new automated U.S. entry and exit system. Using machine readable passports and biometric technology, border officials can now electronically record the entry and exit of non-immigrants traveling to the U.S. » Read more