Office of International Services

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⇒ Student & Scholar Advising ⇒ Students ⇒ F-1 Students ⇒ Travel Outside the U.S.

Travel Outside the U.S.

For the latest travel advisories, visit the U.S. Department of State’s website.

Form I-20

• All F-1 students must have a valid travel signature from an OIS advisor on page 3 of their I-20 in order to re-enter the United States.  Travel signatures are valid for one calendar year, or until the completion of your program, whichever comes first.  If you need a new signature, please request one through iStart (istart.iu.edu) at least two weeks before you plan to travel.
  • Note: You need a signature even if you are just traveling across the border into Canada or Mexico.
• You will need to receive a new I-20 from OIS if there have been any changes in your situation—for example, in your major, degree level, or source(s) of financial support—that are not indicated on your current I-20.  For changes in major or source(s) of funding, simply request a travel signature through iStart (istart.iu.edu) and note these changes in the “Notes” section.  For a change in degree level, you will need to complete the New Degree Program request via iStart (you do not need to request a travel signature; when your new degree program request is approved a new I-20 will be printed and will be valid for travel).  In all cases, updated financial documentation will be required to process your new I-20.
• Check your completion date in section 5 of your I-20 to see whether it is about to expire.  If it is and you have not yet completed your program you will need to apply for an extension via iStart (istart.iu.edu).  You do not need to request a travel signature; when you extension is approved a new I-20 will be printed and signed for travel.  Updated financial documentation will be required to process your new I-20.

U.S. Visa

Is the U.S. visa stamp in your passport valid beyond the date you plan to reenter the United States?  If not, you must apply for a new visa while you are abroad.  We strongly advise you to carry the following documents with you when applying for a new visa at a U.S. Consulate:

• Official Transcript issued by the Registrar of IU.
• Certificate of Enrollment issued by OIS.  You may request this via iStart (istart.iu.edu).
• Valid I-20 issued and signed by OIS.
• Current financial documentation: documents indicating the source(s) and amount(s) of financial support for your study in the current academic year.  This must match the information listed on your I-20.

As U.S. Consulates will not be open on certain days during the Christmas–New Year’s holiday period, there may be difficult time constraints on obtaining a new visa during winter break.

Note: If you intend to apply for a new U.S. Visa in Canada or Mexico and are not a resident of either country, please contact an advisor at the Office of International Services to discuss this possibility.

If you need to apply for a new U.S. Visa, visit the Department of State’s U.S. Embassies and Consulates section for an updated list.

Visitors’ Visas—for Travel to Countries Other than Your Home Country

If you are traveling to a country other than your home country, you may need a visitor’s or transit visa.  To find out, visit that country’s embassy website at Foreign Embassies of Washington, D.C. and search for the Consular Section nearest you.

If you are traveling to the E.U. and your home country is not within the E.U., you may apply for the Schengen visa, which permits travel within E.U. countries.

After completing your academic program

If you plan to travel to Canada or anywhere else outside of the U.S. during the grace period following completion of your degree requirements, the Office of International Services will not be able to sign your I-20 for travel.  If you travel outside of the U.S., you will not be able to re-enter the U.S. as an F-1 student at IU.

Travel during Optional Practical Training

At the present, USCIS processing of applications for Optional Practical Training takes at least 3–4 months.  You will need to plan your travel accordingly.  Once you receive your EAD, you may travel outside of the U.S. but be sure to travel with your signed I-20, job offer letter and your EAD.  The OPT recommendation on page 3 of your I-20 validates the travel signature for six (6) months.  We strongly advise that you consult with a Foreign Student Advisor regarding travel while on OPT prior to making plans to travel outside the U.S.