A division of Student Life at Drexel University
Traveling outside of the United States
You must have the following if you are leaving and then re-entering the United States:
- A valid F-1 or J-1 visa: Be sure to check your F-1 or J-1 visa in your passport. If it has expired, you will have to apply for an F-1or J-1 visa renewal. You will not be able to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status without a valid, current F-1 or J-1 visa
- A current, valid I-20 or DS-2019 with a current travel signature: Your I-20 or DS-2019 must be current and must have a travel signature that is not older than 6 months. You cannot enter the U.S. with an expired I-20/DS-2019 or with an I-20/DS-2019 that does not have a current travel signature. ISSS cannot sign an I-20 or DS-2019 if you are not in status. If you are not in status, you will need a new I-20 or DS-2019
- If you are renewing your visa while traveling outside of the U.S., it is best to include the following documents with your visa renewal application:
- a letter from ISSS verifying that you have been maintaining status as a student in the U.S.
- a letter from your academic advisor verifying that you are making sufficient progress towards completion of your program
- a copy of your transcripts
- Travel to Canada, Mexico, and the adjacent islands: Under certain circumstances, non-immigrants with expired entry visa stamps may reenter the United States after visits of 30 days or less to "contiguous territories" (Canada, Mexico, and, for those in F and J status, the adjacent islands except Cuba*) without having to obtain a new visa prior to reentry. This benefit is called "automatic revalidation of visa". The individual should carry:
- a valid passport
- a US visa stamp (expired or not, current status or not)
- Form I-94 It is important that the individual not surrender Form I-94 at departure.
- Appropriate immigration document (Form I-20 for those in F status, Form DS-2019 for those in J status or Form I-797 Notice of Approval for those in H, O, or E status).
The automatic revalidation of visa benefit is not extended to a) non-immigrants from countries designated by the US Department of State as state sponsors of terrorism b) individuals who have ever overstayed their visas and c) non-immigrants who are applying for a new entry visa while in a contiguous territory. Those who choose to apply for a new visa in a contiguous territory or cannot use the automatic validation of visa benefit must receive the new visa before being granted permission to reenter the United States. If denied an entry visa, the individual will most likely have to return directly to the home country in order to obtain a new visa. Please click here for more information. All students and scholars must carefully weigh the risks of security clearance delays and the possibility of not being able to return to United States before making arrangements to apply for a new visa in a contiguous territory. NB: Individuals in H, O, and E visa status are eligible for automatic revalidation for travel to Canada and Mexico ONLY, not the adjacent islands.
Courtesy: www.upenn.edu/oip/iss/visa/travel
RENEWING YOUR F-1 OR J-1 VISA IS NOT GUARANTEED. STUDENTS FROM SOME COUNTRIES MAY BE SUBJECT TO A SECURITY CLEARANCE WHICH CAN DELAY VISA ISSUANCE FOR A MONTH OR MORE. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU NOT APPLY FOR A NEW VISA DURING THE DECEMBER VACATION PERIOD OR BETWEEN WINTER AND SPRING QUARTERS.
IF YOU DO NOT HAVE AN F-1 OR J-1 VISA IN YOUR PASSPORT, YOU MUST MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE U.S. EMBASSY OR CONSULATE. IN SOME COUNTRIES, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET AN APPOINTMENT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. CHECK THE EMBASSY OR CONSULATE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION VISA INTERVIEW APPOINTMENTS.