Travel and Re-entry

F-1 and J-1 visas for new students and exchange visitors may be issued up to 365 days before the program start date listed on your Form I-20 or DS-2019.

You may enter the United States up to 30 days before your program start date.

F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors may travel internationally and re-enter the United States during official school breaks if they:

1. Maintain valid immigration status;
2. Continue to meet academic or program requirements; and
3. Plan to resume their studies or program activities after travel.
4. Do not schedule travel that causes you to miss required classes, exams, or program obligations.
5. Personal travel is not an acceptable reason for academic absences.
6. Before traveling, ensure you have the required documents for re-entry.

Travel outside the United States while your post-completion OPT application is pending is not recommended, as it may affect your application or ability to re-enter.

Once your OPT is approved, you may travel and re-enter the United States if you are employed and carry:

1. Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD);
2. Proof of current employment (such as an employment verification letter or job offer); and
3. Valid travel documents, including your passport, visa, and OPT-endorsed Form I-20.

Students who have exceeded the permitted unemployment limit may experience difficulties with re-entry.

Travel outside the United States is strongly discouraged while your H-1B petition and change of status request are pending.

If you depart the United States before USCIS approves your H-1B petition, your change of status request will generally be considered abandoned. You will not be able to re-enter the United States in F-1 status under Cap-Gap provisions.

You may travel and re-enter during Cap-Gap only if:

1. USCIS has approved your H-1B petition and change of status request;
2. You return to the United States before your H-1B employment start date (typically October 1); and
3. You are otherwise admissible with:
4. A valid F-1 visa; and
5. A valid, travel-signed Cap-Gap Form I-20.

A valid EAD card is not required for re-entry during the Cap-Gap period, even if your OPT has expired. USCIS does not issue new EAD cards for Cap-Gap extensions.

A visa is generally not required for travel to these U.S. territories unless you are transiting through another country.

When traveling, carry:

1. Valid passport;
2. Valid Form I-20 or DS-2019; and
3. Unexpired I-94 record.

Depending on your citizenship and travel plans, you may need additional entry documents.

• Canada: A Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) or Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) is required.
• Mexico: A Tourist Card is required and, in some cases, a Mexican visa may be required.

Always review your destination country’s entry requirements before traveling.

• Canadian Embassy
• Mexican Embassy in the United States Consular Section

Certain F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors with expired nonimmigrant visas may qualify for Automatic Visa Revalidation when traveling to Canada, Mexico, or certain adjacent Caribbean islands for 30 days or less.

To qualify, travelers must meet all eligibility requirements, including having:

A valid admission stamp or unexpired paper Form I-94;

• Valid F-1 or J-1 status;
• No application for a new visa pending or denied; and
• Travel only to eligible locations.

Automatic Visa Revalidation is available only when all required conditions are met.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), has authority over the admission of travelers entering the United States.

Primary Inspection Process

All travelers arriving at a U.S. Port of Entry are inspected by CBP officers to determine eligibility for admission.

• Document Review: A CBP officer will review your documents and verify your SEVIS record.
• Questions About Your Purpose: Answer all questions truthfully and clearly.
• Luggage and Electronic Device Inspection: CBP may inspect luggage and electronic devices, including phones, laptops, and cameras. Learn more about Electronic Device Searches
• Admission Decision: If everything is in order, CBP will admit you into the United States and provide an entry record.

Second Inspection

If CBP requires additional information or review, you may be referred to Secondary Inspection.

What happens during secondary inspection?

• CBP may conduct additional review of your documents and travel history;
• Verify your SEVIS record; and contact your school to confirm information, if necessary.

If referred to secondary inspection:

1. Have your Designated School Official (DSO) contact information available.
2. If arriving outside business hours, have an emergency contact number for Public Safety available.
3. Remain patient and cooperative.
4. Answer all questions truthfully.

Once verification is complete, CBP will make the final admission decision.

All travelers entering the United States are subject to inspection by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). As part of the inspection process, CBP officers may inspect luggage and, in limited circumstances, electronic devices such as mobile phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, and other digital devices.

• Luggage inspection: CBP officers may examine baggage and ask travelers to declare certain items.
• Electronic device inspection: CBP officers may inspect phones, laptops, tablets, cameras, or other electronic devices as part of routine border screening.
• Additional screening: In some cases, travelers may be referred to secondary inspection for further review.

For more information, please review CBP’s guidance on Electronic Device Searches.

Certain Presidential Proclamations restrict or suspend the issuance of visas and entry into the United States for nationals of designated countries. These restrictions affect F-1 students and J-1 exchange visitors who plan to travel internationally.

If you are a citizen of one of the countries listed below, carefully review the information before making international travel plans. Travel restrictions and visa policies are subject to change.

Who is affected?

In general, the proclamation applies to foreign nationals who:

1. Are nationals of a designated country;
2. Are outside the United States on the applicable effective date; and
3. Do not hold a valid U.S. visa issued on or before the applicable effective date.

What does this mean for current students and exchange visitors?

If you are currently in the United States in valid F-1 or J-1 status and already possess a valid U.S. visa that is not subject to the proclamation, you may continue your studies or exchange program.

However, International Services strongly recommends consulting our office before traveling internationally, as visa issuance, entry policies, and inspection procedures may change and could affect your ability to return to the United States.

What does this mean for prospective students and scholars?

Individuals subject to the proclamation may still apply for a visa and attend a visa interview. However, they may be ineligible for visa issuance or admission to the United States unless they qualify for an exemption or exception.

Consular officers may also limit the validity period of certain nonimmigrant visas, where permitted by law.

Visas issued before the applicable effective date are generally not revoked solely because of the proclamation.

Affected Countries

• Afghanistan
• Angola
• Antigua
• Barbuda
• Benin
• Burma (Myanmar)
• Burkina Faso
• Burundi
• Chad
• Cote d ‘Ivoire
• Cuba
• Dominica
• Republic of the Congo
• Equatorial Guinea
• Eritrea
• Gabon
• The Gambia
• Haiti
• Iran
• Laos
• Libya
• Malawi
• Mali
• Mauritania
• Niger
• Nigeria
• Palestinian Authority
• Senegal
• Sierra Leone
• Somalia
• South Sudan
• Syria
• Sudan
• Tanzania
• Togo
• Tonga
• Turkmenistan (the restrictions on F-1 nonimmigrant students were lifted effective January 1, 2026)
• Venezuela
• Yemen
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe