UMass Boston Advising Center : International Students : Travel

Travel

Travel Outside the U.S.
Re–entry Into the U.S.
Emergency Travel
Renewing a Visa in Canada or Mexico
Automatic Revalidation of Visa

Travel Outside the U.S.

If you plan to travel outside the United States and return to continue studying at UMass Boston, plan ahead! Submit your request at least two weeks before you plan to leave the United States. Failure to do so may create problems at the port of entry when you are returning to the U.S. In the Forms section of this website you'll find the ISS Request Form. Fill it out and submit it to the International Student Services office.

Before You Leave Check the Program End Date on your Form I–20. Make sure that it will not expire before you return to the U.S.

Re–entry Into the U.S.

You can minimize problems by having the following documents with you when you plan to re–enter the United States. But they offer no guarantees that you will be allowed to re–enter.

Required to re–enter:

A valid passport at least six months into the future.
A valid visa (be sure you have not used up your number of entries).
Current Form I–20 with a travel signature made within six months of your re–entry. Bring your form to the Office of International Student Services at least two weeks before you expect to travel, to make sure you get this signature in time.
A valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) if you are engaging in Optional Practical Training (OPT).

Suggested in case you need a new visa to re–enter:

Official transcript from UMass Boston showing full–time student status during your period of study.
Official transcripts from any previous U.S. schools attended (attach to the appropriate Form I–20).
Proof of course registration for the current semester (shows a purpose for your return to the U.S.). You can access your registration via WISER at www.umb.edu/it/info/wiser/wiser_student.html or obtain a copy from One Stop (Campus Center/UL).
Current financial support documentation (no more than six months old).
Be prepared to talk about your educational goals in the United States, your intent to return to your home country, and your plans once you do return home.
If you are on Optional Practical Training (OPT), a letter from your employer stating that you have the job or a job offer, the job description, and the dates of employment which will need to match your Employment Authorization Document (EAD). Please also see this important information regarding travel while on OPT.

Emergency Travel

If you need an emergency travel signature to travel outside the U.S. due to a personal, family, and/or medical emergency, you need to submit these documents to the International Student Services office:

Your original I–20.
Your completed ISS Request Form (you'll find this in the Forms section of this website).
A written statement including the details of your emergency.
Your travel itinerary or copy of your plane ticket.

When you return, you need to bring a copy of your newly obtained visa and most recent I–20 to the Office of International Student Services.

Renewing a Visa in Canada or Mexico

If, due to limited time between semesters or some other reason, you are unable to renew your nonimmigrant visa in your home country, you may be able to renew your current visa or apply for a new visa (a change of visa type) in Canada or Mexico. If you choose to apply for a new visa or renew your existing visa, you must bring the following items with you to the U.S. consulate/embassy:

Valid passport containing the Arrival/Departure Record (Form I–94).
Nonimmigrant visa for which the I–94 was issued (even when U.S. Immigration has authorized a change of status).
Original Form I–20.
Current bank statements showing means of support while studying in the U.S.
Official copy of academic transcript.
Copy of current semester class schedule, or upcoming semester class schedule if you are between semesters.
Letter from academic department, program director or advisor verifying active status in program (optional).

Important update: Visa processing for non–Canadian or Mexican citizens in these countries has become more uncertain. If you are not a citizen of Canada or Mexico it is best to refrain from applying for initial or renewal visa stamps in these countries.

For certain third–country nationals, however, U.S. consulates in Canada and Mexico still schedule online and telephone appointments for nonimmigrant visa processing at Canadian and Mexican border posts. Once you have an appointment, you should wait at least five days before making travel arrangements.

If you are from one of the countries requiring additional name check or security screening (Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria), processing in Mexico and Canada may not be permitted and any appointments made may be cancelled within five days.

If your application for a new nonimmigrant visa is denied, you will not be able to return to the U.S. using your current visa in your passport. You will likely have to return to your home country to apply for and obtain a new visa in order to return to the U.S.

Automatic Revalidation of Visa

The Automatic Revalidation of Visa benefit allows certain nonimmigrants* to re–enter the United States after a visit of 30 days or less to Canada, Mexico, and in the case of F and J visa holders, “adjacent islands other than Cuba” without having to obtain a new visa before re–entering the U.S. In other words, you may re–enter the U.S. on your expired student visa provided that you:

Present a valid passport containing the Arrival/Departure Record (Form I–94), which authorizes a stay beyond the date of re–entry.
Produce the visa for which the I–94 was issued (even when U.S. Immigration has authorized a change of status).
Have maintained lawful nonimmigrant status in the United States and intend to continue doing so.

*Current U.S. State Department regulations state that citizens of Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Syria are not eligible to participate in the Automatic Revalidation benefit.

For a list of countries and territories that allow the Automatic Revalidation of Visa benefit, see “Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa” in the Visas/Immigration area in the Resources section of this website.

If you choose to apply for a visa while in Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands, you will be subject to a security clearance that may require 20 or more days to obtain. You will not be able to return to the U.S. under the provisions of the Automatic Revalidation benefit. You must wait for security clearance to be completed and a new visa to be granted to re–enter the United States.

Upon renewal in your home country, you may then return to the U.S. Visit the U.S. State Department website for the complete text of the rule.

All applicants who wish to apply for a new nonimmigrant visa must make an appointment for an interview. See “Canada/Mexico,” as well as the links to the Canadians and Mexican embassies in the Visas/Immigration area in the Resources section of this website for important information about entering and exiting these countries.