Travel and Visas

Travel Signature Days

If you have travel questions, please call the IC front desk at 850-644-1702 to make an appointment with an IC advisor OR come in to the IC LOUNGE on our Travel Signature Days.

Bring your I-20 for signature (we will sign it on the spot, if you are eligible). We will have:
  1. Answers to your questions about the new OPT travel advisory.
  2. Information on travel with an expired visa to adjacent islands.
  3. Contact information for foreign consulates and embassies in the U.S.
  4. An IC adviser on hand to answer any questions you may have
  5. Information for those who are subject to Special Registration

Remember: All students traveling abroad -- particularly those traveling abroad for the December Holiday break -- should come to the IC to obtain the usual travel signature on page 3 of their I-20 prior to their travel.

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Tips for Traveling Outside the U.S.

NOTE: We strongly advise against renewing your visa during short breaks such as the winter holidays or Spring Break. It is more prudent to renew it during the long summer break, in case you run into lengthy security clearances that may delay visa issuance and, therefore, delay your return to the U.S.

US VISIT (Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology):
Students and scholars in F1 and J1 status are subject to entry and exit procedures for US VISIT. According the Department of Homeland Security U.S. VISIT web site:
"US-VISIT is part of a continuum of security measures that begins overseas and continues through a visitor's arrival in and departure from the United States. It incorporates eligibility determinations made by both the Departments of Homeland Security and State."


All forms are available in alternative format upon request.
If you are leaving the U.S., note that several ports of departure have already been set up with US VISIT stations:
  • Chicago's O'Hare International Airport
  • Baltimore-Washington International Airport
  • Miami International Cruise Line Terminal
  • Atlanta, Georgia (William B. Hartsfield International Airport)
  • Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport)
  • Denver, Colorado (Denver International Airport)
  • Detroit, Michigan (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport)
  • Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport)
  • Newark, New Jersey (Newark International Airport)
  • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia International Airport)
  • Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport)
  • San Francisco, California (San Francisco International Airport)
  • San Juan, Puerto Rico (Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport)
  • Seattle, Washington (Seattle/Tacoma International Airport)
  • Los Angeles, California (San Pedro and Long Beach Seaports)

We recommend that you check your port of departure for locations of the US VISIT exit stations. According to the DHS web site:
"The exit procedures being piloted require foreign visitors to check out at an exit station or with a US VISIT exit attendant at the departure gate at the port. Foreign visitors will go though one of the following processes, depending on location. Under one alternative, visitors departing the United States will check out of the country at exit stations located within the airport or seaport terminal. As with the process the visitors encounter upon entry at airports or seaports, their travel documents are read, their two index fingers will be scanned at the exit station, their digital picture will be taken, and they will receive a printed receipt that verifies that they have checked out. An exit attendant will be available to assist with visitors' check out.

The second alternative still uses the exit station but includes an additional step - verifying - at the departure gate. Visitors will be required to present the receipt at their departure gate to confirm that they checked out at the exit station. The exit attendant will scan the receipt and then ask the visitor to place an index finger on the scanning device. Once the person's identity is matched to the receipt, the exit attendant will hand the visitor her receipt back and the visitor will board.

Another alternative under the pilot program is a biometric check-out process with a US VISIT exit attendant at visitors' departure gates." ( Source: http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/press_release_0476.shtm )
To avoid having problems when reentering the U.S., we recommend that you have the following documents:
  • A Passport valid for at least 6 months in the future from your date of planned reentry date into the U.S.
  • Valid U.S. F-1 Visa
  • Current/Valid I-20 Form recently signed by the International Center adviser on Pg. 3
  • If on OPT: Valid EAD card and proof of employment.

If you are renewing your Visa please take the following additional documents:
  • Official Transcripts.
  • Current Financial support documents-such as assistantship information.
  • Current and all previous I-20s
  • Remember to make an appointment at your consulate before leaving the U.S.
  • Proof of ties to home country.

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Travel Advisory for those with Pending or Approved Post-completion OPT

Due to a recent ruling/advisory from the Department of Homeland Security's Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), students with approved post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT based on completion of the degree program or graduation) BUT NO EMPLOYMENT are advised not to travel abroad!!
NOTE: This advisory does not affect any students with pending or approved pre-completion OPT , i.e., OPT that is based on completion of coursework (those with thesis or dissertation hours remaining) rather than graduation. To summarize:
  • Students with pending OPT applications can travel abroad and reenter the U.S. to continue seeking employment. You must have your receipt from the Texas Service Center and the usual signature for travel on page 3 of your I-20 to show to the immigration officer at the Port of Entry to the U.S.
  • Students with approved OPT applications and a job offer or a current job they will be returning to can travel abroad and reenter the US. You must have your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and the usual signature for travel on page 3 of your I-20 to show to the immigration officer at the Port of Entry to the U.S., as well as a letter from your employer confirming employment or an offer for employment.
  • Those with approved OPT applications but who have no employment or job offer are advised NOT to travel abroad. It is unlikely that you will be allowed to reenter the U.S. WITHOUT proof of employment even though you have an EAD and a travel signature from an IC adviser.

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Returning from Travel?

If you have recently traveled or will be traveling soon, after your return to the U.S., be sure to bring your immigration documents to the International Center for copying. We are required to keep copies of your current immigration documents in your file. But, these also help us advise you properly when you travel again, or to assist if there was a problem with your entry. Occasionally, students and scholars will have the wrong status indicated on their I-94 card or will be issued a document called an I-515 which indicates that their immigration documentation was not acceptable at the Port of Entry. There is very limited time in which to correct these types of problems, particularly if you are doing on-campus work. Having the wrong visa status assigned may technically prevent you from working until that status is corrected.

» Click to view information for Traveling Outside the U.S.

All forms are available in alternative format upon request.

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