We encourage you to contact the Buckman Center anytime you plan to travel outside of the U.S. This is particularly important as regulations and practices concerning re-entry into the United States continue to change. Many students now experience significant difficulties and delays in applying for visas at U.S. Embassies or Consulates. When you return to the U.S. after travel abroad, you should bring your passport, Form I-20 and Form I-94 to the Buckman Center so that we may update your file. Immigration regulations require that we maintain current copies of your passport and immigration documents.
Travel Within the U.S.
You may travel within the U.S. provided you maintain your lawful F-1 status and have a valid passport, Form I-20, and Form I-94 in your possession.
Travel Outside the U.S. before Completion of Studies
You may leave the U.S. at any time. You are permitted to return in F-1 status if you have a valid passport, valid F-1 visa stamp and a current Form I-20 that has been signed for travel on page 3 by an authorized staff member at the Buckman Center. A travel signature is valid for one year except for travel to Canada , Mexico and adjacent islands, in which case the signature is valid for six months.
If You Are Outside of the U.S. for Longer Than a Temporary Absence
After a period of more than five months outside the U.S., you are considered gone for longer than a temporary absence. Your current I-20 will be invalid and you must request a new I-20 to return to Rhodes College, or reenter on a new school's I-20 if you will attend a school other than Rhodes College when you return.
- Important: Although you will be considered in valid F-1 status after reentry on the new I-20, you will be ineligible for off-campus employment until after you have maintained a full course of study for another 9 consecutive months.
Travel Outside the U.S. after Completion of Studies
The date you officially complete your studies is very important to your ability to travel and re-enter the U.S. If you attempt to return to the U.S. in F-1 status after your completion date, you may be denied the right to re-enter the U.S. unless you have been authorized to engage in Optional Practical Training (OPT) and have received your Employment Authorization Document and obtained a written offer of employment in your field of study.
If you depart the U.S. and wish to return after the date of your completion of studies, you must present the following documents to the CBP inspector upon arrival back in the U.S.:
- Your valid OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card (USCIS Form I-766)
- Your Form I-20 which has been endorsed for travel within the last six months by the Buckman Center and Rhodes College
- Your valid passport
- Your valid F-1 visa stamp
- Proof of employment in the field of study
Application for New F-1 Visa during Travel
F-1 students are allowed to remain in the U.S. with an expired F-1 visa stamp, provided that they are maintaining their status and their passport and Form I-20 are valid. Although you may remain in the U.S. with an expired F-1 visa, it will be necessary to apply for a new visa during your next trip abroad. You will need a valid F-1 visa in order to reenter the U.S.
Students needing to apply for a new visa during a trip abroad should inform the Buckman Center before travel. Security checks and supplemental visa application forms developed since September 11, 2001 have significantly delayed the visa application process in many countries. Students planning to apply for a visa in Canada or in a country other than their home country should first consult a Buckman Center advisor.
- If you travel to Canada, Mexico or certain islands near the U.S., you may be eligible to re-enter the country even if your F-1 visa in your passport has expired, provided your visit does not exceed 30 days. You should consult with the Buckman Center prior to travel and read information about travel to these locations.
Click here for more information about applying for F-1 visas.
Form I-515A issued at the Port of Entry upon entry to the U.S.
If a Customs and Border Protection Officer determines your documentation is incomplete when entering the U.S., you may be issued a Form I-515A and a date-specific I-94 card. These documents will grant you temporary admission to the U.S. (generally for 30 days). You must submit the required response and documents to the Form I-515A prior to the expiration date of your I-94 card to prove that you entered the U.S. lawfully. If you receive a Form I-515A, you must contact the Buckman Center immediately to ensure that proper procedures are followed in a timely manner. Failure to submit the proper original documentation prior to the expiration date of your I-94 card will result in termination of both your F-1 student status and your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record.
Holidays and Vacations
You may remain in the United States and still maintain F-1 status during holidays and vacation periods observed by Rhodes College, including summer vacation, provided you are eligible and intend to register for the next academic semester and all of your immigration documents remain valid.
Other Information
If you plan to visit a country other than your home country, please consult the embassy or consulate of that country to find out if you will require a tourist visa to enter. You may find information about foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. by visiting http://www.embassy.org/
If you have been on a study abroad program or have interrupted your studies for any reason (such as a certified Leave of Absence) you may need a new Form I-20 to return to the United States. Please contact your International Student Advisor at the Buckman Center for more information.
If the F-1 stamp in your passport is expired and you will be traveling outside the U.S., you will need to apply for a new visa stamp in order to reenter the U.S., except when traveling to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands. Please see information about how to obtain a U.S. visa.