Travel

Recommendations/Tips

• Toggle Item

  F-1 Travel

  Following are general guidelines and requirements for travel and reentry for F-1 students. However, because individual circumstances vary, consult with International Student Services, your embassy or legal advisor before traveling. Likewise, we strongly encourage students to do their own research for the country they are going home to or visiting as we do not keep record on individual country travel requirements, especially during the current pandemic.

  Inside the U.S.

  • Special permission is not required for you to travel within the U.S.
  • However, when you travel outside the Provo area, you are advised to carry the following:
    
    • Passport
    • Form I-94
    • Form I-20

  Outside the U.S.

  • Documents Required for Travel—unless otherwise noted:
    
    • Visa—must be valid and allow further entries for your return to the U.S.
    • Passport
      
      • Must be valid for at least six months into the future; however,
      • Some passports are only required to be valid when you enter the U.S.
    • Form I-94—you should surrender your current I-94 when you exit the U.S.
    • Form I-20 that
      
      • Is issued by BYU
      • Is current
      • Contains an endorsement signature from International Services for travel on page 2
        
        • We recommend students to have a travel signature that will be within 6 months of traveling
    • Current financial documentation issued within the last four months
    • Proof of full-time enrollment—BYU Enrollment Services can provide you with this documentation.
  • F-1 Continuing Students
    
    • You and your dependents are permitted to leave the U.S. and re-enter in your same status providing you have the proper documentation listed above.
    • If you are not traveling to your home country you should check the requirements of the country you are visiting. Some countries will require a visa. You may also need an in-transit visa for countries where you are making a connecting flight. Most countries have immigration websites that provide visa information.
    • More Information
  • Dependents
    
    • Entry requirements for any F-2 dependents are essentially the same as for the principal F-1 visa holder
    • Each dependent must carry his/her original Form I-20.
    • If traveling separately from the principal F-1 visa holder, F-2 dependents should also carry a photocopy of the F-1 visa holder's visa, Form I-94 and Form I-20.
  • Extended Stays Outside the U.S.
    
    • If you will be outside of the U.S. for more than five months, you will be required to get a new Form I-20 from International Services prior to returning to the U.S.
    • Regulations state that a stay outside the U.S. for five months is considered a break in F-1 status.
  • Third Country Travel
    
    • When traveling to a third country (a country other than the U.S. or your home country), you are responsible for knowing whether you need an entry visa for that country.
    • Canada—Persons from many countries are required to obtain a Canadian entry visa when entering Canada from the United States. Visas may be obtained from the Canadian Consulate General. Consult the Canadian Consulate for visa regulations concerning your country before making travel arrangements.
    • Mexico—Tourist cards or visas may be required for travel to Mexico.
  • Pending Applications for Immigration Benefits or Changes in Status
    
    • If you have a pending application for immigration benefits or for a change in non-immigrant status, you will most likely need Advance Parole to re-enter the U.S. after traveling abroad.
    • We recommend that you do not leave the U.S. with a pending application until you have consulted an immigration attorney and understand all of the requirements to keep that application. Leaving the U.S. can be seen as abandoning that application.
    • More Information
  • Post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT)
    
    • Required Documents
      
      • Your Form I-20 must be endorsed within the past six months on page 2.
      • When you have applied for OPT but not yet received your EAD, travel with your original receipt notice issued by the Nebraska Service Center confirming your request for OPT.
      • For travel after receiving your EAD:
        
        • Take your EAD card
        • Letter from employer confirming that you are employed or have been offered employment
    • General guidance:
      
      • If you have both an EAD for OPT and a job or job offer, you should not experience difficulty reentering the United States.
      • If either of these two conditions is missing, then you are assuming risk when you travel.
    • You may not reenter during the 60-day grace period after completing your program or OPT.
    • If you require a new visa, there is no guarantee that you will be readmitted.
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  F-2 Travel

  Following are general guidelines and requirements for travel and reentry for F-2 visa holders. However, because individual circumstances vary, consult with International Student Services, your embassy or legal advisor before traveling. Likewise, we strongly encourage students to do their own research for the country they are going home to or visiting as we do not keep record on individual country travel requirements, especially during the current pandemic.

  Inside the U.S.

  • Special permission is not required for you to travel within the U.S.
  • Whenever you travel outside the Provo area, you are advised to carry the following with you:
    
    • Passport
    • Form I-94
    • Form I-20

  Outside the U.S.

  • Questions and Answers about travel and re-entry: https://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel
  • Documents
    
    • Entry to another country—other countries have rules and restrictions on who can enter their country and how
      
      • If you travel to your country of citizenship or permanent residence, you will generally be allowed to enter if you have a valid passport or other travel document issued by that country.
      • If you travel to a third country (a country other than the U.S. or your home country), you are responsible for knowing whether you need an entry visa for that country.
        
        • Some countries will require a visa. You may also need an in-transit visa for countries where you are making a connecting flight. Most countries have immigration websites that provide visa information.
        • Canada—Persons from many countries are required to obtain a Canadian entry visa when entering Canada from the United States. Visas may be obtained from the Canadian Consulate General. Consult the Canadian Consulate for visa regulations concerning your country before making travel arrangements.
        • Mexico—Tourist cards or visas may be required for travel to Mexico. Information is available from the Consulate General of Mexico.
    • Re-entry to the U.S.
      
      • Visa
        
        • must be valid
        • allow further entries
        • match your current status listed on your I-94
      • Passport
        
        • Must be valid for at least six months into the future; however,
        • Some passports are only required to be valid when you enter the U.S.
      • Form I-94—you should not surrender your current I-94 when you exit the U.S. unless you have changed your status and will be returning with a new visa.
      • Form I-20
        
        • Issued by BYU
        • Current/up to date
        • Contains an endorsement signature from International Services for travel on page 2
          
          • We recommend the endorsement to be within four months of your travel; yet
          • the regulations stipulate that it must be within 12 months of travel
          • You can request a travel signature on our E-forms website. This is found under "I-20 Update Request."
      • If traveling separately from your principal visa holder, you should also carry a photocopy of the F-1's visa, Form I-94 and Form I-20.
      • Current financial documentation issued within the last four months
  • Special Situations
    
    • Pending Applications for Adjustment of Status—If you have a pending application for adjustment of your non-immigrant status to permanent residency, you will need permission to travel before leaving the U.S. by obtaining Advance Parole.
    • More Information
    • If you require a new visa, there is no guarantee that you will be readmitted.
• Toggle Item

  J-1 Travel

  Following are general guidelines and requirements for travel and reentry for J-1 visa holders. However, because individual circumstances vary, consult with International Student Services, your embassy or legal advisor before traveling. Likewise, we strongly encourage students to do their own research for the country they are going home to or visiting as we do not keep record on individual country travel requirements, especially during the current pandemic.

  Inside the U.S.

  • Special permission is not required for you to travel within the U.S.
  • Whenever you travel outside the Provo area, you are advised to carry the following with you:
    
    • Passport
    • Form I-94
    • Form DS-2019

  Outside the U.S.

  • Questions and Answers about Exchange Visitor Program: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange.html
  • Documents
    
    • Entry to another country—other countries have rules and restrictions on who can enter their country and how
      
      • If you travel to your country of citizenship or permanent residence, you will generally be allowed to enter if you have a valid passport or other travel document issued by that country.
      • If you travel to a third country (a country other than the U.S. or your home country), you are responsible for knowing whether you need an entry visa for that country.
        
        • Some countries will require a visa. You may also need an in-transit visa for countries where you are making a connecting flight. Most countries have immigration websites that provide visa information.
        • Canada—Persons from many countries are required to obtain a Canadian entry visa when entering Canada from the United States. Visas may be obtained from the Canadian Consulate General. Consult the Canadian Consulate General for visa regulations concerning your country before making travel arrangements.
        • Mexico—Tourist cards or visas may be required for travel to Mexico. Information is available here.
    • Re-entry to the U.S.
      
      • Visa
        
        • must be valid
        • allow further entries
        • match your current status listed on your I-94
      • Passport
        
        • Must be valid for at least six months into the future; however,
        • Some passports are only required to be valid when you enter the U.S.
      • Form I-94—you should not surrender your current I-94 when you exit the U.S. unless you have changed your status and will be returning with a new visa.
      • Form DS-2019 that
        
        • Is issued by BYU
        • Is current
        • Contains an endorsement signature from International Services for travel on page 1
          
          • That signature is valid for 12 months
        • Current financial documentation issued within the last four months
        • Letter of lawful status—International Services will provide this certification upon your request.
        • More Information
    • Special Situations
      
      • Pending Applications for adjustment of Status—If you have a pending application for adjustment of your non-immigrant status to permanent residency, you will need permission to travel before leaving the U.S. by obtaining Advance Parole.
      • More Information
      • Post-completion Academic Training
        
        • If you have both documentation for your academic training and of a job, you should not experience difficulty reentering the United States.
        • If either of these two conditions is missing, then you are assuming risk when you travel.
      • You may not renter during the 30-day grace period after completing your program or academic training.
      • If you require a new visa, there is no guarantee that you will be readmitted.
• Toggle Item

  J-2 Travel

  Following are general guidelines and requirements for travel and reentry for J-2 visa holders. However, because individual circumstances vary, consult with International Student Services, your embassy or legal advisor before traveling. Likewise, we strongly encourage students to do their own research for the country they are going home to or visiting as we do not keep record on individual country travel requirements, especially during the current pandemic.

  Inside the U.S.

  • Special permission is not required for you to travel within the U.S.
  • Whenever you travel outside the Provo area, you are advised to carry the following with you:
    
    • Passport
    • Form I-94
    • Form DS-2019

  Outside the U.S.

  • Questions and Answers about Exchange Visitor Program: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange.html
  • Documents
    
    • Entry to another country—other countries have rules and restrictions on who can enter their country and how
      
      • If you travel to your country of citizenship or permanent residence, you will generally be allowed to enter if you have a valid passport or other travel document issued by that country.
      • If you travel to a third country (a country other than the U.S. or your home country), you are responsible for knowing whether you need an entry visa for that country.
        
        • Some countries will require a visa. You may also need an in-transit visa for countries where you are making a connecting flight. Most countries have immigration websites that provide visa information.
        • Canada—Persons from many countries are required to obtain a Canadian entry visa when entering Canada from the United States. Visas may be obtained from the Canadian Consulate General. Consult the Canadian Consulate General for visa regulations concerning your country before making travel arrangements.
        • Mexico—Tourist cards or visas may be required for travel to Mexico. Information is available from the Consulate General of Mexico.
    • Re-entry to the U.S.
      
      • Visa
        
        • must be valid
        • allow further entries
        • match your current status listed on your I-94
      • Passport
        
        • Must be valid for at least six months into the future; however,
        • Some passports are only required to be valid when you enter the U.S.
      • Form I-94—you should not surrender your current I-94 when you exit the U.S. unless you have changed your status and will be returning with a new visa.
      • Form DS-2019 that
        
        • Is issued by BYU
        • Is current
        • Contains an endorsement signature from International Services for travel on page 1
          
          • The signature is valid for 12 months
      • If traveling separately from your principal visa holder, you should also carry a photocopy of their visa, Form I-94 and Form DS-2019.
      • Current financial documentation issued within the last four months
  • Special Situations
    
    • Pending Applications for Adjustment of Status—If you have a pending application for adjustment of your non-immigrant status to permanent residency, you will need permission to travel before leaving the U.S. by obtaining Advance Parole.
    • More Information
    • If you require a new visa, there is no guarantee that you will be readmitted.