If you need an updated travel signature on your I-20: Email iss@scu.edu or schedule an in-person advising appointment.
If emailing, the email subject line should be "Updated Travel Signature." In the email body, include:
- Your full legal name
- Your SCU ID
- Your current SCU or SCU alumni email address (if you are an alumni and do not have an alumni email address, create one through the SCU alumni website)
- Your date of departure from the U.S. and your planned date of re-entry (if any)
- If you are on OPT or STEM OPT extension: your employer's name and start date.
- Prior to sending your email, you should make sure that your Workday record is properly updated.
We will create an updated I-20 for you with a new travel signature and will email it to your SCU email address.
Enrolled F-1 students: 1 year
Alumni on F-1 OPT or STEM OPT Extension: 6 months
J-1 or J-2 Exchange Visitors: 1 year
F-1 Enrolled Students
Current students are free to travel during academic breaks, including weekends, Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break, and Summer Break.
When entering the United States, F-1 students should carry the following documents:
- Passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry
- Valid F-1 visa stamp
- Valid, up-to-date I-20 with valid travel signature (the travel signature is on page 2 of your I-20 and is valid for 1 year)
- Documents showing you are a student
- For example: your SCU student ID, a print out of your unofficial transcript, class schedule for the upcoming term
- Documents showing your ability to pay for tuition and living expenses
- For example: proof that you either have already paid tuition or proof that you have the money to pay tuition for the upcoming term
If you do not have a valid F-1 visa stamp or if your F-1 visa stamp will expire prior to your desired entry into the U.S., please email iss@scu.edu or schedule an advising appointment before booking any travel plans.
Generally we do not recommend travel during the academic term. F-1 students are expected to not only enroll in, but also attend a full course of study. Additionally, attendance and participation are integral to your classes and required for your academic success.
If you have an urgent situation that requires you to travel outside of the U.S. for an extended period of time, please email iss@scu.edu or schedule advising to discuss this with our team.
F-1 Alumni on OPT or STEM OPT Extension
Alumni are free to travel at any point in their practical training period.
When entering the U.S. F-1 alumni on OPT or STEM OPT Extension should carry the following documents:
- Passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry
- Valid F-1 visa stamp
- Most recently issued I-20 with valid travel signature (the travel signature is on page 2 of your I-20 and if you have completed your degree, the signature is valid for 6 months)
- Valid OPT or STEM OPT EAD Card(s)
- Proof of OPT / STEM OPT engagement
- For example: job offer, an employment verification letter, and / or a few recent pay stubs
If your travel is more than 30 days, you should collect documentation from your employer approving your travel.
If you are employed, please be sure that you have properly reported employment to our office via our OPT Reporting Portal.
If you do not have a valid F-1 visa stamp or if your F-1 visa stamp will expire prior to your desired entry into the U.S., please email iss@scu.edu or schedule an advising appointment before booking any travel plans.
You must have a valid OPT or STEM OPT EAD in hand in order to re-enter the U.S. after the program end date listed on your I-20.
We don’t recommend leaving the U.S. while your OPT application is pending and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agrees with us. If USCIS needs extra documents to approve your case and issues a Request for Evidence (RFE), you may have a hard time responding while you are outside of the U.S. If your case is approved while you’re outside the U.S., you will need to have the EAD card in your hand to get back in the U.S. and USCIS will not mail the card to an address abroad.
You must have a valid OPT or STEM OPT EAD in hand in order to re-enter the U.S. after the program end date listed on your I-20.
We don’t recommend leaving the U.S. while your STEM OPT extension application is pending and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agrees with us. If USCIS needs extra documents to approve your case and issues a Request for Evidence (RFE), you may have a hard time responding while you are outside of the U.S. If your case is approved while you’re outside the U.S., you will need to have the EAD card in your hand to get back in the U.S. and USCIS will not mail the card to an address abroad.
In order to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status after travel abroad, you must carry the appropriate travel documents. Our team is happy to answer questions about your F-1 student status and record. Typically it is not recommended to travel while an H-1B Change of Status is pending. Further questions related to your H-1B and how travel can impact your H-1B filing should be directed to a qualified immigration attorney.
J-1 Exchange Visitors
Non-degree Students, Professors and Research Scholars
J-1 Students are free to travel during academic breaks, including weekends, Thanksgiving, Winter Break, Spring Break and Summer Break.
J-1 Scholars are free to travel at any time during their program but should not be outside of the U.S. for more than 30 days at a time. If you must be outside the U.S. for more than 30 days, contact scholars@scu.edu for guidance.
When entering the U.S. J-1 Exchange Visitors (students and scholars) should carry the following documents:
- Passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry
- Valid J-1 visa stamp
- Most recently issued DS-2019 with valid travel signature (the travel signature is on page 1 of your DS-2019; the signature is valid for 1 year)
- Proof of your program participation
- Student examples: your admission letter, your class schedule
- Scholar examples: your invitation or employment offer letter
- Proof of your health insurance
- Proof of funding documents
If you do not have a valid J-1 visa stamp, or if your J-1 visa stamp will expire prior to your desired entry into the U.S. please contact our office for advising before booking any travel plans.
- Students, email iss@scu.edu (include your full name and that you are in J-1 status in the email)
- Scholars, email scholars@scu.edu (include your full name in the email)
If you are missing any documents or have questions about travel, please contact our office for advising:
- Students, email iss@scu.edu (include your full name and that you are in J-1 status in the email)
- Scholars, email scholars@scu.edu (include your full name in the email)
F-2 Dependents
F-2 dependents are free to travel at any time during their program. There is no time limitation to the duration they can be outside the U.S. F-2 dependents are not eligible to enter the U.S. if the F-1 primary student is not travelling with them or already in the U.S.
When entering the U.S. F-2 dependents should carry the following documents:
- F-2 Spouse: Proof of Marital Relationship (such as, marriage certificate, with translation)
- F-2 Child: Proof of Parental Relations (such as, birth certificate, with translation)
- Proof of funding for time in the U.S. (must be dated within 3 months and in English)
- Proof of the family member’s F-1 status
- Copy of F-1 student's most recent SCU I-20
- Copy of F-1 student's passport and F-1 visa stamps
- Copy of F-1 student's I-94 (print here: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/)
- If the F-1 student is a currently enrolled student:
- Copy of the admission letter
- Enrollment verification letter or transcripts
- Class schedule print out
- If the F-1 student has graduated and is on OPT / STEM OPT:
- Copy of your OPT / STEM OPT EAD card(s)
- Letter from your company verifying the OPT / STEM OPT employment
- 3 Pay-stubs showing the OPT / STEM OPT employment
J-2 Dependents
J-2 dependents are free to travel at any time during their program. There is no time limitation to the duration they can be outside the U.S. J-2 dependents are not eligible to enter the U.S. if the J-1 primary student or scholar is not travelling with them or already in the U.S.
When entering the U.S. J-2 dependents should carry the following documents:
- Passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry
- Valid J-2 visa stamp
- Most recently issued J-2 DS-2019 with valid travel signature (the travel signature is on page 1 of your DS-2019; the signature is valid for 1 year)
- J-2 Spouse: Proof of Marital Relationship (such as, marriage certificate, with translation)
- J-2 Child: Proof of Parental Relations (such as, birth certificate, with translation)
- Proof of funding for time in the U.S. (must be dated within 3 months and in English)
- Proof of health insurance
- J-2 EAD Card (if any)
- Proof of the family member’s J-1 status:
- Copy of J-1's DS-2019
- Copy of J-1's passport and visa stamp
- Proof of J-1's health insurance
- J-1 student documents: your admission letter, your class schedule
- J-1 scholar documents: your invitation or employment offer letter
I-94 Admission Record
Once you re-enter the U.S. we recommend that you download and save or print your new I-94 Admission Record which proves that you were properly admitted to the U.S. Typically your I-94 Admission Record is automatically updated each time you enter the U.S. and should be available within 24 hours of admission. If you are unable to retrieve your I-94 within 24 hours of admission, or notice error please contact our office via email at iss@scu.edu.
If you will be driving or walking into the U.S. from Mexico or Canada rather than flying into the country, you will need to manually request an I-94 Admission Record before you enter the U.S.
F-1 Visa Renewal
The F-1 visa stamp needs to be valid when you are entering the U.S., however, it is allowed to expire while you are here. You only need to renew the visa if it expires and you depart the U.S., since it would need to be valid in order for you to re-enter.
We advise against renewing your F-1 visa stamp before it has expired. If you can return to the U.S. before the visa expires, then you should wait to renew it until the next time you travel internationally.
If you plan to travel after your visa stamp expires, you will need to plan to be outside the U.S. long enough to renew it before you are able to return. The best option for renewing your visa would be to do so the next time you are in your home country. We do not generally recommend applying for the visa renewal in a third country as this poses a higher risk for F-1 denial. The best time for visa renewal, if you are a currently enrolled student, is during summer break since it allows for more time in case of administrative processing.
More information about the visa application process and the possibility of mail in or drop box can be found on the designated website of the Embassy or Consulate that you will visit. You must be in your country and should not mail in your passport from the US.
Please review the information above for more details regarding travel guidance and the list of documents we recommend students carry with them.
Prior to your visa interview you should collect originals and copies of all supporting documents. We recommend that you carry:
- Proof of DS-160 Visa Application Submission
- Proof Visa Fee Payment
- Passport
- I-20
- Proof of funding for your time in the U.S. (must be in English, must be dated within the last 3 months)
- Proof that you are an SCU student (transcript)
- Proof that you have financial, physical, and familial ties to your home country
Prior to your visa interview you should collect originals and copies of all supporting documents. We recommend that you carry:
- Proof of DS-160 Visa Application Submission
- Proof Visa Fee Payment
- Passport
- I-20
- Proof of funding for your time in the U.S. (must be in English, must be dated within the last 3 months)
- Proof that you have financial, physical and familial ties to your home country
- OPT/STEM OPT EAD card
- Proof that you are engaging in OPT/STEM OPT (job offer letter, employment verification letter, pay stubs)
What To Expect When Entering The U.S.
Please visit our Arrival and Getting to SCU page for more information about what to expect when entering the U.S. and going through immigration inspection with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
If you have additional questions or need travel advising, please book an appointment. We wish you safe travels.
US immigration regulations are complex and change frequently. The University strives to maintain a website that is both current and helpful, however, Santa Clara University is not responsible for students maintaining lawful immigration status; this is the responsibility of the student. Further, resources and links do not constitute endorsement by Santa Clara University.