Travel Information
J-1 Students need to have their DS-2019's signed for travel in order to come back to the U.S. We recommend that you request a new signature if the one that you have on your DS-2019 will be older than 6 months by the time you get back to the U.S.
What do I need to do to request a travel signature?
- Be regisered for the current semester and the semester you expect to be back if registration isopen
- Fill out our Travel Signature Request form
- Submit your original DS-2019 atleast 2 weeks before your departure
Unless it is a true emergency, you should expect to have your request processed in 5 business days
Most Frequently Asked Questions:
1. What is the processing time for travel signature requests?
Answer: You should expect to have your request processed in 5 business days. However, your travel request should be submitted at least 2 weeks before your departure in case you need to resolve issues, such as holds or balances on your account. In addition, most students tend to travel at the end of the semester, and this huge number of requests mightt delay the time travel requests usually take to be processed.
2. What if I forget to request a travel signature and I'm already outside the U.S.?
Answer: First, don't panic. You just need to fill our our Travel Signature Request form, and contact ISSS to mak sure your request is processed in a timely manner. You will be required to pay the mailing fee if your DS-2019 needs to be express mailed to you.
3. Do I need to have my DS-2019 signed for travel if I am on Academic Training?
Answer: Yes
4. What is form I-94?
Answer: Form I-94 is the Arrival-Departure Record. This form is given to you to fill out upon arrival. The information on your I-94 card indicates your entry date and date you are authorized to stay in the U.S. until.
This form is very important as it is used to establish your legal status, so make sure it has correct information - keep it in a safe place along with all your other immigration documents. Since this document is prood that you are legally in the country and it states the period you can stay in the U.S., it is very important that you surrender it when you leave the U.S. By doing this the date of your departure will be recorded. Unless you encounter a problem at the port of entry, you will be getting an I-94 with duration on status (D/S). This means that you ca stay in the U.S. as long as you are maintaining status.
5. I lost my I-94 card - what should I do?
Answer: You can apply for a replacement I-94 card by filling out form I-102. You can download this form from http://www.uscis.gov/. Come to ISSS for advising regarding this matter.
6. There is a mistake on my I-94 card - What should I do?
Answer: Please come to ISSS to get information about having your I-94 card corrected.
7. When should I extend my passport?
Answer: You are responsible for maintaining a current passport at all times. Your passport should always be valid for at least 6 months into the future. Depending on your country, you might be able to extend your passport here in the U.S. or might have to go home to do it. If you get a new passport, make sure you always travel with the new one and the old one if your valid visa is on the latter.
8. My J-1 visa is expired--should I renew it?
Answer: You only need a valid visa if you are planning to travel outside of the U.S. because you will not be able to re-enter if your visa has expired. However, as long as you are maintaining status, you can stay in the U.S. with an expired visa.
9. I’m planning to renew my J-1 visa--do I need to pay the SEVIS fee again?
Answer: Generally you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again for a renewal of a student visa. However, you should take your receipt from your first SEVIS payment with you to the visa interview. For information on SEVIS fee payment, visit https://www.fmjfee.com/help.jhtml.
10. Can I go to Canada, Mexico, or one of the islands (other than Cuba) adjacent to the U.S. and come back to the country with an expired visa?
Answer: Students can usually travel to these places and come back with an expired visa as long as they have a valid I-20, passport and I-94—there are some restrictions though. This is called Automatic Visa Revalidation. If you are interested in this option, come talk to an ISSS advisor.
11. My visa is expired; can I go to Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands and come back to the U.S.?
Answer: Yes, but you need to have been maintaining your status in the U.S. and have your DS-2019 endorsed for travel.
12. Where can I get information regarding applying for V-1 visas?
Answer: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html
13. Where can I get information regarding foreign consular offices in the U.S.?
Answer: For information from the U.S. Department of State, see http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/69458.htm. For more information from ISSS, see the Visa Renewal page.