Global Education Office

If you are in the U.S. on an F-1, J-1, H-1B, O-1, or TN visa sponsored by VCU, or on a dependent F-2, J-2, H-4, O-3, or TD visa, please review the following guidance carefully before finalizing your plans to travel abroad.

International travel by U.S. visa holders always carries some risk to a timely return to the U.S.   Risk factors include:

• Airline or other transportation disruption.
• U.S. consulate processing delays—if you need to apply for a new U.S. visa while you are outside the U.S.
• Unexpected climate or natural disaster related events (storms, earthquakes, epidemics, etc.)
• Unexpected political disruption (worker strikes, civil friction, wars, etc.). Although these are not common they do occur.

All of these factors are beyond your control and they are subject to change without notice—and any one (or combination) of them could delay your timely return to the U.S.  

If you are not comfortable with this risk, you should reconsider your travel plans.

If you are planning to travel outside the U.S. to another country, you need to know what the other country’s travel guidance—including their visa regulations—are.

For example, if you plan to travel to Mexico or Belgium, you need to know the Mexican and Belgian travel guidance and visa regulations.

GEO’s focus is on U.S. visa regulations and travel restrictions.   We cannot answer any questions about what another country’s visa or travel restrictions are.

To find out what another country’s travel guidance and visa regulations are, you could do one of the following:

• Search for “[country] visa regulations”
• Contact your airline or shipping company if you are traveling to the other country by air or sea

Effective May 12, 2023, the U.S. government’s Covid-19 international travel restrictions are canceled. 

The U.S. government currently has no Covid-19 or other health-related international travel restrictions in effect. 

GEO cannot provide information about foreign governments’ restrictions on admission to their countries. For information about a non-U.S. country’s government’s restrictions, please contact that country’s government by performing an internet search.

Example: “[name of country] government COVID-19 travel restrictions”

GEO recommends that you check the foreign government’s website frequently to ensure that you have the most up-to-date guidance.

U.S. consulates around the world are open and providing services, but many of them are operating at reduced capacity or prioritizing services to U.S. citizens, which can delay visa stamp application processing times.

U.S. consulates’ operations are also affected by local (in-country) conditions as national holidays, weather events, political situations, etc.

For official information about a specific U.S. consulate’s operating procedures, including their current visa stamp application processes and timelines, contact the U.S. consulate at which you will be applying for your visa stamp.

The official list of U.S. consulates around the world is online at https://www.usembassy.gov/.

A U.S. consulate's website contains the most up-to-date and definitive information about visa application procedures in effect for that consulate at the time you check the website.

U.S. consulate procedures and timelines posted on their websites are subject to change without notice. GEO does not have additional or "inside" information about consulate processes or any upcoming changes (if any).

GEO recommends that you check the U.S. consulate’s website frequently to ensure that you have the most up-to-date guidance.

Please contact your airline for information about their schedules and changes to their schedules, as well as airline-specific guidance they may have regarding international travel.

If you will be traveling by air, your airline may also be a possible source of information about foreign governments’ restrictions on admission to their countries.

For information about your airline’s travel restrictions, please contact the airline by performing an internet search.

Example: “[name of airline] travel destination COVID-19 restrictions”

GEO recommends that you check the airline’s website frequently to ensure that you have the most up-to-date guidance.

If you decide to travel internationally, please review the visa-specific guidance below.

What is GEO’s guidance for F-1 and F-2 visa holders?
Before proceeding with your planned travel outside of the United States, be sure you have reviewed all of the information above about risk factors as those factors may affect the following visa-specific guidance.      

Travel Document Checklist
To return to the U.S. in F-1 or F-2 status, please be prepared to present the following documents either to your airline or to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP):

1. Form I-20 with a valid travel signature on page 2. The signature in the Travel Endorsement section of page 2 of your I-20 must be no more than one year old on the date of your return to the U.S. (Travel signatures for students engaged in Optional Practical Training are only valid for six months.)
2. Passport. Your passport should be valid for at least six months into the future.
3. F-1 (or F-2) visa stamp. The visa stamp in your passport booklet must be unexpired when presenting for reentry to the U.S. (Citizens of Canada and Bermuda are exempt from this requirement.)
4. Unofficial transcripts. F-1 students should also carry a copy of their unofficial transcripts to show that they have maintained a full course of study (FCS), are enrolled for the current semester, and, if possible, enrolled for the upcoming semester. You can print your unofficial transcripts from your VCU eServices account. 
5. Form I-94. Each time you depart the U.S., your previous Form I-94, and its unique Admission Number, will disappear from your record on the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website. It is important that you print your I-94 before each trip outside of the U.S. When you return through a U.S. Port-of-Entry (POE), a new I-94 will be generated for you to print. 

*F-2 dependents are not required to travel with their F-1 primary. They should carry copies of their F-1 primary’s immigration documents in addition to their own. 

**Visa stamps are only issued outside of the U.S., at a U.S. embassy or consulate. If you need to obtain a new F-1 visa stamp in your passport before returning to the U.S., you must leave adequate time in your itinerary to do so. Visa application instructions, a list of U.S. embassies and consulates, and the approximate appointment wait times at each, can be found on the Department of State website.

I-20 Travel Signatures
F-1 students must periodically notify GEOIS of their plans to travel outside of the U.S. to request a travel signature. Students traveling outside of the U.S. will receive a digital travel signature in the “Travel Endorsement” section of page 2 of their Form I-20. 8 CFR 214.2(f)(4)

How do I know If I need a new or updated I-20 travel signature? 
Please check page 2 of your most current I-20, in the “Travel Endorsement” section.

Travel signatures are valid for one full year (12 months) from the date of issuance, or until the I-20 Program End Date, whichever occurs first. There is no limit to the number of times, or locations, that the signature can be used within that validity period. 

For students engaged in OPT and STEM OPT: I-20 travel signatures are valid for 6 months, or until the OPT end date, whichever occurs first. 

Examples: 
• Current Students. If your most recent travel signature was issued on October 1, 2024 it is valid for reentry until September 30, 2025 (or until your I-20 Program End Date if that occurs before September 30, 2025). 
• Students on OPT. If your most recent travel signature was issued on October 1, 2024 it is valid for reentry until March 31, 2025 (or until your OPT end date if that occurs before March 31, 2025). 

How do I request a new or updated I-20 travel signature? 
1. Visit the iStart Home Page and log into your account using your VCU eID and password. This is the same eID and password that you use to access all other VCU accounts that require CAS authentication.
2. Select “F-1 Student Services” from the menu on the left-hand side of the screen.
3. Select the “Request for an I-20 Travel Signature” electronic form (E-Form).
4. Complete all required E-Form fields and upload the required documents.
5. Submit your E-Form to the queue for processing. You will receive a confirmation email when your E-Form request is submitted. You can also track the status of your request from the iStart Home Page. 

E-Form requests will be processed in the order that they are received. Please ensure that you prepare adequately and submit your request at least 3-5 business days before your scheduled departure date from the U.S.

If your request is approved, we will email an updated I-20 with a new travel signature to your VCU student Gmail account. You will also receive an approval notification on your iStart Home Page. 

I am unable to log into iStart. What should I do?
The iStart website works best when it is connected to VCU’s secure wifi network. If you are unable to pull up the website, there could be features on your device that are blocking it. 

We advise you to install the RamsVPN product using the instructions here to help open website securely. Immigration Services is slowly transitioning all of its request forms to the iStart platform so it is important that all enrolled students have access to the system. 

Please contact VCU’s IT Support Center if you are still unable to open the website after installing the RamsVPN. 

What do I do with my new I-20 when I receive it?
1.  Print the I-20.
2.  Sign it in blue ink. This “wet” signature is what distinguishes this I-20 as the original that you will use for travel. 
• If you are under 18 years of age, you must also have a parent or legal guardian sign below your name on page 1.
• For students with F-2 dependents: The F-1 primary must sign all I-20s attached to their F-1 SEVIS record using blue ink. 

Please keep all I-20s ever issued to you in a safe place at home. As you are issued new I-20s and new travel signatures, file the previous ones away with your other important immigration documents. You may be asked to produce them all again at a later date, including when you apply for future immigration benefits. GEOIS is not responsible for keeping signed copies of your previous I-20s. 

How long can I be outside of the U.S. on each trip?
Provided you remain enrolled in a full course of study (FCS) each Fall and Spring semester, and you have all of the required documentation on the Travel Document Checklist (above), you may stay outside of the U.S. for a maximum of five months at a time. Students on OPT should plan to be out of the U.S. no more than 30 days at a time, even if approved by their employer.

If you are outside of the U.S. for more than five months, your current SEVIS record will be terminated and you will be required to obtain a new one to return. The new I-20 will have a new SEVIS ID Number and require you to pay a new SEVIS I-901 Fee at least three business days before your return. Please note that returning on a new, Initial I-20 will also restart your one-year eligibility clock for Curricular Practical Training (CPT) and Optional Practical Training (OPT). 

Emergency Travel Signature Requests
In the event of an unexpected emergency, please email GEOIS@vcu.edu to ask that your E-Form request for an I-20 travel signature be prioritized. And please note your expected departure and return dates in the email. 

 

Before proceeding, be sure you have reviewed all of the information above about risk factors as those factors may affect the following visa-specific guidance.

Travel Documents/I-20 Travel Signature

To return to the U.S. in F-1 or F-2 status pursuant to OPT or STEM OPT be prepared to present the following documents either to your airline prior to departure for the U.S. or to CBP upon arrival in the U.S.

1. Passport valid for at least six months after the date of your intended admission to the U.S.
2. Unexpired F-1 (or F-2) visa stamp in the passport. (Citizens of Canada are exempt from this requirement.)
3. Unexpired I-20 endorsed for OPT or STEM OPT with a travel signature no older than six months on the date of your intended admission to the U.S. Please see below.
4. Unexpired Employment Authorization Card (EAD, the card itself) issued for OPT or STEM OPT (see below).
5. Travel letter from your OPT or STEM OPT employer confirming that you are returning to your OPT or STEM OPT job (see below).
6. Three most recent pay statements from your OPT or STEM OPT employer.

Present items one through five in every case. Present items six through seven as well, but only if CBP asks to see them.

Unexpired EAD

If you have completed your VCU academic program and filed an I-765 application with USCIS for an OPT EAD and you expect to return to the U.S. pursuant to OPT or STEM OPT employment authorization:

• CBP expects to you to present an unexpired EAD (the card itself) for OPT or STEM OPT upon arrival in the U.S. in addition to the other documents listed above.
• If you cannot present an unexpired EAD to CBP upon arrival you are at increased risk for a delayed or denied admission to the U.S. by CBP.
• If you need to apply for a new F-1 visa stamp from a U.S. consulate abroad, the consulate expects to see an unexpired EAD (the card itself) for OPT or STEM OPT.
• When USCIS approves the I-765 for an OPT or STEM OPT EAD, they will send the EAD to the U.S. mailing address you indicated on the I-765 application. If USCIS approves the I-765 while you are outside the U.S., you may need to ask a friend in the U.S. to send the EAD to you by a trackable courier (such as FedEx) at your address abroad.

GEO’s guidance in this area varies by your OPT situation.

OPT, meaning 12-month OPT (not STEM extension OPT). If you have filed an I-765 with USCIS for an OPT EAD, GEO recommends that you remain in the U.S. until you have received the EAD from USCIS. Departing the U.S. while your I-765 application in process at USCIS could easily jeopardize the I-765 application. Even if the I-765 application is not jeopardized, CBP is likely to deny your admission to the U.S. Please note you cannot legally file an I-765 for OPT from outside the U.S.

STEM OPT, meaning 24-month STEM extension of OPT. If you have filed an I-765 with USCIS for a STEM OPT EAD but cannot present an unexpired EAD to CBP upon arrival in the U.S., present your OPT EAD plus your USCIS I-797 receipt notice for the OPT STEM EAD to CBP. Please note you cannot legally file an I-765 for STEM OPT from outside the U.S.

If you have any questions about this guidance, please email GEOIS@vcu.edu (Subject Line: Travel Without an EAD) and an Immigration Advisor will respond to you shortly.

OPT or STEM OPT Employer Travel Letter

Out of concern for your employer’s staffing needs and operations, and your reputation as a responsible employee, you should advise your employer of your travel plans and the risk of a delayed return to the U.S. as early as possible.

Requesting an employer travel letter for CBP review is a good way to initiate the conversation about your travel plans with your employer.

GEO cannot provide a template for an employer travel letter, but here are some suggestions.

Your employer travel letter should be:

• Recently dated
• On employer letterhead, with the salutation Dear CBP Officer
• State that you [using your full name as it appears on your I-20] have been employed by the employer pursuant to OPT (or STEM OPT) since [date] as a [your job title], and that you are returning to the U.S. on or around [date] to continue your employment
• Include the author’s name, title, and contact information, and be signed by them (electronic signature is acceptable)

F-1 Visa Stamp

If you need to obtain a new F-1 visa stamp in your passport before returning to the U.S., contact the US consulate in your home country. F-1 and F-2 visa stamps are not available from inside the U.S., they are available only at U.S. consulates abroad. https://www.usembassy.gov/

(Citizens of Canada: You do not need F-1 or F-2 visa stamps.)

I-20 Travel Signature

You do not need an I-20 travel signature in order to depart the U.S. You do need an I-20 travel signature in order to return to the U.S. The I-20 travel signature must be provided by a member of the VCU Immigration Services staff.

In accord with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy in effect for the duration of the global pandemic, VCU Immigration Services will be providing I-20 travel signatures electronically only.

Do You Need a New I-20 Travel Signature?

Please check the date of your most recent I-20 travel signature. Travel signatures are located on page 2 of your I-20.

Travel signatures are valid for use in returning to the U.S. for 6 months from the date of the last signature.

Example: If the most recent travel signature on your I-20 was provided on November 10, 2020, it is valid for use in returning to the US until November 9, 2021.

If You Do Need a New I-20 Travel Signature

If, based on your travel dates, you do need a new travel I-20 travel signature, please do the following:

1. Send an email to GEOIS@vcu.edu (subject line: I-20 Travel Signature)
2. In the text of the email, include the following information:

a. Your full name
b. Your V number
c. Your city of birth
d. Your current U.S. address and telephone number
e. If you are on OPT or STEM OPT, a copy of your unexpired EAD or a copy of the USCIS Form I-797 receipt notice for your pending I-765 application

We need this information in order to process your I-20 travel signature request.

After we receive the information above from you:

• We will prepare an I-20 with a travel signature and email it to you as a .pdf (NOTE: Please allow 3-5 business days for us to complete this task)
• You will then need to print the I-20 out on a color printer and sign the I-20 in blue ink and carry the newly travel signed I-20 with you as you return to the U.S.

Urgent Need for a Travel Signature

Remember: You do not need an I-20 travel signature in order to depart the US. You do need an I-20 travel signature in order to return to the U.S.

If, based on your travel dates, you cannot wait for VCU Immigration Services to provide an I-20 travel signature to you before departure from the U.S., please depart the U.S. as planned.

After you have arrived at your foreign destination, email GEO according to the process outlined above, and we will email the I-20 to you for use in returning to the U.S.

Before proceeding, be sure you have reviewed all of the information above about risk factors as those factors may affect the following visa-specific guidance.
      

Travel Documents/DS-2019 Travel Signature

To return to the U.S. in J-1 or J-2 status be prepared to present the following documents either to your airline prior to departure for the U.S. or to CBP immediately upon arrival in the U.S.

• Passport valid for at least 6 months after the date of your intended admission to the U.S.
• Unexpired J-1 or J-2 visa stamp in the passport.  (Citizens of Canada are exempt from this requirement.)
• Unexpired DS-2019 with a travel signature no older than 12 months on the date of your intended admission to the U.S.  
  
  

J-1 or J-2 Visa Stamp

If you need to obtain a new J-1 or J-2 visa stamp in your passport before returning to the U.S., contact the US consulate in your home country.  J-1 and J-2 visa stamps are not available from inside the U.S., they are available only at U.S. consulates abroad.  https://www.usembassy.gov/ 

(Citizens of Canada: You do not need J-1 or J-2 visa stamps.)

 

DS-2019 Travel Signature

You do not need an DS-2019 travel signature in order to depart the U.S.  You do need an DS-2019 travel signature in order to return to the U.S. The DS-2019 travel signature must be provided by a member of the VCU Immigration Services staff.  

 

Do You Need a New DS-2019 Travel Signature?

Please check the date of your most recent DS-2019 travel signature. Travel signatures are located on page 1 of your DS-2019.   

Travel signatures are valid for use in returning to the U.S. for 12 months from the date of the last signature.  

Example:  If the most recent travel signature on your DS-2019 was provided on November 10, 2020, it is valid for use in returning to the US until November 9, 2021.  

 

If You Do Need a New DS-2019 Travel Signature

If, based on your travel dates, you do need a new travel DS-2019 travel signature, please do the following:

1. Send an email to GEOIS@vcu.edu (subject line: DS-2019 Travel Signature)
2. In the text of the email, include the following information:
1. Your full name
2. Your V number
3. Your city of birth
4. Your current U.S. address and telephone number
5. Copy of your current medical insurance card

We need this information in order to process your DS-2019 travel signature request.  

After we receive the information above from you, we will email you a DS 2019 with an updated travel signature.

 

Urgent Need for a Travel Signature

You do not need an DS-2019 travel signature in order to depart the U.S. You do need an DS-2019 travel signature in order to return to the US.

If, based on your travel dates, you cannot wait for VCU Immigration Services to provide a DS-2019 travel signature to you before departure from the U.S., please depart the US as planned.   

After you have arrived at your foreign destination, email GEO according to the process outlined above, and we will FedEx the newly travel signed DS-2019 to you for use in returning to the U.S.

Before proceeding, be sure you have reviewed all of the information above about risk factors as those factors may affect the following visa-specific guidance.

Travel Documents

To return to the U.S. in H-1B or H-4 status, be prepared to present the following documents either to your airline prior to departure for the U.S. or to CBP immediately upon arrival in the U.S.

1. Passport valid for at least six months after the date of your intended admission.
2. Unexpired H-1B or H-4 visa stamp in the passport. 
3. Unexpired Form I-797 H-1B approval notice.
4. Recently dated letter from your hiring unit's HR manager confirming that you are returning to your job at VCU. For a template letter for your HR manager to use, please email Paul Babitts at babittsp@vcu.edu
5. Three most recent VCU pay statements.

Present items one through three in every case. Present items four and five as well but only if CBP asks to see them.

H-1B or H-4 Visa Stamp

If you need to obtain a new H-1B or H-4 visa stamp in your passport before returning to the U.S., contact the US consulate in your home country. H-1B and H-4 visa stamps are not available from inside the U.S., they are available only at U.S. consulates abroad. https://www.usembassy.gov/

(Citizens of Canada: You do not need H-1B or H-4 visa stamps.)

Before proceeding, be sure you have reviewed all of the information above about risk factors as those factors may affect the following visa-specific guidance.

GEO’s guidance to O-1 and O-3 visa holders is identical to our guidance for H-1B and H-4 visa holders. Please review that guidance and substitute O-1 or O-3 for H-1B or H-4.

Before proceeding, be sure you have reviewed all of the information above about risk factors as those factors may affect the following visa-specific guidance.

GEO’s guidance to TN and TD visa holders is similar to our guidance for H-1B and H-4 visa holders, but there are some important differences.

If you are employed by VCU in TN status and need international travel guidance, please contact GEOIS@vcu.edu for specific advice.

If you have questions or concerns about any of the guidance provided here, please send an email to GEOIS@vcu.edu (subject line: International Travel Guidance) and an Immigration Advisor will respond to you shortly.