Important note: Iraq and Libya were recently removed from the list. *U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents must complete the employment verification process at Human Resources. Each of us needs to recognize that being permitted into any country other than our country of citizenship or country of lawful permanent residence is a privilege - not a right. 4. Although the DOS has not published an official list of countries, it is likely that these procedures apply to citizens of the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Cuba, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. In some cases, you may be eligible to return to the U.S. from abroad with an expired visa stamp using the " Automatic Visa Revalidation " process. Focus on your long-term goals, and do not look for a "quick fix" for an immediate problem. More information is available at: http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/content_multi_image_0006.shtm. http://www.bu.edu/isso/news/2003/2007-09-09-registration.html. Photo by Jackie Riccardi, Medical Care, Immunization & Health Insurance, Researcher, Faculty, and Staff Employment, Completing your program, employment or activity, Form DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, Reminders for F-1 Students Graduating in Summer, US Ends COVID Vaccination Travel Requirements, Dispatches from Abroad: International Students on Life at Home, Study Abroad Program Directors on Coping with Coronavirus, Far from Boston, Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future New Video Series The World After Coronavirus, (#WorldAfterCorona), Virtual Coffee & Conversation: Adapting to a New Reality, Updated: BU Moves All Classes Online Due to Coronavirus Questions and Answers, Center for English Language & Orientation Programs, Application fee (check with the consulate for the fee amount and how it must be paid, or visit the, One photograph (you should review the consulate website to determine how to submit your photograph). Let us say that you manage to conceal the "other" country travel or the visa application and present yourself as eligible for admission under automatic revalidation, knowing that this is not true. It does not grant permission to enter a third country (a country that is not the US or your home country). Automatic visa revalidation is not the same as applying for a new visa. That is the big risk. Automatic visa revalidation allows most F-1 students to take a trip of less than 30 days to countries contiguous to the United States and reenter on an expired visa provided you have proper documentation and have not applied for a new visa during the visit. Automatic visa revalidation is one of a handful of exceptions to the general rule that a person who is not a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident can only lawfully enter the United States if he/she has a valid visa. Office of Housing Resources, Medical Campus, Riho Imada (from left) and Akari Noguchi, both students at the Center for English Language and Orientation Programs, and Andrew Burwash (CAS'18) at the International Student Reception, held September 4 at the Trustee Ballroom. You are in possession of the following documents at the time you reenter the U.S.: Your most recent Form I-94 marked D/S for duration of status. You must retain your Form I-94 when departing the U.S., as it is the basis for your reentry. You should also review the copy of the entire H-1B petition (submitted by the ISSO, on your behalf, to the US Department of Homeland Security) that outlines the terms and expectations for your employment. If your cruise takes you over to Antigua for a day of shopping then you have left contiguous territory and gone to an adjacent island. It includes your approved classification, the dates of eligibility for that classification, and the employer who has filed the petition with USCIS on your behalf (which should be BU). Citizens of certain countries are not eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation Please be prepared to provide this information. Photo by Jackie Riccardi, Visiting Canada, Mexico or Adjacent Islands, Medical Care, Immunization & Health Insurance, Researcher, Faculty, and Staff Employment, Completing your program, employment or activity, Reminders for F-1 Students Graduating in Summer, US Ends COVID Vaccination Travel Requirements, Dispatches from Abroad: International Students on Life at Home, Study Abroad Program Directors on Coping with Coronavirus, Far from Boston, Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future New Video Series The World After Coronavirus, (#WorldAfterCorona), Virtual Coffee & Conversation: Adapting to a New Reality, Updated: BU Moves All Classes Online Due to Coronavirus Questions and Answers, Center for English Language & Orientation Programs. What do those terms mean under this rule? Travel signatures are valid for one year, except for travel to Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands. Travel Out & Reentry: F1 & J1 Students | International Student The following documents are required to re-enter the United States in F-1 or J-1 status: Students on F-1 Optional Practical Training should also have a signature that is no more than six months old on the date of re-entry to the U.S., regardless of the country visited, as well as their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and a letter from an employer verifying they have a job in the U.S. D. New Passport Requirements for Citizens of Canada, Mexico and Bermuda International Students & Scholars Office - Boston University Please refer to the US Department of State (DOS) website for more information regarding visa appointment wait times at specific consulates and embassies, as well as any additional fees required. Electronic or paper Form I-94 valid for an unexpired period of admission or extension of stay, or for duration of status (D/S). The adjacent islands include: The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), Jamaica, Martinique, St. Pierre and Miquelon, Trinidad and Tobago, The Leeward Islands (Anguilla, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Nevis, St. Kitts and the British Virgin Islands), the Windward Islands (Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent) and other British, French or Dutch territories or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea. The above forms can be obtained at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad as well as on the Department of State web site at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html. Have you recently moved? If you hop over to Cuba for a day to see the UNESCO World Heritage sites, then you have violated the "except Cuba" rule. Notably, the expired visa does not have to match the holder's current nonimmigrant visa category. Applying for a Visa - Boston University However, once you depart during this 60-day or 30-day grace period, you may not re-enter the U.S. in F or J status unless you have a new I-20 or DS-2019 to begin a new program of study. The person did not visit any countries other than Mexico or Canada in that period. The examples below outline the specific information to be included on your immigration document. In addition, many students and scholars studying or conducting research in areas considered to be sensitive technology and/or are on the Technology Alert List (TAL) are subject to special security clearance by the Department of State when applying for a visa. If you have a valid visa stamp in your passport, then you can use that stamp to return to the United States.You do not need to use automatic revalidation. Travel Endorsements (commonly known as Travel Signatures) Processing times vary among U.S. embassies and consulates. The TAL can be downloaded at http://www.bu.edu/isso/files/pdf/tal.pdf. If your visa is denied, we suggest that you ask for the reason for the denial and request the reason in writing if possible. Travel | Office of International Services - University of Pittsburgh Registrations, Walk-Ins, and Appointments, Travel to Contiguous Territory & Adjacent Islands. Citizens of Mexico and countries of the adjacent islands are not eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation when traveling to their home country. For scholars in H-1B status, and their dependents in H-4 status, Automatic Visa Revalidation is only available when traveling to Canada or Mexico, not the adjacent islands. However, we strongly caution citizens of these countries that they may still encounter difficulties even refusal if they attempt to take advantage of Automatic Revalidation. If you have changed status while in the United States, and you have a visa stamp that matches your old status (either expired or unexpired), that visa stamp is considered to be automatically changed to a stamp matching the new status and revalidated to a current date for your return to the United States, even though it is not the same as your current status and may have expired. Automatic revalidation is not available if you are going for visa stamping in Canada or Mexico. Please review the information on automatic visa revalidation. Please refer to the US DOS website for more information. The card will indicate the basis for your EAD approval (e.g., F-1 OPT, J-2 dependent, etc. Please read the Visa Denial information on the DOS website and contact the ISSO; we will try to provide you with suggestions that may strengthen your next application. But I know that my friend went to Mexico to get a new visa and returned just fine. You can also get information on wait times for appointments and visa issuance at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php. ), as well as the dates for which you are employable. H1B worker with an expired visa visits the US embassy in . Travel over winter intersession is of particular concern since U.S. embassies and consulates typically experience a high volume of visa applications during this period and many offices close or reduce their hours during the holidays. The ISSO will issue this document for you through a system called SEVIS. Note that travel to adjacent islands applies only to those currently in F or J status. Automatic Revalidation - Salk Institute for Biological Studies F and J nonimmigrants who travel to Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands (except for Cuba) may return to the US using an expired US visa. B. US-VISIT Entry-Exit System More information can be found on the Department of State web site at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html. Even if the officer admits you, you have committed visa fraud. Automatic Visa Revalidation. The decision to subject a person to a security clearance check may be based on a number of different factors including, but not limited to, information in your visa application forms, international travel patterns, and your field of study or research. 7. You do not need to use automatic revalidation. The visa must always be valid when entering the US but is allowed to expire after you have entered the country. Durham, NC 27708 In section 3 of the DS-2019, US immigration regulations allow J-1 students and scholars (and dependent family members in J-2 status) to arrive in the US a maximum of 30 days before your program start date. H-1B/TN/E-3 Employees. Office of International Services649 W 34th StreetRoyal Street Parking Structure, Suite 101Los Angeles, CA 90089Email:ois@usc.edu, Health Insurance and Immunization Requirements, Transfer SEVIS Record from USC to Another Institution, Obtaining a DS-2019 for J-1 Non-Degree Students, Options for Students Who Took a LOA During the Fall 2020 Semester, Limited Status Student: Course Enrollment, SEVIS U.S. Although the Department of State no longer publishes updates to the TAL, the August 2002 version, the last published, will provide you with an overview of the types of areas the Department of State considers sensitive. If you have F or J status and you will only be in Mexico and adjacent islands, then you can enjoy your vacation and use automatic revalidation to return to the United States. A valid I-20 or DS-2019 (formerly IAP-66) which has been endorsed for travel by the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO). If you are a new student to BU and have already completed your new student check-in and have since found a job on-campus, please follow the directions provided above. Address and Contact Update eForm, Royal Street Parking Structure, Suite 101, Have traveled ONLY to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands, Students CANNOT apply for a new US non-immigrant visa during this time, Has maintained and intends to maintain non-immigrant status in the US, Carry valid passport with an expired visa, I-20/ DS-2019 with valid travel signature. In section 5 of the I-20, US immigration regulations allow F-1 students (and dependent family members in F-2 status) to arrive in the US a maximum of 30 days before your program start date. If you will be extending your program at BU, the ISSO will issue a new document to reflect the extended dates of your program or affiliation. Please be advised that the standard machine-readable, nonimmigrant visa application fee is now $131 plus the reciprocity fee for your country (http://travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity/index.htm). Individuals in H-status are also eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation when traveling to Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days. Once you leave, the grace period ends. Visas - International Student Services This resource provides information regarding deadlines to enter the US and the documentation necessary to be admitted to the US in the proper immigration classification to begin your academic activities. I do not have a valid visa stamp. You can carry out this process in the U.S. by contacting one of your countrys embassies or consulates, or by returning home and renewing it there. Please visit the US Department of State website for an overview of what is a US Visa. Applicants should be prepared to provide this detailed information. Report to the ISSO upon Reentry to the U.S. Medical Care, Immunization & Health Insurance, Researcher, Faculty, and Staff Employment, Completing your program, employment or activity, http://www.bu.edu/isso/students/current/f1/travel/index.html, http://www.dhs.gov/xtrvlsec/programs/content_multi_image_0006.shtm, http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html, http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php, http://www.state.gov/j/ct/list/c14151.htm, http://travel.state.gov/visa/reciprocity/index.htm, http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html, http://www.bu.edu/isso/news/2003/2007-09-09-registration.html, New Student FAQs and Travel Considerations During the COVID19 Pandemic, Reminders for F-1 Students Graduating in Summer, US Ends COVID Vaccination Travel Requirements, Dispatches from Abroad: International Students on Life at Home, Study Abroad Program Directors on Coping with Coronavirus, Far from Boston, Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future New Video Series The World After Coronavirus, (#WorldAfterCorona), Virtual Coffee & Conversation: Adapting to a New Reality, Updated: BU Moves All Classes Online Due to Coronavirus Questions and Answers, Center for English Language & Orientation Programs. If visa applicants apply for a visa stamp at a US embassy or consulate in a third country (a country other than their country of citizenship), they may not return to the US while they wait for approval and a possible security clearance. It is likely that passports alone will be required for entry via land ports beginning in the summer of 2008. Ive been admitted to school or invited to teach or do research. If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the Adjacent Caribbean Islands (except Cuba) listed here, you maybe able to return to the U.S.in the same status with an expired visa. Customs and Border Protection also provides information on their website. Reddit - Dive into anything The person's absence from the United States is 30 days or less. H. Traveling after Completion of Your Program (Students) If your visa is denied, you must return to your home country and reapply at a U.S. consulate there. Maintaining a valid passport is an important part of maintaining your immigration status in the U.S. We recommend that your passport be valid for as long as possible into the future, but at the minimum, it should always be valid at least six months beyond any anticipated date(s) of entry to the US. This rule is known as Automatic Visa Revalidation. Congress meant for the laws and regulations to be harsh to discourage people from violating the law, making false statements to government officials, and entering the United States illegally. 12. What is Automatic Visa Revalidation? Automatic Visa Revalidation | Florida Tech These sound like very harsh penalties for a student or scholar who is just trying to get back to school or to his/her research or teaching. Photo specifications are 2 inches square (51 x 51 mm . If your spouse and children will remain in your country, be prepared to explain how they will support themselves without you sending them money from the US. If you have a visa stamp in your passport that matches your current status, but it has expired, that visa stamp is considered to be automatically revalidated to a current date for your return to the United States, even though it has expired. Medical Care, Immunization & Health Insurance, Researcher, Faculty, and Staff Employment, Completing your program, employment or activity, Reminders for F-1 Students Graduating in Summer, US Ends COVID Vaccination Travel Requirements, Dispatches from Abroad: International Students on Life at Home, Study Abroad Program Directors on Coping with Coronavirus, Far from Boston, Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future New Video Series The World After Coronavirus, (#WorldAfterCorona), Virtual Coffee & Conversation: Adapting to a New Reality, Updated: BU Moves All Classes Online Due to Coronavirus Questions and Answers, Center for English Language & Orientation Programs. The regulation has changed. You cannot use automatic revalidation to return to the United States. Therefore, if you need a new visa, please seriously consider your travel plans. Some limited travel abroad may be possible with an expired visa. For more information, please visit our Registration and Domestic Travel within the United States webpage. Suppose I go to Canada or Mexico with an expired visa in my passport, apply for a visa, and the visa is denied. If you plan to take a cruise, please bear in mind that the cruise ship may cross international borders. Security Clearances Information about the appointment or job for which you have been hired: Academic appointment letter* (if you are working in a teaching or research position), HR job offer letter (if you have been hired for a staff position) or, Letter from hiring department specifying your job title, start and end date, salary and direct supervisor (for temporary hires). This process revalidates your visa (making it eligible for the single trip), but does . If you are traveling in the middle of your academic activities at BU, you may need to renew your visa to return to the US and resume study, research, teaching, etc. In addition, many students and scholars studying or conducting research in areas considered to be sensitive technology and/or are on the Technology Alert List (TAL) are subject to special security clearance by the Department of State when applying for a visa. Your DS-2019 indicates that we have invited you to study or perform scholarly activities and that we have created a record for you in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Completing the Form I-9 allows the ISSO to confirm that you have employment authorization that permits you to work in the U.S. To complete your I-9, you will need to provide: *If the ISSO has prepared immigration documents to assist in your employment sponsorship (such as in J-1, H-1, TN, or O-1 immigration status), we may already have a copy of an appointment letter or job offer letter on file. Once you have obtained your visa, please see Entering the US as you make your travel plans. Photo by Jackie Riccardi. For students in F-1 status who are in a period of Optional Practical Training following graduation, the travel signature is valid for only six months for travel to anywhere outside the U.S.. Additional information about traveling outside the U.S. can be found at: For F-1 students: Why are you telling me this? Thus, any time you, as a foreign national, choose to travel abroad knowing that you will need a new visa stamp to reenter, there is no guarantee that 1) the new visa stamp will be issued, or 2) that you will be readmitted at the port of entry. Office of Housing Resources, Medical Campus, Riho Imada (from left) and Akari Noguchi, both students at the Center for English Language and Orientation Programs, and Andrew Burwash (CAS'18) at the International Student Reception, held September 4 at the Trustee Ballroom. You dont. However, Automatic Visa Revalidation allows most nonimmigrant visa holders to travel to contiguous territories (Canada, Mexico and the adjacent islands, except Cuba) for a visit of 30 days or fewer, and return to the U.S. with an expired U.S. visa stamp, provided they had previously entered the U.S. in a nonimmigrant visa category and have been maintaining valid nonimmigrant status. You must not apply for a visa at a United States embassy or consulate while in Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean. You must initiate the visa application process with the nearest US embassy or consulate. International Students & Scholars Office - Boston University The form requires the applicant to list contact information of family members and a work history that includes dates and contact information of previous employers.