Information for Students and Postdocs Currently Residing in the US on F-1 and J-1 Visas
General Information
Good News
Most foreign students and postdocs should be able to leave the US to attend the March 2004 meeting in Montreal, Canada and return without any trouble if they have the proper documentation. Unless you were born in or are a citizen of one of seven countries, you can make use of the Automatic Visa Revalidation program. We hope that the information on this website will help you make an informed decision on your travel to Montreal, but we want to emphasize that it is always desirable that you check with your university or lab office of international students and scholars (ISS) before you make your decision and again several weeks before departure to make sure that your documents are in order.
Warnings
| Be sure to meet with an ISS advisor if: 1. You are in the process of making any changes in your visa status. 2. You and/or your family members need to apply for a new visa. 3. Your SEVIS-issued I-20 or DS-2019 (formerly IAP-66) has or is about to expire, or if any information on the form has changed (such as your major, source of funding, or degree level). 4. Your passport is about to or has expired. Passports should be valid at least six months after your planned date of return to the US. 5. You are a citizen of a country for which the U.S. requires additional security clearance. |
Key countries with special problems.
In April 2002, new regulations were implemented that pose a risk for students and scholars who are citizens of certain countries (Specifically, citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba) and who are now ineligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation. We encourage students from these countries and those who were born in these countries to become thoroughly familiar with the requirements and procedures for travel outside the US and to only undertake such travel if absolutely necessary.
BCIS advisory
An advisory a few months ago from the Bureau of Citizen and Immigration Services stated:
| ?Caution: Due to recent changes to U.S. immigration law, travel outside of the United States may have severe consequences for aliens who are in the process of adjusting their status, extending their nonimmigrant stay, or changing their nonimmigrant status. Upon return, these aliens may be found inadmissible, their applications may be denied, or both. It is important that the alien obtain the proper documentation before leaving the U.S.? |
What does this mean? The BCIS caution refers to people who are adjusting status (from nonimmigrant to immigrant or switching from one nonimmigrant category to another) or whose authorized stay as determined by BCIS has expired. If none of these apply to you, and you have the key documents, you probably have nothing to worry about.
Additional changes may occur
Changes to visa regulations may continue to occur, so the information in this advisory is subject to change. Check this site again every month or so. Ultimately, each individual must decide for him or herself whether or not to travel abroad
Key travel documents
The following documents are essential for travel outside the US:
- An unexpired passport valid at least six months after your planned date of return to the US;
- A SEVIS-issued I-20 for F-1 visa holders (this is the documentation that states you are attending school in the US) or SEVIS-issued DS-2019 (formerly IAP-66) for J-1 visa holders with a valid signature of the Designated School Official. (All international students, scholars, and accompanying dependents will be issued new SEVIS Forms I-20 or SEVIS Forms DS-2019 by August 1, 2003.); and
- Form I-94 (The small card that you received when you entered the country. You might want to staple this inside your passport.) It is very important that you keep this form with you.
The following documents may also be useful for students on F-1 visas:
- Proof of enrollment in the form of a Certificate of Enrollment or transcript from your university Registrar's Office.
- Proof of financial ability, i.e., documentation verifying your funding source as indicated in your SEVIS-issued I-20; this may include personal or family bank statements, affidavits of support, or copies of your fellowship or assistantship letter
Other sources of information
The material on this web site is compiled from many sources: Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, many university offices for International Students and Scholars, and advisory offices at the national labs. For additional information see:
- Bureau for Citizen and Immigration Services (BCIS)
- Department of State
- International Visitors Office of the National Academies
- APS visa web site
- Each office of international students and scholars at universities and national labs maintains web sites that should be consulted.
- Information on the Difference Between a Visa and an Arrival-Departure Record
- Other general visa information
Traveling TO Canada
General Information
It is very common for students traveling into Canada to simply "cross the border" without giving thought to what might be required by the Canadian Government for entering as a visitor. Although citizens of some countries do not need a Canadian visas to enter Canada, citizens of many countries do require a Canadian visa. Tourist visas must be obtained from the one of the US visa offices of the Canadian Consulate General . To find an office in the US, click on http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/offices/missions.html, where you will find "United States" under "Western Hemisphere."
Requirements to obtain a Canadian visa FROM THE U.S.
Complete instructions and a copy of the "Application for a Temporary Resident Visa" are available from Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
The Canadian government recommends that prior to submission of your application that you contact the visa office at a Canadian consulate in the U.S. to determine whether you will need to fill out additional forms or provide additional information.
In general, the following items are required to obtain a Canadian visa from the U.S
- Valid Passport;
- Valid Form I-94 [Arrival/Departure record usually stapled inside passport];
- A SEVIS-issued I-20 or SEVIS-issued DS-2019 with the signature of the Designated School Official
- Two passport photographs taken within the last 6 months;
- Completed Canadian "Application for a Temporary Resident Visa" (IMM 5257);
- Canadian application processing fee (single entry visa applications is approximately US$50). Check the web site of the visa office at the Consulate for information on fees and accepted methods of payment and submitting applications;
- Evidence of sufficient funds for travel, subsistence and housing while in Canada; and
- Evidence of return transportation
To find an office in the US, click on http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/offices/missions.html, where you will find "United States" under "Western Hemisphere."
Returning FROM Canada
Most foreign students and postdocs should be able to leave the US to attend the March 2004 meeting in Montreal, Canada and return within 30 days without any trouble. If you have the proper documentation, you should be eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation by the customs agent at the airport or at the border when you return.
Warnings:
Remember that the Automatic Visa Revalidation is not applicable to:
1) Nationals of Cuba, North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya and Sudan. If you were born in one of these countries, you may also have difficulties.
2) People who apply for a new U.S. visa and are found ineligible or who are awaiting adjudication of their new visa application cannot re-enter the U.S. from Canada using solely their current Form I-94 as was possible in some cases in the past.
Also see this special notice from the U.S. Department of State regarding special processing requirements that could cause delays.
