Travel FAQs 

If you plan on traveling outside the U.S., please make sure that all your documents are in proper order, to avoid any complications when re-entering the U.S. Please review the following information to find out more.

What is a travel signature? Do I need one?

All I-20 and DS-2019 documents must be signed with in 6 months of re-entry into the U.S. to be valid. Find out what travel signatures look like at The Travel Signature FAQ Page.

If you will be traveling either outside or inside the U.S., international students and scholars are advised by the Immigration Service to be sure that you have your SEVIS Form I-20 (F visa holders) or Form DS-2019 (J visa holders) signed within the past six (6) months. Given the potential scrutiny that individuals may face upon inspection, a signature during the current semester confirming current enrollment is recommended.

Please do not wait until the last minute to request a certificate of enrollment and travel signature. It is a VERY hectic time for us all so it is VERY helpful to plan ahead. All you will need to do is drop your I-20 or DS-2019 off at the ISSO and you may pick it up on the next business day. The ISSO will require three (3) business days to process a certificate of enrollment. Please plan accordingly. Remember, one travel signature is valid for 6 months, regardless of how many times you leave and re-enter

Is my passport in order?

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) and the Department of State (DOS) have advised that all passports should be valid at least six (6) months into the future when traveling. If you need to extend your current passport, or obtain a new passport, please contact your Embassy or Consulate in the U.S. immediately to confirm the processing time and procedures

What can expect at the port of entry?

On January 2, 2004, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented the US-VISIT program. This program is for all non-immigrant visa holders who enter the United States. Below is from the US-VISIT fact sheet posted from DHS:

Many of the procedures in place today remain unchanged and are familiar to international travelers. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer will review each visitor's travel documents, such as a visa and passport, and ask questions about the visitor's stay in the U.S.

In addition, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer will use an inkless fingerprint scanner to automatically read the fingerprints of arriving visitors holding visas. The visitor will be asked to put the index finger of one hand and then the index finger of the other hand on the scanner. The Customs and Border Protection Officer will also take a digital photograph of the visitor.

The biographic and fingerprint data will be used to verify the identity of the visitor and compared against watch lists. At that point, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer will either admit the visitor or conduct additional inquiries based on the verification results. These procedures should reduce fraud, identity theft, and the risk that terrorists and criminals will enter the United States undetected.


Do I need a new U.S. Entry Visa Stamp to re-enter the U.S.?

If you are an international student or scholar, and your entry visa stamp in your passport has expired or you have changed your visa status since obtaining your previous stamp, you will need to apply for a new entry visa stamp at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Given changes in consular procedures at many posts abroad, it will be VERY important to contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you will be applying well in advance of your departure from the U.S. Since August 2003, in-person interviews are required for all non-immigrant visa applications. In certain cases, the interview may be waived. Please consult the appropriate embassy or consulate web site for their visa renewal procedure). Processing times may be longer than your initial experience at the U.S. Embassy. It will be most helpful to contact the embassy or consulate now to confirm what documents are needed, to confirm if an appointment is necessary, how to schedule the interview appointment, and how long it will take to obtain your new entry visa stamp. The U.S. Department of State maintains a listing of links to U.S. Embassies/Consulates worldwide.

Please note that the Department of Homeland Security and Department of State have advised that airlines may not allow passengers to board their plane back to the U.S. if they do not have a current and valid entry visa stamp along with the corresponding SEVIS visa document. It is therefore essential to make sure that you plan for enough time abroad to obtain your entry visa stamp prior to your return to the U.S. Visa holders are not able to obtain new entry visa stamps from within the U.S.; one must apply at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate while abroad.

You will need to bring the following documents, and likely additional materials depending on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate, for the visa interview:

  • Passport and Form I-20/Form DS-2019 endorsed for travel within the last six months.
  • Transcripts from Brandeis University [see Registrar s Office, Kutz Hall, first floor to request a transcript] or Letter of Appointment from your department for J or H Visa Scholars
  • Certificate of Enrollment letter from the ISSO or from your department or the Registrar s Office
  • Proof of Registration for Spring 2008, if available or applicable [web registration is acceptable]
  • Financial Support Documentation for the amounts listed on page one of your current DS-2019 or I-20. If this amount has significantly changed, the ISSO will need to create a new DS-2019/I-20 Form for you.

What documents do my dependents need when travelling?

If you have dependents (i.e. F-2, J-2 visa holders), both the dependents and the primary visa holder must have their own SEVIS visa document signed for travel. Please do not wait until the day before you are leaving the U.S. to bring in your visa documents for signature. You may bring in your documents now for signature for travel over the break.

What do I need to know about travelling to a country other than my home country?

If you will be traveling to a country outside the U.S., other than your home country, whether it be for study, tourism, business, or for an airport layover, it will be important to confirm if you will need to obtain a visa to enter, stop over, or work in that country. To verify if a visa is required, and to obtain application information, you can contact the local embassy or consulate of that country located in the U.S. The following link at the U.S. Department of State Website provides a listing of foreign consular offices located in the U.S. Be sure to contact the consulate well in advance of your planned travel as some consulates require mail-in procedures that can take some weeks to process.

I am a NSEERS Registrant. What procedures should I expect?

Upon entry to the U.S., some individuals are selected for participation in the NSEERS program. It is very similar to U.S.-VISIT in that a Customs and Border Protection officer will document your photo and fingerprints. They will also ask you some questions about your address, purpose in the U.S., and travel plans. You will be given an FIN number (Fingerprint Identification Number) and this will be written on your I-94 card. The officer will also provide you with information about NSEERS compliance.

NSEERS Exit Procedures

You MUST appear in person before an Immigration Inspecting Officer at a designated port of departure and leave from that port on the same day. Be sure to leave enough time for this process. You may want to contact the airport to find out the hours operation of the NSEERS port.

Logan International Airport (Boston, Massachusetts)
Location: Terminal E at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) office; located on the first floor.
Hours of Operation: 8 A.M. to 7 P.M. (no allowances are made if your flight departs in times that are not during office hours. Please arrange your flights accordingly.)
Telephone: (617) 561-5745 CBP at Logan or (800) 375-5283 CIS National Information Hotline
Important: Record the date, time, and name of the CBP officer who assisted your exit registration and be sure keep this for your records.

JFK International Airport (New York, New York)
Location: Terminal Four, Room 161 / 011 (follow signs for Airline Baggage Services from main arrivals hall and go to room 161 / 011. This room is nearby the Airline Baggage Service Area.)
Hours of Operation: 24-hour port
Telephone: (718) 553-1688
Important: Record the date, time, and name of the CBP officer who assisted your exit registration and be sure keep this for your records.
**NOTE: LaGuardia Airport in New York City is NOT an authorized NSEERS Exit Port.

If you are going to Canada, please be sure to consult the listing of approved departure locations. It is very easy to inadvertently miss the exit process and it is very important to comply.

I would like to travel to Canada or Mexico. What do I need to know?

Canadian Consulate General Web site - New York City office

List of Mexican consulates in the U.S.

Traveling to Canada/Mexico or Contiguous Territories with an Expired Visa

Here are some things to consider before planning your travel:

You may need a visa to go to Canada or Mexico. Please plan well in advance for your visa application. Obtaining the proper visa can take months. Failure to secure a visa would mean a cancelled trip. Consult the Canadian Consulate and the Mexican Consulate

If your U.S. visa has expired, it may be possible for you to still return to the U.S. provided that your stay in Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands is less than 30 days. Please set up a meeting with ISSO staff prior to your departure to discuss whether or not automatic revalidation of the visa is possible for you.

It is vitally important for you to contact ISSO prior to leaving if your intention is to apply for a new Entry Visa Stamp at the US Embassy in Canada or Mexico. There are some significant risks involved and we want to be sure that you are aware of all aspects of your decision.

In most cases, you will not be giving your I-94 card away at the border. You will need the I-94 card to remain in your passport for your return to the United States.

Be sure to take all of the documents required for travel listed on the front page of this hand-out. We receive more calls from the Immigration Service from the Canadian border than anywhere else! Though the country is very close in proximity, you still need to remember you are crossing a border.