The following information is for international students, scholars, and family members currently residing in the Boston area who plan to travel and return to Harvard. New students or scholars making plans to come to the US should review the pre-arrival information here http://www.hio.harvard.edu/students_scholars/welcome_to_harvard.pdf or one of the US government websites here http://educationusa.state.gov/ and here http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/studying.html
Before making travel plans please review the items below that apply to you.
Domestic Travel
It is recommended that foreign students, scholars and their family members carry with them a photocopy of the I-94 card, visa document (DS-2019, I-20, etc...) and the biographical page of their passport during their stay in the Boston area.
When traveling outside of the metropolitan area of Boston, it is advisable to carry original documents, including a valid passport, visa documents (see above) and I-94 card. If traveling domestically by air, please follow the guidelines below from the Transportation Security Administration http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/index.shtm
At most airports, a boarding pass and ID are now required to pass through the security checkpoint. TSA is consolidating passenger screening to the passenger security checkpoints in an on-going commitment to enhance security and improve customer service. Tickets and ticket confirmations (such as a travel agent or airline itineraries) will no longer be accepted at these checkpoints.
Proper Identification: If you have a paper ticket for a domestic flight, passengers age 18 and over must present one form of photo identification issued by a local state or federal government agency (e.g.: passport/drivers license/military ID), or two forms of non-photo identification, one of which must have been issued by a state or federal agency (e.g.: U.S. social security card). For an international flight, you will need to present a valid passport, visa, or any other required documentation. Passengers without proper ID may be denied boarding.
For e-tickets, you will need to show your photo identification and e-ticket receipt to receive your boarding pass.
International Travel
It is recommended that you travel outside the United States only if you have all documents related to your United States immigration status in order prior to departure. Critical to international travel is the United States visa stamp in your passport. Non-immigrant visas may not be renewed inside the United States. It is important to remember that obtaining a new visa stamp outside the United States is never guaranteed. Now, more than ever, it is possible that you may experience delays at a United States embassy or consulate. Please contact the United States embassy or consulate at which you plan to obtain the visa stamp ahead of time to confirm its hours of operation, application procedures, and to see if any changes in operations have been implemented. Go here for a list of United States consulates abroad.
For more information about specific types of delays in visa issuance, please go to Visa Delays here.
1.) Passports
You must carry a passport that will be valid for reentry to the United States. Your passport should be valid for six months beyond your anticipated stay in the United States. Citizens of certain countries are exempt from this six-month rule. For a list of exempt countries go here.
2.) Valid U.S. Visa Stamp
Citizens of all countries except Canada are required to have valid United States visa stamps in their passports to reenter the United States. Students and scholars at Harvard should use the appropriate visa related to their current activities at Harvard (student or research visa). Use of a “visitor” or “tourist” visa may have serious consequences if used inappropriately. If the student or scholar visa stamp in your passport will not be valid at the time of your reentry to the United States, you will need to apply at a United States consulate or embassy for a new visa stamp.
3.) VISA vs Visa Status
Many people assume that when their visa stamp expires, they must get a new visa. This is generally not true; the following should explain the difference between the expiration of a visa and the expiration of authorized stay.
Visa Stamp:
A United States non-immigrant visa is issued and stamped in the visitor’s passport by an American consul outside the United States. A visa is used solely for permission to enter or re-enter the U.S. The visa stamp does not control how long a visitor may remain in the U.S. That is, a visa is used only to cross borders. The visa stamp authorizes the visitor to enter to engage in a particular activity using a specific visa type e.g., F-2, H-1B, J-1, etc…. The visa stamp has an expiration date and may be valid for several months, or several years depending on geo-political reciprocity agreements. For a listing, by country of origin, of the validity length of U.S. visas, go here. The visa stamp will also be valid for one, two, or an unlimited number (“M” or multiple) of entries.
Visa Status:
Upon entering the U.S. an officer of the U.S. government will check the visa stamp and accompanying visa documents (F visa form I-20, J visa form DS-2019, etc…) and will issue a small white card (Form I-94) indicating how long visitors may remain inside the United States. J and F visa holders will see the notation “D/S” on the I-94 card. This means “duration of status”, or for the length of time marked on the visa document. H-1B, TN and other visa holders will have an actual expiration date on their I-94 card, by which time they should have left the U.S. or applied for an extension of authorized stay.
Once inside the U.S. it is not necessary to renew the U.S. visa stamp in the passport in order to remain legally. However, visitors may need to extend their "Authorized Stay" by extending their visa document. The visa document and the I-94 card indicate how long visitors may remain in the U.S. In addition, legal visa status requires that the visa holder maintain the activity he or she came to the U.S. to engage in (student, researcher, professor). For information about extending a Harvard sponsored visa document, contact your advisor in the HIO.
4.) Visa Documents
For a list of required documents for entry or re-entry to the U.S.go here
Visiting Countries Other Than Your Own
Some visa applicants are prohibited from obtaining a visa stamp at a United States consulate or embassy in a third country. If you will need to obtain a visa stamp for your return to the United States and are planning to apply in a country other than your home country, please visit the web site of the United States consulate in which you plan to apply for the visa for the operating procedures.
In addition, you may be required to obtain a visa stamp for permission to enter the third country. You should contact the appropriate foreign consulate in the United States to see whether you are required to have a visa.
Information on Traveling to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean nations: go here
5.) Transit Through a Third Country
Please be aware that many countries (including the US) do not allow 3rd country citizens to transit through unless they have an entry visa stamp, a transit visa, or meet specific requirements. Before arranging travel which would require transit through a country which is not your home country, review that country's visa policies, and/or ask your travel agent. The HIO can advise on US immigration policies only.
6.) Family Members Traveling Separately
Family members who are now in the United States in “dependent” visa status (e.g. F-2, J-2, H-4, O-3) will need their own dependent visa documents (forms I-20, DS-2019, I-797 approval notice) if they will be traveling internationally.
7.) Change of Visa Status Within the United States
To be eligible to reenter the United States in your new visa status, you are required to have a new visa stamp in your passport. If you have recently completed a change of visa status in the United States through the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, you will still be required to obtain a visa stamp for your new visa status in your passport at a United States embassy or consulate. See the required documentation for international travel here
Canadian Citizens
There are different regulations governing Canadian citizens traveling to the US. Go here for more information.