Harvard International Office (HIO)
Travel Advisory
International students and scholars should plan for international travel by reviewing their visa documents.
If you leave the United States with a visa document (Form I-20 or DS-2019) that has an expired travel signature, i.e. one that will be more than 12 months old at the time of your reentry to the United States, the immigration officials have the discretion to readmit you for up to 30 days. You will be given the Form I-515 and an I-94 card that has a 30 day admission period. It is very important that you report to the HIO immediately after you are back at Harvard. You will be given instructions at the HIO on extending your permission to remain in the United States.
If you leave the United States and forget to take with you your visa document (Form I-20 or DS-2019), please contact your HIO advisor immediately. Arrangements can be made to send a new form to you.
In general, most international visitors at Harvard will need the following in order to return to the US:
- Valid passport
- Valid US consular visa stamp (except for Canadian citizens)
- Valid immigration document (DS-2019, I-20, I-797)
- Valid travel signature* on the I-20 or DS-2019 form (in most cases no older than 12 months)
Please check your documents prior to making international travel plans. Note that it is also recommended that you carry all related visa documents with you for domestic travel outside the Boston metropolitan area.
If you will need a travel signature, please check our web site for regular office hours in Harvard Square, the Medical Area and Harvard Business School.
Citizens of Mexico, Canada, and Bermuda are required to have passports (or if they are Canadian, Air NEXUS cards) when entering the United States by air as of January 23, 2007, and sea or land border crossings by the summer of 2009.