Travel
International Travel
When traveling to a country that is not your own, you need to confirm the entry visa requirements for that country. Please contact the embassy or consulate of the particular country you plan to visit for detailed information on what you need to do to get an entry visa should you need one.
For reentry to the United States, you will need a valid passport, a valid visa, and a valid visa document such as the Form I-20 or DS-2019. It is not possible to apply for or renew Non-immigrant visas inside the United States. Please see below for details.
- Passports
You must have a passport that will be valid for entry and reentry into 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. Check the passport validity section of the HIO web for a list of exempt countries.
- Valid U.S. Visa
Citizens of all countries except Canada are required to have valid U.S. visa stamps in their passports to enter and reenter the United States. Please contact the U.S. 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. For a list of U.S. embassies and consulates abroad visit the U.S. Department of States website.
- Visa and Form I-94
Visa
A U.S. non-immigrant visa is issued in an individual's passport by a U.S. consul in a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the United States. A visa is used solely for the purpose of entry and reentry to the United States. The visa does not determine how long an individual may remain in the United States. Therefore, an individual may stay beyond the expiration date of a visa as long as the visa document (Form I-20, Form DS-2019, or Form I-797) is valid.
Form I-94
Upon entering the United States, the Form I-94 is issued to an individual. The Form I-94 is the arrival/departure document and is a small white card indicating how long an individual may remain inside the United States. F and J visa holders will see the notation "D/S" on their Forms I-94. D/S stands for "duration of status". Those with other visa status will be given Forms I-94 with actual expiration dates by which time the individual is expected to leave the United States or apply for an extension of status.
- Visa Documents
Visa documents include the Form I-20, Form DS-2019, and Form I-797. For specific information go back to the immigration section and click on your visa type. A visa document certifies the length of stay for international students, scholars and their family members and it indicates an individual's visa status. A visa document must be valid at all time.
- Transit through a Third Country
Please be aware that many countries (including the United States) do not allow visitors to transit through their countries unless they have an entry visa, a transit visa, or meet specific requirements. Before arranging travel that would require transit through a country that is not your home country, review that country's visa policies, and/or ask your travel agent.
- Change of Visa Status Within the United States
Those who have obtained an approval of a change of visa status in the United States through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services will still be required to obtain a visa for the new visa status at a U.S. embassy or consulate when traveling outside the United States prior to retuning.