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Do I need authorization from ISS?
Yes - F or J visa holders are required to have their form I-20/DS-2019 signed for travel from the ISS office. This is needed for re-entry to the U.S, and must be presented to the U.S. immigration officer upon arrival. Each signature is valid for entries within 12 months of the signature date, except for F-1 students on Post-Completion OPT or STEM Extension, which is 6 months. Request a travel authorization signature from the ISS office.
What do I need to consider when traveling internationally?
Third-Country Travel or International Layovers
If you are traveling to a country other than the U.S. which is not your country of citizenship or legal permanent residence, it is your responsibility to determine whether you need a visa to enter that country.
Transit visas may be required for travel in certain countries, even if you do not plan to leave the airport. If your international travel involves changing planes in a third country, it is your responsibility to find out whether you need to apply for a transit visa. Contact your airline to determine whether you are required to apply for a visa to any country in your itinerary.
Automatic Revalidation
Generally, international students must present a valid, unexpired F or J student visa each time they enter the U.S., except for Canadian citizens.
An exception to this rule exists for F and J students who travel for less than 30 days to a “contiguous territory” (Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands, except Cuba) on an expired student visa provided they have proper documentation and have not applied for a new visa during the visit. This is the automatic visa revalidation provision. Under this provision, the expired visa is considered to be automatically extended to the date of readmission.
To take advantage of automatic visa revalidation, the following must apply:
- Have maintained valid status while in the U.S.
- The visit is ONLY to Canada, Mexico and adjacent islands, except Cuba, and does NOT exceed 30 days.
Have NOT applied for a new visa at a U.S. consulate.
- Applying for a visa stamp while abroad disqualifies a person from re-entry using automatic visa revalidation.
- Have a valid passport for at least six months from date of re-entry to the U.S., unless your country is a member of the so-called “six-month club.”
- Possess a valid, unexpired admission stamp OR I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
You must apply for readmission to the U.S. within the authorized period of your current immigration status. - Have the correct visa-specific documents and must have maintained and intend to resume your non-immigrant status:
- F-1 Students:
- A valid I-20 and travel endorsement
- A valid OPT card/STEM OPT card (if applicable)
- J-1 Students:
- If you changed status while in the U.S. from an nonimmigrant to another nonimmigrant classification (e.g. H-1 to F-1) using Form I-539 and received the Change of Status Approval Notice (Form I-797) you also can use the automatic visa revalidation provision. The validity of the expired or unexpired nonimmigrant visa may be considered to be automatically extended to the date of application for readmission.
Important: The automatic visa revalidation provision does not grant you a ‘new’ student visa.
- Citizens of state sponsors of terrorism as determined by the U.S. Department of State: North Korea, Syria, Sudan and Iran. Visit the department’s website for the most updated list.
- Individuals who have already applied for a visa renewal that has not yet been issued.
- Individuals whose visas have ever been canceled under INA 222(g).
- Individuals who entered the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program.
- Individuals applying for a U.S. visa while in contiguous territory (Canada, Mexico) or adjacent islands.
- Individuals who were not admitted to the U.S. on the basis of a nonimmigrant visa.
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- Determine if you need a visa to enter Canada, Mexico or the relevant adjacent islands. Check the links below:
- Countries requiring visa to visit Canada
- Visitors to Canada (and those transiting through) who do not require a visa must pre-register using electronic travel authorization (eTA)
- Information on visa to Mexico
- Other embassies and consulates in the U.S.
- Carry the necessary documents:
- It is recommended that students carry with them the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Automatic Revalidation for Certain Temporary Visitors article.
- Request for an automatic revalidation support letter from the ISS office.
Select Request Type "Other" and write in "Automatic Revalidation Support Letter" in the provided text space. - Request for a travel signature from the ISS office if applicable: Travel Signature.
- Ask for automatic revalidation from the U.S. port of entry officer when re-entering the U.S.:
- Travel with a printed copy of your electronic I-94 record with a valid I-94 number. If you have a paper I-94 stapled in your passport, do NOT allow the airline (or anyone else) to remove the I-94 from your passport when departing the U.S. When returning to the U.S., you should be re-admitted using the same form I-94 (either paper or electronic).
- If traveling by air, you should confirm that the airline is familiar with the automatic revalidation process and will issue you a boarding pass when returning to the U.S. even though you have an expired U.S. visa in your passport.
- If traveling by car, you may need to tell the U.S. border patrol officers upon departure that you have a short trip planned and intend to return using automatic revalidation. When returning to the U.S., you should be re-admitted using the same form I-94 (either paper or electronic).
The U.S Customs and Border Protection officer has full discretion to determine whether a visa will be automatically revalidated. Automatic revalidation is outlined on the U.S Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) in two places:
If you have further questions about re-entering the U.S from Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands using automatic revalidation, please schedule an appointment with an ISS Advisor.
- Determine if you need a visa to enter Canada, Mexico or the relevant adjacent islands. Check the links below:
Re-entry to the U.S.
You must have the following valid documents when re-entering the U.S.
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- Passport
- F or J visa (unless Canadian or traveling by Automatic Revalidation)
- Form I-20 or DS-2019
- Travel authorization signature on Form I-20 or DS-2019
- For OPT or STEM OPT travelers: Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card
OFAC Awareness
Those traveling to an OFAC listed country may lose permission to access certain UH Mānoa systems. Please review the ISS Mānoa webpage on OFAC Awareness.
U.S. Entry Problems
Global Entry or Nexus
Do NOT use Global Entry or NEXUS, or an automated passport kiosk to enter the U.S. Go to the regular passport line and speak with a US Customs and Border Protection (US CBP) Officer. Present your visa documents to be admitted into the U.S, in the proper F or J student status.
Although Global Entry or NEXUS offers a faster entry process, it is very likely you will be admitted into the U.S. as a tourist in the B visa category. Tourist or visitor visa status does not permit you to study or work in the U.S. This will cause difficulties and prevent you from beginning your studies or appointment at UH Manoa. In extreme cases you may be required to fly home and re-enter the U.S. in the correct F or J student status, at your own expense.
Form I-515A Issuance
Students who arrive at the U.S. port of entry without required immigration documents or SEVIS status issue may be denied entry. In some cases, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer may choose to offer you temporary admission into the U.S. with the Form I-515A instead. The ISS office will receive an email alert for students issued the I-515A.
Students must comply with the I-515A conditions within 30 days, or else depart the U.S. before the end of the 30 day period.
Read more about the Form I-515A
What to do if you’ve received a Form I-515A
- An ISS Advisor will email you regarding the I-515A issuance. If you have not heard from an ISS Advisor within 2 business days, please contact issmanoa@hawaii.edu for assistance.
- An ISS Advisor will email you with instructions and to schedule a time to meet with you in person. This email will include a list of documents required to satisfy the I-515A conditions. You must bring the specified documents to your appointment with ISS.
- The ISS Advisor may need additional time to process your request. In that case, the advisor will collect your documents at the time of your appointment. Please allow 3-5 business days for processing if additional review is needed. In other cases, processing may be completed during the scheduled appointment.
- Once processing is complete, you will receive the electronic I-515A packet through the UH Filedrop system along with instructions on how to submit to SEVP.
- Any paper documents will be placed at the front desk for pick-up if necessary.
- The student must send the completed I-515A packet to the SEVP I-515A processing team immediately through email* and within 30 days of arrival in the U.S.
*Note: Beginning June 26, 2024, F and J students who received a Form I-515A from the U.S. CBP will be instructed to email required documents to the SEVP Processing Team instead of mailing the documents to SEVP. Email submission to SEVP must occur within 30 calendar days to avoid disruption to F and J status in the U.S.