Travel Information for F-1 Students
Students living outside the U.S. must
obtain a passport from their government and then take the
I-20 and supporting documentation to the nearest U.S. embassy
or consulate to apply for an F-1 visa. Apply for the visa
as early as possible. Students applying for initial entry
F-1 visas may be issued the visas up to 120 days before
their academic program start date as noted on the I-20.
(Canadian citizens do not need a visa, but simply present
the I-20 to the immigration officer at the U.S. port of
entry.) F-1 students may enter the U.S. as early as 30
days before the start date noted in item 5 on the I-20
form.
Students transferring to Cascadia from another school must
report to the International Programs Office as soon as they
arrive on campus with their I-20, passport and I-94.
If you leave the U.S. you must first
ensure you can enter the country you are going to. Check
to see if you need a visa to enter your country of destination.
When you re-enter the USA you must present a current and
properly endorsed I-20 (signed on page 3), a valid F-1
visa, and your passport. We also recommend you show proof
of enrollment at Cascadia.
If you have an expired visa and are visiting
Canada or Mexico, please read the Automatic
Visa Revalidation section below.
TIP: Talk to your International Student Advisor before
you take a trip to make sure you have all the documents you
need. Your I-20 must be signed!
At the port of entry into the U.S., be prepared to present
the following items:
- I-20 (F-1 students)
Ask the International Student Adviser to sign the third page
of your I-20 before you leave the U.S. This signature will
be valid for six months, for multiple entries. Carry all
I-20s you have ever been issued, not just the most recent
one.
- Valid Passport
You must have a valid passport when seeking admission or
readmission to the United States, and your passport must
remain valid throughout your stay.
- Valid U.S. Visa
You must present a valid, unexpired visa in the category
for which admission is being sought each time you enter the
U.S. (Canadian passport holders are exempt from the visa
requirement). If your visa expires while you are in the U.S.,
the next time you travel abroad you must obtain a new visa
in the proper category in order to be readmitted to the United
States.
If you require a new visa to re-enter the USA, apply for
the visa in your home country, unless circumstances or travel
plans make this impossible. If you apply for a visa at a
U.S. consulate in another country, your application may be
reviewed more critically than if you applied at home. You
are encouraged to contact the U.S. consulate as early as
possible to schedule the visa interview appointment.
If you have an expired visa and are visiting Canada or Mexico,
please read the Automatic
Visa Revalidation section below.
- Current Class Schedule
You can print your current class schedule from the Cascadia
website.
Top of Page
You must present a valid, unexpired visa
each time you enter the U.S. If your visa expires
while you are in the U.S., or if you change your nonimmigrant
status while in the U.S., the next time you travel abroad
you must obtain a new visa in the proper category in order
to be readmitted to the United States.
An exception to this rule exists for
nonimmigrant students in F-1 status who travel for less
than 30 days solely to Canada or Mexico. Your visa will
be considered "extended" to the date of re-entry,
eliminating the need to obtain a new visa at a U.S. consulate
before that particular re-entry. This procedure is
known as "automatic visa revalidation."
Note: if you apply for a new visa while
in Canada or Mexico you will not be able to return to the
U.S. unless the visa is granted. Also, citizens of Iraq,
Iran, Syria, Libya, Cuba, Sudan, and North Korea are not
eligible for automatic visa revalidation.
Before you leave the United States, research
whether or not you need a visa to enter the country you
are going to.
F-1 students: If you travel outside the
U.S. after completing your studies, you may return to the
U.S. in F-1 status if you have either:
- A new I-20 indicating a new program
of study and a passport, visa and evidence of financial
support, or
- An I-20 indicating practical training
and signed for travel within the last six months, and
Employment Authorization Document (EAD), proof of employment
that you are resuming, and a passport and visa.
If you travel outside of the U.S. during
your grace period without a new I-20, you may not be able
to re-enter. Please talk to the International Student
Advisor if you have questions or require more information.
International students may be surprised
to learn that federal law requires that they carry "registration" documentation
at all times. These include a passport, I-20 form, and
I-94 card.
For day-to-day purposes, we suggest that these documents
be kept in a secure location such as a bank safe deposit
box. However, if you are traveling within the United States
you should carry these documents with you. If you are traveling
by air, train, bus or ship, you may be required to produce
these documents before boarding. Keep photocopies of all
your documents in a separate location, in the event your
documents are lost or stolen.
You are allowed to have one quarter off
per year as vacation as long as you have maintained your
status for 3 consecutive full-time quarters before
your vacation and you plan to return to school after
the vacation. EXCEPTION: students in college level classes
can automatically take their first summer quarter
off (even if they have not yet completed 3 consecutive
quarters). ESL students are not eligible for this option.
This rule applies to F-1 students who plan to remain in
the U.S. during their vacation. If you are going home to
your country for a vacation, you can do that at any time.
TIP: Ask your International Student Advisor to check to see
if you are eligible for a vacation.
Top of Page
Last updated on: 6/21/2006
|
