(updated on 11:00 AM, June 6, 2025 Arizona time)
The White House issued a proclamation on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, which includes the following restrictions:
1. Persons who hold lawful permanent resident status, and
2. Persons who hold a valid and unexpired visa as of June 9, 2025.
All F-1/J-1 students are responsible for maintaining their nonimmigrant status during their stay in the U.S. and keeping their documents accessible and up to date.
We recommend you keep your immigration documents in a safe, readily accessible place.
It is also recommended that you carry a copy of your immigration documents (proof of your status) with you at all times. It is a good practice to also have a digitized set of these documents saved on your phone and computer.
Please refer to the details below on which documents are required and recommended for various travel situations.
When you travel within the U.S. to any of the 50 states (including Alaska and Hawaii) or to the U.S. territories (Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa), be prepared to take the following documents with you:
As you prepare to arrive at the U.S. Port of Entry, please be prepared to present the following documents to the Port of Entry Officer.
Note: You will not be required to provide any of your passwords.
If you are completing Post-OPT or STEM-OPT Extension:
Until the end date on your EAD card,
whichever comes first.
*The ISSC does not recommend traveling while an OPT application is pending with USCIS.*
When planning to travel outside of the U.S., on Post-OPT or STEM-OPT, be prepared to take the following documents with you:
If you plan to travel to a country other than your own, you should contact the consulate of that country to find out if you need a visa to enter that country.
The automatic visa revalidation process re-validates that you are eligible to enter the U.S. for a single trip. It is not considered a new admission to the U.S. nor a renewal of a visa.
If you plan to travel to Mexico, Canada, and neighboring islands/U.S. territories with an expired F or J visa, you may be allowed to enter the U.S. using the automatic visa revalidation process under the following conditions if you(r):
U.S. immigration officials (DHS and DOS) may check your social media when reviewing your immigration status and eligibility to enter the U.S. They may look at your posts, comments, photos, and even your friends list. What you share online could impact your immigration status.
They may also search your phone, tablet, laptop, or other devices.
You may be asked to share all the social media platforms you currently or previously have used. As such you could be required to provide the following:
We recommend you:
Being careful online and managing your digital information can help protect your immigration status and your future.
Is your travel essential and worth the risk of issues with travel and reentry to the U.S.?
Common ISSC questions.
If you are unable to obtain a travel signature in time for your return to the U.S., you may still be granted permission to re-enter. Port of entry officials have the ability to issue a Form I-515A, granting you temporary permission to enter the U.S. without the proper documentation.
If you are issued Form I-515A, it is important you contact the ISSC immediately upon your arrival. Please remember, entry to the U.S. is always at the discretion of the port of entry officials. The ISSC cannot guarantee entry to the U.S. or the issuance of an I-515A.
There is always a risk when traveling outside the country. Risks include:
There is no cause for alarm if you are asked to step into a side room for a secondary inspection. They may need to ask you some questions or verify some information. You are allowed to ask the officer what the issue is, but we recommend you do so respectfully. We recommend you review this website for more information.
If you are told that you are being denied entry to the US:
From Monday - Friday (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.), contact the International Students and Scholars Center at +1 480-727-4776.
Contact the Experience Center outside normal business hours at +1 855-278-5080.
Initial Students: Incoming students should review travel information and other next steps here: https://admission.asu.edu/international/travel
Continuing Students: Continuing students should bring the following documents with them when traveling abroad:
Initial Students: Initials students can only enter the US within 30 days prior to the start date listed on their I-20. If you plan on arriving in the U.S. after your program start date, you will need to have your I-20 deferred to the next academic session. Please contact admissions to have your I-20 deferred.
Continuing Students: Continuing students should arrive back to campus by the first day of classes. If you plan to arrive after the semester start date, be prepared to answer questions at the Port of Entry regarding your late arrival. If you plan on applying for Post-OPT, please note that you must be in the U.S. in order to apply.
What to do when you arrive in the U.S.:
At your Port of Entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will check your documents. This is where you will present your passport, visa and I-20 to the Customs and Border Protection officer.
Here are the guidelines from the US Department of Homeland Security: https://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel
You must have the following documents to return to the U.S. in F-1 status:
Before submitting a Replacement and Travel I-20 Request eForm, make sure your employment and local address are updated.
Travel signatures for current students are valid for twelve (12) months. However, while on Post-OPT are valid for six (6) months. Processing time is up to 7 days due to a caseload. Therefore, plan your travels accordingly.
Yes, traveling while on approved Post-OPT is allowed. Once your Post-OPT is approved, you will be expected to have your EAD card in hand to re-enter the United States.
Travel signatures while on Post-OPT are only valid for six months.
Please keep this travel letter handy as you re-enter the U.S.
For more information on travel documents, please read through Travel While on F-1 OPT.
Traveling while your application is pending should be undertaken with caution and avoided if possible.
Here are some possible travel scenarios:
Traveling before your completion date and while you have a pending OPT application. Returning to the US before your completion date is permitted because you are still a student even when your application is pending.
Traveling after your completion date and while your OPT application is pending. This is not recommended because once you complete your program you will be expected to have your EAD card in hand to re-enter the United States.
USCIS may send you an RFE (Request for Evidence) while you are away, so you would want to make sure you have provided the correct U.S. address both to your DSO/school and on the application and would be able to send in any requested documents.
Also, if USCIS approves your Post-OPT application, you will be expected to have your EAD card in hand to re-enter the United States. Like an RFE, USCIS can only send the EAD card to your U.S. address.
Travel signatures while on Post-OPT are only valid for six months.
For more information on travel, please read through Travel While on F-1 OPT.
USCIS may send you an RFE (Request for Evidence) while you are away, so you would want to make sure you have provided the correct U.S. address both to your DSO/school and on the application and would be able to send in any requested documents.
Also, if USCIS approves your STEM OPT application, you will be expected to have your EAD card in hand to re-enter the United States. Like an RFE, USCIS can only send the EAD card to your U.S. address.
Travel signatures while on 24-Month STEM OPT are only valid for six months
For more information on travel, please read through Travel While on F-1 OPT.
No. You do not need a new travel signature every time you enter the U.S.
The travel signature is valid for 6 months.
Please check the date on page 2 of your I-20 for exact dates.
The travel signature is valid for 1 year.
Please check the date on page 2 of your I-20 for exact dates
No.
Travel signatures are only needed to return/re-enter the U.S. You do not need to show a travel signature when you depart from the U.S.