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:
Travel outside the U.S. for current degree seeking students
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.
Required documents:
- Passport - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements)
- Valid F-1 or J-1 visa.
- Current I-20 or DS-2019 with valid travel signature.
- Copies of your unofficial transcripts and enrollment verification forms from ASU (recommended)
- ASU Sun Card (recommended) – this may be mobile/digital rather than a physical card
- ASU Travel Instructions (recommended):
- Summer 2025
- Fall 2025
- Proof of Legal Counsel (recommended)
You should also be prepared to answer any questions the Port of Entry Officials may have for you. You may be asked to demonstrate your ties to your home country and may need to share your plans for returning home in the future after the completion of your degree program.
We recommend you answer all questions honestly and calmly.
Social Media
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:
- Username, screen name, handle, or other identifiers for each platform you use or have used.
- Your current email address and phone number.
- Any email addresses and phone numbers you have used in the past five years.
To protect yourself we recommend you:
- Make your accounts private – adjust your settings so only trusted people can see your posts.
- Be cautious with friend requests – do not accept requests from people you do not know.
- Think before you post – avoid sharing anything that could be misunderstood or used against you.
- Review your devices – check what you have stored on the device, including deleted files, as officers may ask you to unlock your device and could take it if you refuse.
Being careful online and managing your digital information can help protect your immigration status and your future.
Travel While on Post-Completion OPT or STEM-OPT Extension
If you are completing Post-OPT or STEM-OPT Extension, your travel signature is only valid for six months from the date of the last signature or 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:
- Passport - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States (unless exempt by country-specific agreements)
- Valid F-1 visa. Please see Visa Renewal for instructions on how to renew your visa.
- OPT authorized I-20 with a valid travel signature endorsed within the last six months.
- Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD card)
- Job offer letter (if available)
- ASU OPT Travel Information (recommended)
- If you will be traveling for more than 30 days, we recommend you obtain a letter from your employer explaining your employment status and the nature of any employment activities while you are outside the U.S. Travels may not exceed 5 months.
Things to consider before traveling:
Travel to Country Other Than Your Own
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.
Travel to Canada, Mexico, and/or Adjacent Islands
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):
- Visit outside of U.S. is not more than 30 days and the purpose is pleasure or vacation only.
- Have maintained full-time F or J status at all times.
- Have an unexpired passport and last I-94 indicates a status of “Duration of Stay.”
- Have an I-20/DS-2019 with a valid travel signature
- Have not applied for a visa during the travel.
- Are not from North Korea, Iran, Sudan, or Syria, which are countries identified as State Sponsors of Terrorism by the Department of State.
