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IIE | Information on travel and re-entry to the United StatesIIE | Resources for Current Grantees
TRAVEL AND J-1 VISA INFORMATION
RE-ENTRY PROCEDURES:
In order to re-enter the United States after travel to another country you will need:
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A passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the end date of your Form DS-2019
- Your Form DS-2019, signed for travel by an IIE Alternate Responsible Officer
- A valid U.S. J-1 visa (except for visits of less than 30 days to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean.) If your visa has expired, follow the J-1 visa renewal instructions on the reverse of this sheet.
In addition, it is strongly recommended that you carry the following documentation:
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Evidence of participation in an academic or research program, such as a grade transcript or other official proof of enrollment
- Evidence of your financial resources, such as a university award letter and/or bank statements
- Name and contact information of your IIE/Fulbright Program Officer
The above requirements also apply to any J-2 Dependent family member with you in the United States.
NEW PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS FOR CITIZENS OF CANADA, MEXICO & BERMUDA:
Beginning January 23, 2007, citizens of Mexico, Canada, and Bermuda, as well as U.S. citizens, will be required to present a valid passport (or if they are Canadian, Air NEXUS cards) upon re-entry to the United States after travel, under the requirements of the new Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI).
For more information please go to: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html
TRAVEL SIGNATURE (TRAVEL VALIDATION):
For travel outside of the United States, you must first have your Form DS-2019 signed by the IIE Alternate Responsible Officer in your IIE Regional Office, at least once during the academic year. The IIE Alternate Responsible Officer will sign the box located in the lower right-hand corner of your Form DS-2019 (“Travel Validation by Responsible Officer”) confirming that you are in valid J-1 status.
The travel signature issued by the IIE Alternate Responsible Officer is valid for 12 months after the date of issue, or until the end date of your DS-2019, whichever comes first.
Only an IIE Alternate Responsible Officer can sign the Form DS-2019.
Mail the Form DS-2019 to your IIE Program Officer and include an address to where your form should be returned, your dates of travel, and your contact details while you are abroad.
J-2 Dependent family members must also obtain a travel signature on their Form DS-2019 if they plan to travel outside of the U.S.
SHORT TRIPS TO CANADA, MEXICO OR THE CARIBBEAN ISLANDS:
Visits of less than 30 days:
If you will visit Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands for less than 30 days and the J-1 visa in your passport has expired, you do not need to obtain a new J-1 visa for re-entry into the U.S. Being allowed entry into the U.S. by this process (with an expired J-1 visa) is called Automatic Revalidation.
As you leave the U.S., do not surrender your I-94 card (Arrival-Departure Record), which is stapled inside your passport. Instead:
If you are flying: Make a photocopy of your I-94 card before your departure. Present the photocopy of your I-94 card and show your round-trip ticket to the airline attendant.
If you are driving: Present your documents and explain to the port-of-entry official that you are visiting for less than 30 days and that you need to keep your I-94 card. At your port of re-entry to the U.S., present your passport, your Form DS-2019, and I-94 card.
Note: If during your visit of less than 30 days to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean you choose to apply to renew your J-1 visa and your application is denied, the denial will be reflected in your passport and you will NOT be permitted to re-enter the U.S. If during your visit you have not applied to renew your J-1 visa, you may still re-enter the U.S. using your expired visa, along with the supporting documents mentioned above.
Exceptions to Automatic Revalidation:
Citizens of Iran, Iraq, Syria Libya, Sudan, North Korea and Cuba are not eligible to use the automatic revalidation process and must have a valid J-1 visa to enter the U.S.
If you will visit Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands for more than 30 days, you must have a valid J-1 visa for re-entry into the U.S.
J-1 VISA RENEWAL:
If you need to renew your J-1 visa, contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country you are visiting. Application procedures for U.S. visas vary across U.S. Embassies, and some U.S. Embassies or Consulates will serve only nationals of the country in which the U.S. Embassy or Consulate is located. You should consult the Department of State website at www.UnitedStatesVisas.gov and click on Locate a Consular Office to get specific information.
Along with your application for the J-1 visa, you will be required to submit:
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A passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the end date of your Form DS-2019
- Your Form DS-2019 signed for travel by an IIE Alternate Responsible Officer
- Evidence of participation in an academic or research program, such as a grade transcript or other official proof of enrollment
- Evidence of financial support, such as a university award letter and/or bank statements
Please note that you may also be required to attend an in-person interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate will outline these procedures for you. To find out typical wait times to obtain an exchange visitor visa visit: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php
APPLYING FOR A VISA IN A THIRD COUNTRY:
If you are planning to travel to a country that is not your home country (referred to as a "third" country), and your J-1 visa has expired, you will need a new J-1 visa to return to the U.S. It is often difficult for students and scholars to renew their visas at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in a third country. If you choose to renew your visa in a third country and you are denied the visa, you will need to return to your home country and apply for the visa there. As there is no guarantee that you will be issued a visa in either case, please consider your travel plans carefully before departing.
US-VISIT PROGRAM:
When you enter the United States after traveling abroad, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection official processing your entry will use an inkless fingerprint scanner to read your index finger print. The official will also take a digital photograph of you. Together with the standard information gathered about your identity and travel, US-VISIT will verify your identity and compliance with visa and immigration policies. Race, national origin and religion are not factors in the US-VISIT program, as it applies to ALL non-immigrant visa holders.
Canadian nationals (except those entering in E or K status) are not subject to US-VISIT.
For more information about US-VISIT, please go to:
http://www.dhs.gov/us-visit or
http://www.ice.gov/pi/news/factsheets/visit051903.htm
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE SUBJECT TO SPECIAL REGISTRATION:
WHAT IS special registration (NSEERS)?
Upon entering the U.S., some individuals will require additional inspection and will be required to register with the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS). This is also known as “Special Registration”. While anyone can be deemed subject to Special Registration, some of the determining factors for being subject can be your country of birth, country of citizenship, your field of study or frequent travel to certain countries.
Currently, certain citizens or nationals of the following countries are required to register with NSEERS: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
If you are identified as being subject to NSEERS, then you must:
- Register with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) upon arrival in the United States. CBP will give you directions.
- Notify the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) of any changes to your address within 10 days of making the change.
o In order to satisfy this requirement, you must inform IIE of any changes to your address within 10 days of making the change. IIE will then submit the changes to SEVIS and DHS, satisfying your address reporting requirement. Report changes to your address on the Fulbright website at: http://www.iie.org/fulbright/non-us/current. Click on “Updating Your Personal Information.”
- If requested, you must appear in-person before a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer to confirm your compliance with J-1 visa regulations.
- When leaving the United States, appear for an exit interview and depart through designated ports of departure only.
When leaving the United States at any point, you must depart from a designated port of departure and you must register your departure before you leave. This includes trips to Mexico, Canada or adjacent islands.
In order to register your departure, you must appear in person before an inspecting officer at a designated port of departure and leave from that port on the same day. If you have more than one connecting flight out of the United States, then your last connection should be the designated NSEERS departure port. Failure to register your departure will jeopardize any future visits to the U.S. Plan your travel wisely!
What if I am subject to NSEERS, how does US-VISIT affect me?
Everyone entering the United States on a non-immigrant visa is subject to the US-VISIT process, including individuals who must register with NSEERS. You are therefore subject to both the US-VISIT entry process, and the registration and departure procedures of NSEERS.
For more information about NSEERS, please go to:
www.ice.gov/pi/specialregistration/index.htm
April 2007
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