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Before every fall and spring term, the International Admissions Office and International Programs Office host a webinar for incoming F and J students. An invitation with Zoom link is sent to the students. We recommend students attend this webinar to learn everything they need to know and do before arriving to 91¸£Àû.

Fall 2026 Pre-Arrival Webinar will happen on Wednesday, July 1 at 9:30 a.m. EST.

All students traveling outside the U.S. should take their current passport and SEVIS I-20 with them when departing the United States. Per immigration regulations students must have a valid travel signature on the third page of the I-20 authorizing re-entry (less than one year old ).

Students must submit a Travel Signature request in their ISSS portal via My91¸£Àû if the one in the second page of their I-20 will expire before the planned date of reentry. Please allow 3 to 5 business days to have your I-20 signed.

Please read our for better reference, and contact your international student advisor if you still have questions.

Students should expect increased scrutiny from DHS officers during inspection (i.e., more questions asked, increased scrutiny of travel documents).

Required documents for inspections:

1. Valid passport – must be valid for at least six months beyond arrival date.
2. Original SEVIS I-20 (or DS- 2019 document for J visas). Returning students' I-20's must have a travel signature dated within the last 12 months.
3. Valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp in your passport, as applicable.

It is also highly recommended to have the following documents with you:

1. Student copy of transcript or proof of current enrollment
2. Copies of financial certification documents, especially if re-entering on a new or renewed I-20 or visa
3. Receipt for SEVIS Fee payment
4. If dependents travel with you, proof of relationship to dependents (i.e., marriage or birth certificate in English). Each dependent should have an individual F-2 I-20.

If you are selected for Secondary Inspection (sent to a private examination/interview room for additional questioning):

1. Do NOT panic!
2. Be consistent and truthful with your answers
3. Remain calm and avoid being confrontational
4. At their discretion, a CBP officer may contact the school for further verification.

1. Notification of any student entering on an initial entry SEVIS I-20 is now being sent electronically to SEVIS.Ìý
2. Students should be aware that processing at land, air and seaports may take more time, and should allow for that when making connecting flights.
3. In all cases, initial student entry information is being entered by the inspector and updated electronically in SEVIS.Ìý

Students will be given a new admission number (I-94 number) each time they enter the U.S. As of April 2013, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) began implementation of the electronic version of the I-94. Travelers will no longer receive a paper copy of the I-94 when entering the U.S. at all air and seaports. CBP will no more stamp date of entry, admission category and duration of status in passports. Travelers then must print out a paper copy of their I-94 card by accessing their record

For more useful information about entering the U.S. under F-1 visa status, please visit Homeland Security .

Travel within the U.S. and U.S. Territories: It is advisable to have all of your travel documents with you (I-20 or DS-2019, passport, I-94) plus proof of enrollment, especially if traveling by commercial airlines.

For more travel tips, please visit .

Under certain circumstances, an F-1 student with an expired visa may re-enter the U.S. if traveling to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands (contiguous territory) other than Cuba after an absence of fewer than 30 days. The student must have a valid passport, a properly endorsed I-20. In this particular situation students should check with the International Programs Office before making travel plans.

For more information, please visit the following websites:

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Be sure to contact the consulate of the country you wish to visit and ask for entry requirements. The International Programs Office has a Most countries will require tourist visas for travelers who are neither citizens nor residents.