On this page, you will find information related to traveling internationally during and after your program of study.
Current Travel Issues
As you are making plans to travel during summer 2025, please be aware of the following issues.
Know Before You Go
Issues at the Border (Customs and Border Protection, CBP)
Phone Scrutiny
Can Border Agents Search Your Electronic Devices? The ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) offers information on travelers' rights. Yes, your personal items may be searched when you re-enter the U.S. This includes your electronic devices (phone, tablet, laptop). These devices all give border officials access to your social media accounts and online activity.
Social Media Presence (LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, etc)
You may be asked for your social media handles at any time by U.S. government authorities (Department of State when applying for your visa, Customs & Border Protection at the airport). Special attention may be given to any social media posts that appear to be political statements, participation in protests, against the current U.S. administration, or any illegal activities (such as drinking underage, using marijuana, working illegally).
Additional Scrutiny at the Border
We expect that more international students will be taken into Secondary Inspections by border officials when re-entering the United States after the summer break. Please plan accordingly and give yourself plenty of time to make connecting flights if your first landing point in the United States is not Portland International Airport.
Previous Encounters with the Law
Customs & Border Protection (CBP) may prevent you from entering the U.S. if they have reason to believe that you have violated U.S. laws. If you have had encounters with any form of law enforcement in the U.S. we encourage you to meet with the immigration attorney in Student Legal Services before you leave the U.S.
Other important considerations:
Potential for visa revocations
There have been unprecedented actions by the current administration. Student visas have been revoked and SEVIS records have been terminated across the U.S. If this happens to your record while you are traveling, you will be unable to return to the US.
Some reasons for this may be:
- Interactions with U.S. law enforcement (police or immigration)
- Violation of U.S. laws
- Political statements, and or participation in political protest activity
Travel Ban
According to news reports, the current administration is planning on implementing travel bans barring individuals from certain countries from entering the United States. These travel bans may impact students as well as other travelers. Due to the possibility of travel bans being announced while you are abroad, we encourage you to carefully consider any international travel plans.
Visa renewal considerations
If you need to renew your visa before re-entering the United States, please be aware that you may face significant delays in visa issuance due to the cuts in federal funding and changes in regulations
Domestic Travel and REAL ID
International students who travel within the U.S. will not need to get a REAL ID to travel after May 7, 2025. Your passports (and EADs, if you have been authorized for OPT/STEM) are acceptable forms of government issued identification. If you decide to get a REAL ID, it will only be issued for the same duration as your U.S. visa.
Travel Requirements
When traveling outside the United States, you will need specific documents in order to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 immigration status. In addition to an unexpired passport that is valid for at least six months beyond the date you will return to the U.S., you will need the following documents:
- Unexpired I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature
- Unexpired F-1 or J-1 visa
- Unexpired EAD card if you are an F-1 student currently authorized for post-completion OPT or STEM Extension
You are also encouraged to travel with copies of your term schedule for the upcoming term, unofficial transcripts showing that you have been enrolling full-time, and proof of financial support (for example, bank statements or proof of scholarships or other financial sponsorship during your studies). If you are on post-completion OPT or STEM Extension, carrying proof of your current employment is advised (for example, a signed offer letter or employment verification letter from your employer).
Travel Signatures
You will need a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 in order to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 during your studies or during a period of post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Academic Training (AT). You may request a travel signature by completing the Travel Signature Request eform in WorldLink.
Please keep in mind that travel signatures are not issued for a specific trip outside the U.S. and that students do not need to request specific permission for each trip. Our office applies a travel signature to each I-20 or DS-2019 we issue during a student's program of study, and those signatures are valid for travel during their period of validity. Travel signatures have are valid for the following durations:
- F-1 student, continuing studies: 12 months
- F-1 student, on OPT or STEM Extension: 6 months
- J-1 student, continuing studies or on Academic training: 12 months
On Form I-20, the Travel Signature can be found on page 2, in the Travel Endorsement section. On Form DS-2019, the Travel Signature can be found in the Travel Validation by Responsible Officer section in the lower right corner of the form. I-20 documents may be digitally or electronically signed by a DSO and sent to you by email. DS-2019 documents may be digitally signed by an A/RO and sent to you by email. Once received, you must print and sign the I-20 or DS-2019 in order to travel with it.
Travel with an Expired Visa
While you typically need an unexpired visa in order to re-enter the U.S., there is an exception if you or your dependents are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands (excluding Cuba) that allows you to enter the U.S. with an expired visa under a program called “Automatic Visa Revalidation”. In order to enter the U.S. using Automatic Visa Revalidation, you must meet all of the following requirements:
- Your trip is shorter than 30 days, including your departure and return dates
- You do not travel to any other territories aside from Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands (excluding Cuba)
- You were maintaining valid F or J nonimmigrant status prior to your departure
- You will resume the same F or J nonimmigrant status upon returning to the U.S.
- You do not apply for a new F or J visa during your travel outside the U.S.
If you meet all of the above requirements, you will be considered to have a valid visa on the date of your return to the U.S. (the visa is re-validated for that date automatically). Automatic visa revalidation applies to nonimmigrants in F or J status, except for nationals of the following countries: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria.
For more information on returning to the United States using Automatic Visa Revalidation, you can review resources published by the Department of State and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
To find out if you need a visa to visit Canada, please visit the website for Citizenship and Immigration Canada.
To find out if you need a visa to visit Mexico, please visit the Visas page of the website for the Consulate General of Mexico in Portland.
Travel During the Term
If you need to travel in the middle of the term, you should keep in mind that you are required to primarily in in-person or hybrid coursework, and should therefore be physically present in the U.S. during the term while classes are in session.
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may refuse entry and you may be sent home if they deem that you are not maintaining status. To resume your studies in the U.S. after being denied entry, you would need a new Initial I-20 and this would reset any off-campus employment or practical training (CPT/OPT) eligibility you had gained. ISSS cannot assess the risk of such a denial, but we wish you to be aware of this risk when making travel plans.
If you have an emergency that requires you to travel in the middle of the term, you should consult with your instructors and confirm that your travel will not have a negative impact on your coursework. We strongly recommend that you obtain written approval from your instructors that travel is okay and that you are meeting the in-person requirement for your enrollment for the term.
In addition to the travel documents outlined above, you should carry this written approval when traveling.
Please also Consider
Here are some additional tips for international students traveling outside the U.S. during their studies.
- Don’t Pack a Pest While packing for a trip, it is important to know what foods and medicines, as well as plant and animal items, are not allowed in the United States.
- Visa Consequences for Drug and Alcohol Use:
- The legal drinking age in the United States is 21 years
- Marijuana is still federally illegal for international students to buy, possess, or use.
- Driving under the influence (DUI) of drugs or alcohol and driving while intoxicated (DWI) can be detrimental to your immigration status.
- Visa Consequences for Drug and Alcohol Use Resources
- Scams: Be aware that there are many scams happening right now preying on international student’s anxiety. Government agencies will never ask you to pay money or disclose your personal information over an email or phone call. Do not give your credit card information or any personal information before checking with the PSU Office of International Student and Scholar Services.