Traveling Outside the U.S. & Re-Entry

Guide

You can travel abroad during your studies and return in F-1 or J-1 status if your documents are in order. Learn what to check before you go in this overview on travel outside the United States, and re-entry.

Written by Jennifer Glass, Immigration Coordinator at the International Student Resource Center

Last updated: July, 2026

Can you travel outside the U.S.?

Yes, during the school year (assuming you are otherwise maintaining your F or J status), there is no immigration regulation preventing international travel. That said, if you need to travel outside of a scheduled school break, make sure to communicate with your school to ensure that the absence won’t have a negative impact on your student standing.

Avoid international travel if your SEVIS record is terminated, you're in a grace period, or you have a pending OPT/STEM OPT/change-of-status application — talk to your DSO/ARO first.

The documents you need to re-enter

Have your DSO/ARO sign your I-20/DS-2019 in the travel signature section before you travel. The travel signature needs to have been issued less than 12 months (or 6 months if you’re on OPT/STEM OPT) from your date of reentry.

Carry your documents such as passport, unexpired visa, signed I-20/DS-2019, and supporting documents (funding, enrollment, EAD if on OPT).

Be sure to check with your DSO or ARO about whether you need to receive an extension of your I-20 or DS-2019 form, under the new “D/S Rule” regulations.

Visas, expirations, and Automatic Visa Revalidation

If your visa has expired, you generally must apply for and receive a new one abroad before returning. Note that U.S. visas are only issued abroad, they cannot be renewed from within the U.S. Additionally, even if your trip is not to your home country, a trip to your home country might still be required since the State Department is generally restricting visa appointments to one’s country of nationality

Exception to needing an unexpired visa to return to the U.S. — Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) allows some nonimmigrants taking short trips (under 30 days) to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands to re-enter on an expired visa, with conditions.

2025 travel restrictions

Proclamation 10949 (June 2025) and Proclamation 10998 (December, 2025) impose full/partial U.S. visa bans on individuals from 40 countries (and certain travel documents), with limited exceptions. If you may be affected, consult your DSO/ARO and a qualified immigration attorney before booking travel.