Travel

If you are planning to travel outside of the US, please take some time to review these travel guidelines. Port of Entry requirements are often changing, so please consult with your international student counselor for the most up to date information.

When traveling outside the United States, you need to have the proper documents to return. In general when you travel outside the US, you will need the following documents:

1. A valid I-20 with the third page endorsed for travel by an international student counselor. The signature is valid for one year if you are currently enrolled or six months if you are participating in optional practical training.
2. A passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of your re-entry to the US.
3. A valid F-1 visa. The visa only needs to be valid through the date of your re-entry to the US.
4. Verification of financial support.

If you are traveling to a country other than your own, be sure to check with the consulate or embassy of that country. You may need to apply for a tourist visa.

Anytime you travel, please complete the I-20 Request Form and leave your I-20 at IAA at least one week before you will be leaving San Francisco. If you have dependents in the US, they will need to obtain a travel signature on their dependent I-20 if they plan to travel.

If you attend a GGU campus outside of the Bay Area, you will need to mail your most current I-20 along with an I-20 Request Form to IAA in order to get the proper signature for travel. Please plan ahead.

The US Department of State and the Citizenship and Immigration Service have increased the level of review that international visitors face at US Consulates and Embassies abroad, US airports and at border crossing posts with Canada and Mexico.

Ultimately, each individual must decide for him or herself whether or not to travel abroad.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), an Office of the US Department of Homeland Security, recently revisited its policy concerning reentry for students on OPT. Based on this new interpretation we advise students to travel outside the US only if they can establish that they are currently employed in the US or have a valid offer of employment.

Students on OPT should plan to present the following documents at the US Port of Entry:

1. A valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
2. An official letter of employment or offer letter
3. A current I-20 with a travel signature on the third page, dated within the last six months
4. A valid F-1 visa
5. A passport valid for at least six months

The US Department of Homeland Security will be implementing a new entry and exit system for international travelers. This system is called US-VISIT. In the coming months international visitors will be asked to provide their thumbprint and photo when entering and exiting the United States.

Your arrival and departure records will be stored in a data system that will be used to verify that you have complied with the terms of your visa. If you overstay your allotted time, the data system should be able to record your failure to depart. Failure to comply with the terms of your visa may affect your ability to visit the US in the future.

For more information, please visit: Homeland Security

If you choose to travel, please follow these recommendations:

• Carry proof of current enrollment at GGU and an official or unofficial copy of your transcripts. It will now be important for you to also carry a letter from an international student counselor if you have ever taken less than a full course of study.
• Be honest, patient and courteous with all government officials even if they are not so with you.
• Consult the US Department of State website for alerts and information on visa issuance at particular US embassies and consulates abroad.

Be prepared when you travel for the following possibilities:

• Delays in appointment scheduling and visa processing at US Consulates.
• Change of visa processing at some US Consulates to include mail-in or "drop box" service for visa applications.
• Delays in flights within the US and returning to the US from abroad due to heightened security measures at airports and delays along the Canadian border.
• Inquiries and increased review of documents at all ports of entry for non-US citizens.
• Multiple inspections of the same person by Immigration Service and/or Customs Officials.
• Possible photocopying of documents by USCIS officials and possible videotaping of USCIS, Customs or FBI interviews.
• Inspection of personal belongings, luggage, pockets or other searches.
• For students in certain technologically sensitive fields, the Department of State is required to conduct a security clearance prior to issuing an initial US entry visa or extension of visa through a US Consulate abroad. The fields are listed on the Technology Alert List. Clearance may take one month to several months.

The Department of Justice, Immigration & Naturalization Service, published a notice in the Federal Register on Nov. 22, 2002 expanding the number of countries subject to special registration procedures. In addition to Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, and Syria, nationals or citizens of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates or Yemen, born before 12/2/86, in nonimmigrant status and intending to remain in the US beyond 1/10/03 were previously required to register with the local District Office of USCIS. This applied to dual citizens as well.

On Tuesday, December 2, 2003, the US Department of Homeland Security announced the suspension of certain provisions of the Special Registration process. The suspension took effect immediately, and will remain indefinitely until such time as the Department of Homeland Security publishes a new announcement. This is not permanent, just a suspension. If this applies to you, here's what is different:

• You do not have to appear at a Department of Homeland Security office within 30 days after admission to the United States. The rule is suspended for now.
• You do not have to appear at a Department of Homeland Security office for a yearly re-registration interview. The rule is suspended for now.
• If you change addresses, you do not have to complete federal form AR-11 SR. Just be sure to report your new address to GGU within the required 10 days.

The following is still the same:

• You must still go through Special registration at US Ports of Entry (this includes fingerprinting and photographs).
• You must still go through a departure procedure at the appropriate airport, seaport, or landport before leaving the United States.
• If, before December 2, 2003, you failed to appear for a 30-day re-registration interview, or an annual re-registration interview, you are still subject to penalties as allowed under law.

Other important information:

• The Department of Homeland Security has the right to notify specific individuals subject to special registration to appear for additional continuing registration interviews, if necessary.
• The Department of Homeland Security retains the right to announce future "call-in" registrations, if necessary.

Special thanks to: International Student and Scholar Services, Binghamton University, State University of New York, for providing detailed information from which the above was summarized.

To read US Immigration and Customs Enforcement information on the subject, visit their website.

Given the current rapidness of changes to immigration regulations and practices, this information is subject to change.