Traveling Outside the U.S.
If you will be traveling outside of the United States, you must request a travel signature from your international advisor and carry the following documents with you when you travel.
Required Documents
- Passport: valid for at least six months into the future at all times (especially important upon initial entry or re-entry to the U.S.)
- U.S. Entry Visa: valid on the date of your return to the U.S.
- I-20 (F-1 students): valid and currently active with travel signature from your immigration advisor
- DS-2019 (J-1 students): valid and currently active with travel signature from your immigration advisor
- Valid visa for your visit country: If you are not returning to your home country, you may need a visa to travel to or even through (transit visa) other countries. Check the foreign embassy/consulate website for every country on your itinerary.
- Contact information in case of a travel emergency and for a border officer to contact an international advisor: 618-650-3785 during office hours, SIUE police 618-650-3324 outside of office hours
Before departing the country, make sure you have a valid travel signature (within 6 months) from an international advisor on your I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 students). Plan a couple of weeks in advance of travel to obtain the signature. Please drop off your I-20 or DS-2019 at the Office of International Affairs to request a travel signature.
