IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR CURRENT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Transcription

1 IMPORTANT TRAVEL INFORMATION FOR CURRENT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS CONTENTS 1. Travel Documents 2. Visa Renewal 3. Automatic Visa Revalidation/Returning from Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean 4. Visa Renewal as a Third Country National 1. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS Travel Signature on Form I- 20 or Form DS Make sure your Form I- 20 (for F- 1 status) or Form DS (for J- 1 status) has been signed in the travel authorization section by a CIE Advisor (or a Responsible Officer at the issuing organization, if your Form DS was not issued by UMW) within 12 months of your expected return to the U.S. (and within 6 months if on F- 1 OPT). Travel signatures are valid for 12 months or until the completion of your program, whichever comes first. If there has been a significant change in your situation (e.g., degree level, major, source of financial support) that is not reflected on your Form I- 20/DS- 2019, please notify CIE so that, if necessary, an advisor can issue you an updated immigration document. Valid Passport Make sure your passport has not expired AND that it will still be valid at least six months after the date you plan to re- enter the U.S. If you need to renew your passport, contact your country s the embassy in the U.S. ( or the appropriate authorities in your home country. Numerous countries have reciprocal agreements with the U.S. whereby each country s passport is considered by the other to be valid for 6 months beyond the indicated expiration date. To find out if your country qualifies, visit NOTE: Immigration officers at Ports of Entry do not always remember that such agreements exist. For this reason, it may be helpful for you to print and take the list of countries in case you encounter a problem at the Port of Entry. Valid U.S. Visa Be sure the F- 1 or J- 1 visa in your passport (1) will not expire until after the date you plan to re- enter the U.S., and (2) still has authorized entries remaining (either has an M for unlimited multiple entries or at least one entry left). If not, see the next section on Visa Renewal. If your visa has expired and you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or a country in the Caribbean, please also review the requirements for Automatic Visa Revalidation. Visas for Other Countries Be sure you have visas required by countries other than your own that you plan to visit. Go to for a list of foreign consulates in the U.S. to find out if you need a visa for any country that you plan to visit. Absence from U.S. for More Than 5 Months If you believe you may be absent from the U.S. for 5 months or more, please contact CIE prior to departure from the United States. Returning to the U.S. After Classes Begin You could encounter problems at the Port of Entry and be questioned by the immigration officer about your reason for arriving late. If you believe you must return late after the start of classes, you are advised to or consult with a CIE advisor.

2 F- 1 Students on OPT Please review the travel section of the OPT Information Packet. F 2. VISA RENEWAL What documents do I need to renew my visa? Check the website of the U.S. consulate you will visit to see exactly which documents, including forms and photos and fees, you will need to present ( You will need to complete Form DS- 160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, which may be accessed at F- 1/ J- 1 students (and their dependents) will need: Form I- 20/DS from CIE, with a recent travel signature from a CIE Advisor. (If your DS was issued by another organization, contact the Responsible Officer there to get a signature.) All Forms I- 20 or DS previously issued to you by UMW and any other U.S. school previously attended Official UMW transcript, available from the Registrar s Office in Lee Hall Letter certifying your current and/or future enrollment, also available from the Registrar s Office in Lee Hall Current documentation of financial support as indicated on your Form I- 20/DS If F- 1 and engaged in OPT, also take current EAD and a letter from OPT employer stating you are working there under the terms of Optional Practical Training If J- 1 and engaged in Academic Training, also take a letter from your employer stating you are working there under the terms of Academic Training J- 1 scholars (and their dependents) will need: Form DS from CIE, with a recent travel signature from a CIE Advisor. (If your DS was issued by another organization, contact the Responsible Officer there to get a signature.) Current financial documentation, usually in the form of a letter from your UMW department, confirming that you are still employed by the department. If you are not paid by UMW, get a letter from your home institution or sponsor to show proof of your personal funds, as noted on your Form DS How long will it take to get a new F- 1 or J- 1 visa? Before you make firm travel plans, go to the website ( of the U.S. consulate you will visit in order to get an estimate as to how long it will take for your visa to be issued; if at all possible, make an interview appointment with the consulate even before you leave the U.S. and if not possible, do so as soon as you arrive. Security Advisory Options the Background Security Clearance Some visa applicants may be subject to additional screening. These security checks are performed by the U.S. Department of State, and can take several weeks or months to complete. There are at least three reasons a student or scholar may be subject to a security check: 1. A preliminary name check reveals potential criminal history or other security concerns. 2. Country of citizenship - generally, the Middle East or predominantly Muslim countries, although citizens of any country can be subject.

3 3. The area of study/research is highly technical or viewed as sensitive for example, most engineering disciplines, chemical and biochemical/biomedical sciences, computer science, genetics, certain branches of physics, nuclear and laser technologies, actuarial science- - but also urban planning. How likely is it that my visa application will be denied? There are never any guarantees that a visa will be renewed. However, it is extremely unlikely that a visa will be denied to a student who is in the midst of a course of study. But, as noted above, delays are not unusual in the post 9/11 security climate. What if my application for a new visa is denied? Again, it is extremely unlikely that you will be denied a visa if you are making normal progress toward the completion of your degree and have not been arrested or found guilty of any crime. In the event you are denied a visa, ask the consular officer to give you a written explanation. Contact CIE immediately and supply details about your visa interview, what you were asked and how you replied. Give us the date and place of the denial and, if possible, the name of the consular officer who issued it. If the reason for the denial is lack of adequate financial support, CIE may be able to assist you. Unfortunately, though, it is often impossible to overcome a visa denial. If you have any reason to think your personal or academic circumstances place you in unusual jeopardy of visa denial, please speak to a CIE advisor before traveling (and preferably before making firm travel plans). Do I need to do anything upon re- entry to the U.S. using a new visa? While you are still at the Port of Entry, make sure the information on your I- 94 is CORRECT (for example, ensure that it is marked as D/S for Duration of Status rather than given a specific end date, and that the appropriate category F- 1, J- 1, etc. is marked on it. See the example below.) If the information is not correct, bring it to the attention of the officer at the Port of Entry. It will be much more difficult and time- consuming to attempt to get it corrected later. You should also provide a copy to CIE and keep a photocopy of your new visa and I- 94 (front and back) in a safe place.

4 3. AUTOMATIC VISA REVALIDATION AND RE- ENTRY FROM CANADA, MEXICO AND THE CARRIBEAN ( ADJACENT ISLANDS *) *The Code of Federal Regulations at 8 CFR 286.1(a) defines "adjacent islands" to include Anguilla, Antigua, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Bermuda, Bonaire,British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Marie- Galante, Martinique, Miquelon,Montserrat, Saba, Saint Barthelemy, Saint Christopher, Saint Eustatius, Saint Kitts- Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Maarten, Saint Martin, Saint Pierre, Saint Vincent andgrenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos Islands, and other British, French and Netherlands territory or possessions bordering on the Caribbean Sea. Note that Cuba is NOT considered an adjacent island for the purpose of travel into the United States. Individuals in F- 1 and J- 1 status can re- enter the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands on an expired visa if: 1. They are returning from a visit of less than 30 days, and 2. They did not apply for a new visa while outside the U.S., and 3. They have with them (a) a valid passport, (b) an unexpired I- 94 (white card in passport marked as D/S ) do NOT give up the I- 94 when you exit the U.S. if you are planning to utilize Automatic Revalidation, (c) appropriate financial documentation, and (d) a valid Form I- 20 or Form DS signed for re- entry. NOTE: The automatic revalidation option is NOT available to: 1. Nationals of a country designated as a State Sponsor of Terrorism. For list of countries, review link below. Individuals from a country on the list would be required to obtain a new U.S. visa before being allowed to re- enter the U.S., and in all probability could only get a new visa from the U.S. consulate in their home country or the consulate that services their home country 2. Canadian landed immigrants who have never had an F or J visa. These individuals would be required to obtain a U.S. visa before being allowed to re- enter the U.S. These individuals may be able to obtain the visa from a U.S. consulate in Canada, unless they are a citizen of one of the countries listed as a State Sponsor of Terrorism or one of the countries likely to be subject to the Security Advisory Opinion. 3. VISA RENEWAL FOR THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS Third- country national means that you are not a citizen of the country in which the U.S. consulate where you will attempt to renew your visa is located. For example, citizens of China who try to renew their visas in Mexico are third country nationals. In general, it has become riskier to try to renew your visa in a country that is not your own. The United States Department of State says, Individuals seeking appointments should be aware that applicants may be more likely to encounter difficulties at the time of interview when they apply for a visa outside of their home district. Consular officers...will deny visas whenever they believe there are fraud indicators present, or their lack of knowledge of local conditions and familiarity with documents in the applicant's home country prevents them from properly adjudicating the case. This means that you could attempt to renew your visa in a country that is not your own, be denied, and then be unable to re- enter the U.S. until you travel directly to your home country and get a new visa there.

5 Getting a U.S. Visa in Canada or Mexico If you plan to get a U.S. visa at a consulate in Canada or Mexico, you must make an advance appointment with the U.S. consulate you plan to visit. Please note that only individuals who meet specific requirements will be allowed to do this if Canada or Mexico is not your country of citizenship. If you apply for and are denied a new visa in Canada or Mexico, you cannot re- enter the U.S. under the terms of automatic revalidation. Instead you will be required to return directly to your home country to apply there for a new visa.