International Student Travel

Preparing for your first trip to the U.S. can feel overwhelming, but understanding the arrival process before you travel can help make your entry experience smoother and less stressful. Before departing, make sure you have all required immigration documents, understand what to expect at the U.S. port of entry, and familiarize yourself with important travel requirements.

Study in States' First-Time Arrival: Key Information for New Students Traveling to the US | Study in the States explains 

• The documents you should carry
• The inspection process when you arrive in the U.S.
• What to do if you are referred to secondary inspection, and 
• Important information about items you may bring with you. 

Reviewing this information before you travel can help ensure a successful start to your studies at SFSU.

DoIE can help you prepare for a safe travel experience and for a smoother return to the U.S. Review Travel | ICE for further travel considerations.

Recent news reports indicate individuals from some countries who are residing in the U.S. with a visa or those who are legal permanent residents might face additional scrutiny when trying to reenter the U.S. 

The CSU Chancellor’s Office has also issued a Travel Guidance to Faculty, Students, and Staff Considering International Travel. Please review the guidance carefully. You can find the guidance document here:  CSU International Travel Guidance. 

While nothing definitive can be predicted regarding future U.S. immigration policies, it is essential to remain informed and prepared. CSU advises all members of its community to proceed with extreme caution. If you decide to travel, you must have all necessary travel documents: 

• Required Documents:
  • A valid I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature within a year from your planned return date
  • A passport valid for at least six months into the future
  • A valid F-1 visa or J-1 visa
• Highly Recommended:
  • Unofficial transcripts to demonstrate enrollment at SFSU
  • Financial documents showing sufficient funding for at least one year of study 

Please note that having these documents does not guarantee entry into the U.S. as the final decision rests with the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. 

Visa: If your visa has expired and you need to renew it, contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your countries ahead of time. Be prepared to expect delays in some countries. 

Stay Informed on Policy Updates: Frequently check official websites for travel updates, such as the of the U.S. Department of State Embassies, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and keep an eye out for communication from the CIE international student services office for the latest information.

This advisory is not reflective of any current or expected institutional policy but is offered as a precautionary measure to support your safe and timely return to the U.S. For any questions prior to travel, please contact:

F-1 students: f1@sfsu.edu
J-1 students: exchange@sfsu.edu  

The following resources provide essential information to help you prepare for interactions with immigration and customs officials, including your rights during airport enforcement and what to know about border searches of electronic devices.

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): Information on Border Search of Electronic Devices at Port of Entry
• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU): Know your rights: Enforcement at the Airport
• American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Electronic Device Searches (March 6, 2025, AILA Doc. No. 25030604)

Students are not required to obtain a travel signature on their immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019) or have a valid F-1 or J-1 visa if they plan to travel within the U.S. including Hawaii and Alaska.

However, we advise all international students to carry a valid passport, a photo ID (SFSU ID card or driver's license), I-20 or DS-2019, and a printed copy of their I-94 record when traveling within the U.S..

Make sure your immigration documents are valid before you leave. To return to the U.S., you must have a valid passport, a valid F-1 or J-1 visa and a I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature.

Only the advisors in the Division of International Education who are authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security may sign your I-20 or DS-1091 for travel. If you do not have a valid travel signature when you re-enter the U.S., you may experience delays at the port of entry or be denied entry. You may use the same valid travel signature for multiple trips during that period.

If you need to travel outside the U.S. due to emergency while the university is closed, please email f1@sfsu.edu (F-1 students) or exchange@sfsu.edu (J-1 exchange students) as soon as possible.

In your email, include:

• Your full name
• Your SFSU student ID
• Your departure date from the U.S.
• Your expected return date
• The best way to contact you while you are away

Remember, you do not need a travel signature to leave the U.S.. A travel signature is only required when you return to the U.S. If you must depart due to an emergency and do not have a valid travel signature, we will work with you to support your re-entry process.

If your F-1 or J-1 visa has expired, you may still be able to re-enter the U.S.through a benefit called Automatic Visa Revalidation.

This benefit allows eligible F-1 students to return to the U.S. after a trip of 30 days or less to Canada, Mexico, or certain adjacent Caribbean islands (excluding Cuba) without obtaining a new visa stamp.

To qualify, you must:

• Have a valid passport
• Have a valid I-94
• Have a I-20 with a valid travel signature
• Maintain your F-1 or J-1 status
• Travel only to eligible countries covered by Automatic Visa Revalidation

Review the U.S. Department of State's Automatic Revalidation information before making travel plans to determine whether you qualify for this benefit.

A travel ban was announced by the U.S. government on June 4, 2025, which is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on June 9, 2025. 

See more detailed information: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restricts the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats – The White House.

To request a travel signature, you must fill out the online I-20 Travel Signature Request form:

I-20 Travel Signature Request 

Processing time

• An international student advisor will review your request and email you an I-20 within five business days.
• We no longer issues paper I-20. 
  • You will receive an I-20 at your SFSU email account. 
  • The I-20 will be in PDF format with a certified digital signature from a Designated School Official (DSO).
• You must PRINT the I-20, SIGN it in blue ink, and PRESENT the paper I-20 at the U.S. port of entry. 

Attention

• You must check your SFSU email account regularly for updates from the University and DoIE. Travel signatures can be canceled if you falls out of status while outside the U.S.

Passport

• Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond the date you plan to re-enter the U.S. However, some countries have agreements with the U.S. that allow their citizens to enter with a passport that is valid until its expiration date.

F-1 Visa

Check the expiration date on your F-1 visa before you travel.

• Your F-1 visa is the sticker placed in your passport by a U.S. embassy or consulate. Its purpose is to allow you to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request admission as an F-1 student. Your F-1 visa must be valid when you enter the U.S.
• If you transfer to SFSU from another school and your F-1 visa lists the name of your previous school, you may continue to use that visa as long as it is still valid. You are not required to apply for a new F-1 visa simply because you transferred to a different school.
• You may remain in the U.S. with an expired F-1 visa as long as you are maintaining your F-1 status. However, if your F-1 visa has expired or will expire before you return to the U.S. after international travel, you must obtain a new F-1 visa before re-entering the country.
• In most cases, you should apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. You cannot apply for or renew an F-1 visa while you are physically present in the U.S.

I-20

• If you travel outside the U.S., you must have a valid travel signature on your I-20. The travel signature can be found in the Travel Endorsement section of your I-20.
• A travel signature is generally valid for one year.
  • For example, if your I-20 was signed on November 15, 2027, the travel signature is valid until November 15, 2028. If your signature has expired or will expire before you re-enter the U.S., request a new travel signature before you travel.

Do not travel with a terminated I-20, even if the travel signature appears to be valid. You cannot re-enter the U.S. with a terminated I-20. Check your SFSU email regularly for updates, as travel signatures may be canceled if you fall out of status while you are outside the U.S..

If your I-765 is pending

• Must carry valid passport and F-1 visa
• Must enter the U.S. with “PENDING” remark for OPT or STEM OPT
  • Pending OPT: job offer/verification is not required
  • Pending STEM OPT: Do not leave the U.S. if current 12-month post-completion OPT has ended, and the STEM OPT extension application is still pending.
• Travel signature is valid for 6 months only (NOT one year)

If your I-765 is approved

• Must carry valid passport and F-1 visa
• Must enter the U.S. with “APPROVED” remark for OPT or STEM OPT
• Must carry a valid EAD
• Must carry a job offer/job verification letter
• Travel signature is valid for 6 months only (NOT one year)

To obtain a travel signature, students can either submit their DS-2019 at the Division of International Education front desk or email it to exchange@sfsu.edu.

Processing time

• An exchange student advisor will review their DS-2019 request and email them an updated DS-2019 within five business days.
   
• The Division of International Education no longer issues paper DS-2019. All students will receive a DS-2019 at their SFSU email account. The DS-2019 will be in PDF format with a certified digital signature from a school official.
• Students must PRINT the IDS-2019, SIGN it in blue ink, and PRESENT the paper DS-2019 at the U.S. port of entry. 

Important: Failure to obtain a travel signature before traveling outside the United States may result in denial of re-entry at a U.S. port of entry.

Passport

Students' passports must be valid for at least six months into the future at the time they return to the United States  However, some countries have an agreement with the United States that allows them to enter on a current passport up to the actual date of expiration.

J-1 Visa

If students' J-1 visas will expire on or before the date they return to the United States, they must prepare to apply for a new J-1 visa in their home country. Students are not eligible to apply for J-1 visas (or any extension/renewals) while physically in the U.S.

DS-2019

If students are traveling outside the United States, they must obtain a travel signature under the "Travel Endorsement" section of Form DS-2019. 

When traveling internationally, students should carry all of these documents in their hand luggage.