If you are traveling abroad, you must meet the entry requirements (i.e., visa) of
the country you plan to visit as well as the US requirements to reenter the United
States; this includes short trips to Mexico and Canada for which special rules may
apply as noted below.
Travel Home or Abroad
To reenter the US, you will need to present the following documents to the immigration
service officer:
- 1. a valid passport
- 2. a valid visa stamp (unless exempt)
- 3. a valid I-20 ( F-1
students) or DS-2019 ( J-1 students). You will also need a current signature or
endorsement on the back of your I-20 or DS-2019 from OISS. This endorsement verifies
that you are a continuing student at UCSB and are eligible to return in the F-1
or J-1 status. The signatures are only current or valid for six months . (F-1 students
please note that the back of your I-20 form states that the endorsements are valid
for 1 year .This has been changed to 6 months). If you need to get a signature or
endorsement on your I-20 or DS-2019, simply drop off the form at OISS. You can usually
pick it up the following day. Please do not wait until the very last moment to get
the signature.
Obtaining a New Visa
If your F-1 or J-1 visa stamp has expired, you will need to obtain a new visa to
reenter the US. You can apply for a visa stamp at an American Embassy/Consulate
when you are abroad. . A US visa stamp cannot be obtained inside the US. To apply
for a visa stamp you will need to present:
- 1. Valid Passport
- 2. Valid I-20 or DS-2019, with current signature on the back
- 3.
Documentation of sufficient financial support - for at least one year
- 4. Copy of
current transcripts -an unofficial copy is sufficient and can be requested from
the Registrar's office via GOLD or you can print your unofficial transcript from
GOLD on your own private computer.
- 5. Letter from academic department regarding
your status or progress in the program-primarily for graduate students.
The visa renewal process will be the same procedure that you followed the first
time you applied for the visa. Each time you apply for a visa you must prove to
the consular officer you have enough funds to continue studying, you have been a
full time student, and that you plan to return to your home country after completion
of your degree.
Please note that it may be difficult to obtain a visa from a consular post that
is not in your home country. The application procedures and processing time for
a visa may vary depending on the US Embassy/Consulate you visit. Many consular posts
are taking several weeks to process visa applications, so you will need to make
sure that you will have enough time in your travel plans to obtain the visa. You
may want to contact the US Embassy/Consulate you intend to visit to inquire about
their procedures. Then you can make your plans accordingly. Information on US Embassies
and Consulates can be found at the
State Department website.
Travel to Mexico and Canada
Before traveling to Canada or Mexico you should find out if you require a visa to
enter those countries. See the Mexican Consulate for information on the Mexican
Consulate and the Canadian Consulate for information on the Canadian Consulate.
Automatic Visa Revalidation
Generally, it is not necessary to have a valid US visa for re-entry to the US if
your stay in Mexico or Canada is 30 days or less. The visa is considered automatically
revalidated, as long as you have a valid passport, I-20 or DS-2019 form with recent
signature, the I-94 form and a visa stamp in your passport. It is absolutely essential
that you have the I-94 form. Without it, you are not eligible for the automatic
visa revalidation. You should not surrender your I-94 card when leaving the U.S.
If your I-20 or DS-2019 forms does not have the red entry stamp, it will be stamped
at the border, and a fee of $6 will be charged. If your form needs to be stamped,
plan for additional time to complete your re-entry to the US.
NOTE: There are circumstances when the automatic revalidation does not work
for short trips to Canada or Mexico which include 1) when a traveler applies for
a new U.S. visa while in Mexico or Canada and 2) students who are entered into the
NSEERS. Students planning to use the automatic visa revalidation should speak with
an OISS adviser before visiting Mexico or Canada.
Automatic Visa Revalidation is also available for travel for short tips to certain
islands adjacent to the U.S. (e.g., Bermuda, The Bahamas, Jamaica). If you plan
to visit one of these islands and use the automatic visa revalidation, please check
first with an adviser in OISS.
If you are not sure your documents are current or have questions about traveling
and reentering the US please make an appointment at OISS well in advance of when
you plan to leave.