International Students

Travel

Travel Checklist for International Students in F Status

Important Travel Information

Applying for an F1 Visa

Travel Checklist for International Students in F Status

This check list is designed for international students in F status who are traveling within the United States or abroad.

SEVIS I-20
Check the travel signature on your SEVIS I-20. You must have your SEVIS I-20 with you when you travel, even for travel within the United States. If traveling outside of the U.S., be sure that your current I-20 has an authorizing signature for travel no older than one year prior to your date of return to the U.S.
Passport
Check the expiration date of your passport. You must have your passport with you for all travel, including travel within the United States. If traveling abroad, your passport MUST be valid at least six months into the future upon your return to the United States. Passports may be renewed at your country's embassy or consulate in the United States. The Office of International Programs (OIP) has a directory of all foreign consulates and embassies, with addresses and phone numbers, for your reference. Or, if you have access to the World Wide Web, you can obtain up-to-date information on passport renewal. Point your web browser to http://www.embassy.org/embassies/
U.S. Visa
Check your U.S. visa stamp inside your passport. Has your visa stamp expired? If it is still valid, is it for multiple entry, or has the entry been used up? Finally, is the category for which the visa was issued the status you currently hold (for example, if your visa is F-2, are you currently in F-2 status or did that status change after you entered the United States ). An expired U.S. visa need only be renewed if you will be traveling outside the United States . The exception is travel to Canada or Mexico , as long as your travel to either of those two countries is for less than thirty days and you are not applying for a U.S. visa there. There is a special rule for citizens of Iraq , Iran , Syria , Libya , Sudan , North Korea , or Cuba currently in the United States. Such an individual can only enter Canada or Mexico and return to the United States IF he or she has an unexpired multiple-entry U.S. visa in the passport for his or her current status. Be sure to read the handout titled "Applying for a New Visa at a U.S. Consulate Abroad."
I-94 Arrival/Departure Card
You must have your white, I-94 card with you for all travel, even travel within the United States. You will need to surrender your I-94 card if you are departing from the United States. You will be issued a new I-94 card upon your re-entry to the United States with a new admission number. However, your SEVIS ID number (printed at the top right of your SEVIS I-20) will not change. SPECIAL NOTE: F-1 students with expired U.S. visas who are traveling to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands for up to 30 days AND who will be resuming their studies upon their return should NEVER surrender their I-94 card. Canadian or Mexican nationals returning to their home country should surrender their I-94 card as they enter their country, and obtain a new I-94 card the next time they enter the United States. Canadian nationals should be sure to carry with them their financial documentation that verifies the information on their I-20 when getting ready to return to the United States.
CSUMB Student ID Card
Carry your current CSUMB ID card with you as supporting documentation.
Health Insurance ID Card
You will need your ID card if you need to visit a health care provider for an illness or accident, either locally or away. If you do not have health insurance CSUMB offers student insurance through Somerton Student Insurance Inc. Somerton may be contacted directly or pamphlets are available at Student Recruitment Services.
- Somerton Student Insurance, 7277 Lone Pine Dr. #C202, P. O. Box 1287, Rancho Murieta, CA 95683
- 800-853-5899 or 916-314-5500
- www.ssi-incorporated.com
Practical Training
If you have completed your studies and have applied for Practical Training, you must have your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) with you, as well as your SEVIS I-20 endorsed for practical training, in order to re-enter the United States.
Special Registration Applicants
If you were required to go through the special registration process either at a U.S. port of entry or as part of a "call-in" registration at a district USCIS office, because you are male and from one of the 25 designated countries, there is a special exit procedure that you must follow before you can depart the United States, at the airport where your overseas flight will depart. Failure to do so can result in your being permanently barred from entering the United States. For a description of the requirement, and a list of designated exit ports and specific information on their locations and hours of operation, go to:
http://www.ice.gov/graphics/enforce/imm/specreg/WalkawayMaterial.pdf

Important Travel Information

Your Travel I-20

In order to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 student status after traveling to another country, you will need a valid CSUMB SEVIS I-20 form signed by an International Student Advisor at the CSUMB Office of International Programs. To permit your return to the U.S., one of our International Student Advisors will either:

signed page 3 of your current CSU Monterey Bay I-20 ID form, or
prepared a new I-20 form for you if:
1. your major or other information has changed
2. you need or intend to renew or obtain an F-1 visa
3. you are currently authorized for Post-Completion Optional Practical Training

If your current I-20 is signed on page 3, you may use this I-20 to re-enter the U.S. for up to one year from the date it was signed (for absences of less than five months). However, we recommend that you request a new signature if you have a current signature that is more than 6 months old. If you were given a new I-20, please note item #5 which indicates the latest date you may re-enter the U.S. You may not return after this date unless page 3 has been signed. If you have been authorized by the Immigration Service to participate in Post-Completion Practical Training, you will also need to show your Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) when you re-enter the U.S.! You will also need to bring a letter from your employer to show that you have already started (or will soon start) to work!

F-1 Visa Renewal

You must apply for a new F-1 student visa to return to the U.S. in F-1 status if:

Your F-1 visa stamp in your passport has expired or will expire before you return to the U.S. (unless you are traveling only to Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days).
You originally entered the U.S. in another visa category, then changed your status to F-1 in the U.S. For example, if you entered the U.S. on a tourist (B-1/B-2) visa and changed your status to F-1 in the U.S. , then you must apply for an F-1 visa (stamp in your passport).

Please carefully read the information "Applying for an F-1 Visa" on the back page. U.S. visas (visas to enter the U.S. ) are issued only by U.S. embassies or consulates outside of the U.S. . If you need to renew or obtain an F-1 visa, we advise you to make plans to do this at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. We do not advise you to apply for an F-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate other than the one in your home country. In most cases this is very difficult, and in some cases it is impossible. Please meet with an International Student Advisor before leaving the U.S. to get more information about the risks and limitations of applying for a visa in a "third" country.

Please read the instructions on page 2 of your I-20 form. It is your responsibility to know and follow the immigration regulations that apply to your F-1 student status. If you have any questions, please contact an International Student Advisor at the Office of International Programs at (831) 582-4735. We wish you a safe and pleasant trip.

Travel to and from the U.S.

Departing : When you leave the U.S. you will be asked to submit your I-94 form (the small white card that is in your passport) to an airline representative. If you do not have your I-94 form, you will still be allowed to board the plane. DO NOT give up your I-20 form when departing the U.S.

Returning : When you return to the U.S. you will be given a new I-94 form. Upon returning, you must show to the port-of-entry immigration official: (a) a valid passport (usually required to be valid for at least six months), (b) a valid I-20 form, (c) a valid F-1 visa (if you are visiting Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days, you can re-enter the U.S. with an expired F-1 visa.), (d) your EAD card if you are on PCPT, and (e) a letter from your employer to verify that you have already or will soon start to work (if under PCPT). We recommend that you also take copies of your financial support documents, health insurance coverage, and student ID card in case you are asked to show these documents.

Traveling to Canada or Mexico

Ask for specially prepared information sheets form the Office of International Programs if you are planning to travel to Canada or Mexico.

Traveling to Countries Other Than Canada or Mexico

If you are traveling to one or more countries outside the U.S. which is not your home country, you may be required to obtain a visa and, in some cases, immunizations in order to enter. Before your departure you should find out exactly what you will need to enter another country by contacting the nearest consulate or embassy of each country you plan to visit. Most countries have consulates in San Francisco . Check the telephone directory or obtain a list of consulate addresses and telephone numbers from the Office of International Programs. If you are visiting a country with no local consulate, you will need to contact that country's embassy in Washington, D.C.

Applying for an F-1 Visa

Applying for an F-1 student visa can be complicated and frustrating. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the visa officer at the U.S. embassy or consulate will automatically issue you a new visa. You will need to convince the U.S. embassy or consulate that you are a serious student who has maintained full-time student status and earned good grades. You must also show sufficient financial support and demonstrate evidence that you will return to your home country after you have completed your studies at CSUMB.

We recommend that you call the non-immigrant visa section of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will be applying for a visa in advance to learn about their specific procedures and policies regarding F-1 student visa applications. For example, some U.S. embassies and consulates will require you to make an appointment in advance while others may operate on a drop-in basis. Some may accept F-1 visa applications only during certain hours of the day. We suggest that you do some research in advance of your visit so that you will be well prepared.

Application Documents:

Although each U.S. embassy or consulate may have slightly different document requirements, you will need these items when applying for an F-1 student visa:

Valid I-20 form from CSUMB
Current financial documentation from your sponsor
Valid passport
Your EAD card (if you have been authorized for post-completion optional practical training)

We strongly recommend that you also take these additional items to your visa interview:

Copies of your transcripts verifying your full-time continuous enrollment and good academic standing
(Transcripts are required by some consulates/embassies!)
Support letter from the Office of International Programs
Proof of health insurance coverage
Your student ID card
A receipt from the Cashier's Office showing that you've paid your tuition and fees for the next semester

Preparing for the Visa Interview

We recommend that you be prepared to respond to these questions:

Why did you decide to study at CSUMB? (Because of the university's strong academic program in your major, recommendation from a relative or friend, etc.) You may wish to prepare your answer in a short written statement to take with you.
How will a degree from CSUMB be used to help you find a job in your home country after you graduate? (If you already have a job offer in your home country after graduation, take a letter from your future employer. This will help demonstrate your ties to your home country).
What or who is the source of your financial support while you are in the U.S.? You must demonstrate that you have sufficient funds to cover your living expenses and tuition costs for one full academic year as indicated in item # 7 of your form I-20. You will need to demonstrate that you will have these funds available to you for each year of study in the U.S. You may wish to have your financial sponsor with you to explain how you will be supported financially during your stay in the U.S.

You should also be prepared to demonstrate the following:

That you have strong ties to your home country (such as family, property, job offers) that will compel you to return after you complete your studies in the U.S.
That you have sufficient knowledge of the English language necessary to be successful in your studies

Reminders:

If you have close family members (such as parents, brothers, or sisters) who have immigrated to the U.S. , it may be more difficult for you to obtain an F-1 student visa. You will need to present a strong case to the visa officer that you will return to your home country after you complete your studies since the officer may believe that you intend to remain in the U.S.

Above all, we recommend that you be honest on your visa application form and during an interview.

If your visa application is denied. . .

Consular officials have absolute authority to grant or deny visas. If your application for a visa is denied, you should be given an explanation why (the officer may explain verbally or in writing). Although there is no formal system of appeal for visa denial, reconsideration may be given to you if you are able to present additional documents that will support your case.