Travel

International students, scholars, and employees should consider the two common types of travel associated with using your visa in the United States:

1. Entering the U.S. from another country.
2. Traveling within the U.S.

Read the following sections as the information will likely apply to any travel you do while enrolled in your Stanford program.

Entering the U.S. from Another Country

Before you come to the U.S., — whether initially for the first time in your status or returning after time abroad — make sure you have your documents in order. The list of documents you need depends on your visa status or benefits related to that visa status you are using (e.g., Optional Practical Training, Academic Training).

See Traveling While on a Stanford-Sponsored Visa for specific documentation requirements.

Travel Within the U.S.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations require that you have your valid passport and Form I-94 with you at all times. Traveling with your original I-20/DS-2019/I-797 record is also suggested. Although this may not always be practical, we encourage you to have these documents with you whenever you travel off-campus, especially for air travel.

Important Things to Keep in Mind

• Re-entering the U.S. — You must re-enter the U.S. on the same visa status you were using prior to your departure if you intend to maintain that status. Entering the U.S. on a different visa status forfeits your current visa status and cancels any employment benefits associated with the prior status. For example, if you are an F-1 student and wish to remain in F-1 status, you cannot enter the U.S. — during the entirety of your program — in any other status (e.g., B-1/B-2)
   
• Required travel signatures
  • F-1 students and J-1 students/scholars need to obtain a travel signature after arriving in the U.S., in order to be able to re-enter the U.S. after traveling abroad. The travel signature cannot be more than one year old at the time of re-entry. F-1 students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) need to have a signature no older than six months to return to the U.S.
  • H-1B and O-1 employees do not need travel signatures.
  • TN visa holders need to present a copy of their previous electronic I-94 record.

See Do I Need a New Travel Signature and How to Get a Travel Signature for more information.

Please note that due to the fluid nature of current federal policies, we strongly advise against non-essential international travel. Ongoing visa processing delays, limited consular services, and unpredictable re-entry conditions may disrupt your return to the U.S. and impact your academic progress.

In addition to asking you questions, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers also have the right to look through any electronic devices you may be carrying with you. More information on searching electronic devices can be found on the CBP site. More information on the legal authority of CBP can be found on their website. It is always important to know your rights. If you encounter any problems at the port of entry, please reach out to the Bechtel Center as soon as you can.

• Traveling to another country — Check the entry requirements for that country. You may be required to have an entry visa to enter these countries. Contact their embassy or consulate in the U.S. to check if you need a visa. Allow enough time before your travel for visa processing.

   

Please continue checking the Stanford Immigration website for the latest information on federal immigration changes, the Global Risk website for region-specific travel warnings. Stanford Global Risk strongly recommends against travel to or through several countries in the Middle East. As a reminder, Stanford-sponsored international travel must be registered. Travelers are encouraged to contact globalrisk@stanford.edu for pre-travel consultations.