If you intend to travel outside of the United States, for annual vacation or during a school break, you will need to carry your unexpired passport with your unexpired F-1 or J-1 visa inside as well as your printed I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature. The travel signature is the University's confirmation that your status as a student is current and that you can re-enter the United States to resume your studies. It is located at the middle of page 2 of your I-20 (pictured below); or bottom right of page 1 of your DS-2019.
Your travel signature is valid for one year from the date of issuance, i.e. if it was issued on July 5, 2024 it will be valid for you to re-enter the country until July 4, 2025 (or until your program end date, whichever comes first). All initial I-20s and DS-2019s are issued with this travel signature. The U.S. date format is used for your travel signature ( i.e. 7/5 equals July 5). You only need to contact our office or complete the travel signature request in your ISS Portal Request Center for a new travel signature if yours has expired. This will not be the case if you're studying with us for just one semester.
Note that if you lose your passport with your visa inside while you are in the U.S., you cannot re-enter the U.S. without applying for a new visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.
Canadian students: Be sure to show your I-20/DS-2019 to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when entering the U.S. and indicate that you are entering as an F-1 or J-1 student, particularly at any land border. Failure to do so may result in erroneous entry as a tourist.
Please be advised that entry into the United States is never guaranteed. We recommend that you proceed with caution while traveling.