Traveling Outside the U.S.
UTSA International Services is available to advise international students regarding what is required to enter the U.S. after travel abroad. UTSA International Services is not able to assist you with what is required to enter or apply for visas for other countries. Please refer to immigration resources for the country to which you are planning to travel.
Review the Department of Homeland Security Aviation Security Enhancements for Select Last Point of Departure Airports with Commercial Flights to the United States. It requires all passengers traveling from or transiting into, 10 specific overseas airports to place all personal electronic devices (PDE’s) larger than a cell phone or smartphone in checked baggage. The measure will remain in effect indefinitely.
Re-entering the U.S. in F-1 Status
If you plan to travel outside the U.S. and return in F-1 status, you must have the following documents upon re-entry. If you are in J-1 status, visit the Travel in J-1 Status.
- Valid F-1 visa.
- Valid passport with an expiration date that is at least six months beyond the date you want to re-enter the U.S.
- I-20 endorsed by an international student advisor within the last twelve months.
- For OPT students, the above documents plus the OPT EAD and proof of employment.
Note: You may need a visa for the countries you are visiting. Check that country’s tourist information.
In addition to the required documents for re-entry, the ISSO also recommends carrying the following documents to avoid any delays or additional questions at the port of entry:
- Official or unofficial transcripts
- Proof of financial support
- Proof of private health insurance
- Current course schedule showing full-time enrollment
- Resume and/or CV
- UTSA catalog description of your major
- Documentation regarding the reason for your travel abroad
- Any written communication or emails from your professors excusing your absence if you have missed class for your recent travel
If you are missing any of the required documents when you are entering the U.S. you may be allowed to enter the U.S. temporarily. USCIS may issue you a Form I-515A, “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor.” If you receive an I-515A it is important that you respond in a timely manner. If you do not properly respond, you are at risk for termination.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers have the authority to search any and all electronic devices such as mobile phones and laptops brought into the U.S. at a port of entry. In addition, CBP also has the authority to search the social media accounts of individuals entering the US if deemed necessary.
Request an I-20 Travel Endorsement
- Complete a Travel Endorsement Request to request a new I-20 with travel endorsement. A new I-20 will be printed and endorsed.
- Bring your most recent I-20 to the International Services Office to request a travel endorsement. You may drop off your I-20 at the International Services Office or have it signed on-the-spot during normal business hours.
- The International Services Office will send you an email when the I-20 is ready for pickup, within one business day of submission. You have two options to obtain your endorsed I-20:
-
- Pick it up in person. You must bring a photo ID with you during normal business hours.
- Request it be mailed to you via regular or express mail. Find full instructions on the Mailing Options webpage.
- If your current I-20 does not reflect your current major, or if you wish to update the financial or dependents portions, you will need to submit a request for a new I-20. Such requests require additional documents and have a different processing time.
I-94s
Traditionally, upon every arrival to the U.S., a visitor was issued an I-94 Arrival/Departure Record in the form of a white card stamped by a port of entry official. Now many visitors will obtain their I-94 information online. To access the information, the visitor goes to https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94 and completes a brief form requiring information from the visitor’s passport. Both versions of the I-94 are valid. If after submitting the online form you get an error message, try again using a different format of your name. For example, enter it as it appears in your passport, then as it appears on the U.S. visa. Print a copy of the I-94 for your records. You will need it for a variety of uses, such as obtaining a driver’s license or Social Security card.
If the online information is incorrect or cannot be found, a visitor can obtain a new I-94 at the local Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Deferred Inspection office.
Visa Renewal
In order to enter the U.S., you must have a valid, unexpired visa in your passport. Once inside, visa status takes over. If you are an F-1 or J-1 student and complying with the regulations pertinent to your visa category you are eligible to remain in the U.S. until you reach the end date on your I-20/DS-2019 or until the end of your academic program, whichever comes first. The expiration of the visa in your passport has no effect. Once you leave the U.S., however, you will need a valid, unexpired visa to return. For more information visit Apply for an F-1 Visa.
Study Abroad and Student Conference Travel
- Students traveling abroad on University business, such as conferences, workshops, sports competitions, etc. must submit an international travel authorization request and obtain institutional authorization prior to departure.
- Students traveling abroad on an Education Abroad program must follow the Education Abroad process and obtain institutional authorization to travel prior to departure. For more information go to Education Abroad
Automatic Visa Revalidation
You may be eligible to leave the U.S. and re-enter with an F-1 or J-1 U.S. visa that is expired if you meet the following conditions:
- You are in a valid F or J status
- You are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands
- You will stay outside the U.S. for less than 30 days
- You have a valid, unexpired I-94
- You are not a citizen of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria
- The purpose of your trip is not to apply for a renewal of your U.S. visa
To use this benefit:
- Tell the port of entry official your intention as you leave the U.S.
- If you were given a white card I-94 the last time you entered the U.S., do not surrender it. You will need to present it to the port of entry official upon re-entry.
Remember, if you apply for a visa renewal while outside the U.S. you are not eligible for this benefit. If you are denied the renewal and your current visa is expired, you will not be allowed to re-enter the U.S.
Absence from the U.S. for more than Five Months (F-1 only)
- To maintain F-1 status, students must be enrolled full-time every long semester and avoid gaps of more than five months between terms.
- If you leave the U.S. for more than five months, your F-1 status will end.
- To re-enter the U.S., you will need an initial attendance I-20 and a new visa.
- To be eligible for off-campus employment, you will have to re-establish your eligibility by maintaining full-time enrollment for one academic year even if you met that requirement in your previous status.
While pursuing a degree in the United States, J-1 students and their J-2 dependents may travel. There are different requirements for travel inside the U.S., outside the U.S, and to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands.
To review the considerations you should make before making your travel plans visit the following pages of our website:
You do not need special papers to travel from state to state or to U.S. territories but you must always carry your immigration documents. This is particularly true while traveling through states along the Mexico or Canada borders. You could be stopped by immigration officers at any time and told to produce the following:
- Valid, unexpired passport (expiration date at least six months into the future)
- Valid, unexpired DS-2019
- I-94
- J-1 visa (expired or unexpired)
Non-contiguous US States and Territories
If you are already legally in the U.S., you do not need a visa to visit Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico, or U.S. Virgin Islands unless your travel plans include entry to another country en route to these destinations. You will need to take your valid, unexpired DS-2019.
If you plan to travel outside the U.S. and return in J-1 status, you must have the following documents upon re-entry:
- Valid J-1 visa.
- Valid passport with an expiration date that is at least six months beyond the date you want to re-enter the U.S.
- DS-2019 endorsed by your Program Sponsor within the last six months.
- Review the Department of Homeland Security Aviation Security Enhancements for Select Last Point of Departure Airports with Commercial Flights to the United States. It requires all passengers traveling from or transiting into, 10 specific overseas airports to place all personal electronic devices (PDE’s) larger than a cell phone or smartphone in checked baggage. The measure will remain in effect indefinitely.
Application Process for DS-2019 Travel Endorsement
- Complete a J-1 Student Service Request form found here and submit it to the International Services Office with your most recent DS-2019. Email International. Services@utsa.edu for more information
- The International Services Office will send you an email when the DS-2019 is ready for pickup, within one business day of submission.
You have two options to obtain your endorsed DS-2019:
- Pick it up in person. You must bring a photo ID with you. The ISSO office hours are listed on the Immigration Advising webpage.
- Request it be mailed to you via regular or express mail. Find full instructions on the Mailing Options webpage.
If the information on your DS-2019 is not current or you wish to add dependents you will need to submit the J-1 Student DS-2019 Request Form or J-1 Student Service Request Form to the ISSO and proof of financial support if applicable.
I-94s
Traditionally, upon every arrival to the U.S., a visitor was issued an I-94 Arrival/Departure Record in the form of a white card stamped by a port of entry official. Now many visitors will be told to obtain their I-94 information online. To access the information, the visitor goes to https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94 and completes a brief form requiring information from the visitor’s passport. Both versions of the I-94 are valid. If after submitting the online form you get an error message, try again using a different format of your name. For example, enter it as it appears in your passport, then as it appears on the U.S. visa. Print a copy of the I-94 for your records. You will need it for a variety of uses, such as obtaining a driver’s license or Social Security card.
If the online information is incorrect or cannot be found, a visitor can obtain a new I-94 at the local Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Deferred Inspection office.
Visa Renewal
In order to enter the U.S., you must have a valid, unexpired J-1 visa in your passport. Once inside, you will hold J-1 status. If you are a J-1 student and complying with the regulations pertinent to your status you are eligible to remain in the U.S. until you reach the end date on your DS-2019 or until the end of your academic program, whichever comes first. The expiration of the visa in your passport has no effect. Once you leave the U.S., however, you will need a valid, unexpired visa to return.
You may be eligible to leave the U.S. and re-enter with a J-1 visa that is expired if you meet the following conditions:
- You are in a valid J status
- You are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands
- You will stay outside the U.S. for less than 30 days
- You have a valid, unexpired I-94
- You are not a citizen of Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria
- The purpose of your trip is not to apply for a renewal of your U.S. visa
To use this benefit:
- Tell the port of entry official your intention as you leave the U.S.
- If you were given a white card I-94 the last time you entered the U.S., do not surrender it. You will need to present it to the port of entry official upon re-entry.
Remember, if you apply for a visa renewal while outside the U.S. you are not eligible for this benefit. If you are denied the renewal and your current visa is expired, you will not be allowed to re-enter the U.S.
Driving in the U.S. requires a valid U.S. driver’s license and sufficient driver’s insurance. Insurance requirements vary by state. Your insurance must meet the requirements for the state in which you reside. If you own a vehicle, there are additional requirements.
- In Texas, driver’s licenses are managed by the Texas Department of Public Safety.
- If you have a valid license from your home country and your country recognizes an equivalent U.S. license as valid, you may drive up to one year on the out-of-country license.
- To get a Texas driver’s license you will take written and driving exams and show proof of insurance.
- For information about obtaining a Texas driver’s license, pick up a brochure in the International Services Office.
- See the Texas Department of Public Safety website for driving laws.
- See the Texas Driver’s Handbook, page 3-1 for information about Texas insurance requirements.
- Car owners must register their vehicle.
