Enrolled students should carry the following documents when returning to the U.S. from international travel:

1. Passport that is valid for at least 6 months in the future:

Please only use the passport listed on your I-20 or DS-2019 for entry to the U.S. Booking travel should also be done using the same passport. Presenting or using a different passport can cause issues with your U.S. immigration and other U.S. government records. 

2. Unexpired F-1/J-1 visa stamp in your passport (Canadian citizens are exempt):

Note: If your passport has expired but your F-1/J-1 visa remains valid, you can travel to the U.S. with two passports from the same country: a renewed, valid passport & the expired passport with the valid visa stamp. 

3. Valid I-20/DS-2019 with a current travel signature:

Travel signatures are valid for one year and multiple entries from the date of the last signature. Please review the instructions above to obtain a travel signature when needed. 

4. Evidence of Financial Resources:

Enrolled students should carry the most recent financial documents aligning with the financial sponsors/sources listed on their I-20 or DS-2019. 

Common examples are:

• Graduate Students - Princeton Financial Support letter, Princeton Admission Reply for first-year students, Departmental Support letter, external fellowship or scholarship letter, bank statements, etc.
• Undergraduate Students - Princeton Financial Aid Award letter, external scholarship letter, bank statements, etc.

5. Evidence of Student Status:

A current transcript or an enrollment verification letter may be downloaded and printed from TigerHub. 

The travel documents required for active employees and scholars under Princeton University visa sponsorship is dependent on the specific visa type. Please refer to the visa specific information relevant to your immigration status:

• J-1 Exchange Visitor
• H-1B Specialty Worker
• TN - Trade NAFTA
• O-1 Extraordinary Ability

Non-Sponsored Employees:

It is important that employees on a visa that is not sponsored by Princeton University consult with their current visa sponsor on any upcoming travel to ensure that they have all required documents for travel. The Davis IC can only provide referral advice on matters pertaining to external sponsorship.

F-1 students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) and J-1 students on Academic Training (AT) need the following documents to re-enter the U.S.:

1. Valid I-20/DS-2019 with a current travel signature:

Travel signatures are valid for 6-months and multiple entries from the date of the last signature. Please review the instructions above to obtain a travel signature when needed. 

2. Unexpired F-1/J-1 visa stamp in your passport (Canadian citizens are exempt):

Note: If your passport has expired but your F-1/J-1 visa remains valid, you can travel to the U.S. with two passports from the same country: a renewed, valid passport & the expired passport with the valid visa stamp. 

3. Proof of Work Authorization:

F-1 students: An Employment Authorization Document (EAD)  listing OPT/STEM OPT dates of approval. IMPORTANT: We strongly recommend that you do not travel until you have the approved EAD card in hand. If you must travel while your EAD card is pending, be advised that you do so at your own risk.

J-1 Students: An Academic Training authorization letter issued by the Davis IC and your DS-2019 with Academic Training approval.

4. Employment letter:

It is recommended that the letter state the job title, a brief job description, the beginning & end date of employment, and the salary. If approved for an extended leave, you are encouraged to have a letter from your employer that states your dates of approved leave.

If you don’t have one or more documents from the list above, please do not make any arrangements to travel abroad before you discuss your plans and options with your international Student Advisor in the Davis IC. 

The Student & Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and Exchange Visitor Program have each adopted guidance allowing the electronic signing and transmission of I-20s and DS-2019s electronically by Designated School Officials (DSO) and Alternate Responsible Officers (ARO). If an electronic document is issued on your behalf, it will be available for download via TigerNav (or TigerNav Limited Services for alumni). 

Once your I-20 or DS-2019 has been downloaded, you must print and physically sign the document for use. The physical copy is required for all travel and visa applications. 

If your most recent physical copy is lost or stolen and you do not have access to the original electronic copy, please submit the relevant e-form in TigerNav to request a replacement document be generated for you:

• F-1 Students: Click on the F-1 Student Services category in the left-hand navigation and submit the I-20 Request form.
• J-1 Students: Click on the J-1 Student Services category in the left-hand navigation and submit the DS-2019 Request form.
• J-1 Scholars: Click on the J-1 Scholar Services category in the left-hand navigation and submit the Scholar DS-2019 Request form.

All students and scholars on a Princeton-sponsored visa MUST have a valid visa stamp at the time of re-entry to the United States to be admitted in the correct immigration status (Canadian citizens exempt). Please review additional information on applying for a new visa to best prepare and plan ahead for your implication.

If you arrive at the U.S. port of entry without all of the required documents or with an unsigned I-20/DS-2019, the Customs & Border Protection (CBP) officer may deny your entry into the U.S. As an alternative, the officer has the discretion to issue a Form I-515A, which allows you temporary entry into the U.S. for 30 days. The Form I-515A is a checklist that describes exactly what is missing or incomplete and gives instructions on how to address the issue. 

You have 30 days from the date of entry into the U.S. to submit the requested paperwork to the SEVP I-515A processing team. If you receive this form, report to the Davis IC immediately upon your arrival to the U.S. so that we can issue a new immigration document or sign your existing documents and email it to SEVP in Washington, D.C. SEVP will process your documents and return them to the Davis IC. 

To avoid getting the I-515A, make sure to hand-carry the required paperwork when you arrive at the U.S. port of entry. Do not put them in your checked baggage because you will not receive your baggage until you are admitted into the U.S. by the CBP officer. 

Most nonimmigrant students and scholars travelling to Canada and Mexico for a visit of 30 days or less do not need to obtain a new entry visa to re-enter the U.S. F-1and J-1 status holders also can visit islands adjacent to the United States.  This process is known as Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR). NOTE: Citizens of Cuba, Iran, Syria, and Sudan are NOT eligible for AVR and require a valid visa stamp with each re-entry into the U.S.

You can benefit from AVR provided that:

• You are currently in F-1/J-1/H-1B/E-3/TN/O-1 status
• You have been in lawful immigration status while in the U.S.
• You have been in Canada, Mexico, or (F/J only) an adjacent Island  for 30 days or less.
• You present the travel documents noted above. 
• You present an unexpired passport with a U.S. nonimmigrant visa stamp (valid or expired)
  • This applies if you have changed nonimmigrant status. Present your previous visa and your change of status approval notice.

Please review additional information regarding AVR on the Department of State website. Be sure to check whether you need an entry visa to travel to one of these countries or a transit visa if you will be stopping in one of these countries for airline transit purposes only. 

IMPORTANT: If you apply for a visa at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate while in Canada, Mexico, or an adjacent island, you cannot use AVR and must wait until the visa is granted to be readmitted to the U.S. If the visa is not granted, you will not be readmitted to the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands until you have secured a new visa. 

You must carry your valid passport and your I-20/DS-2019 for all domestic travel, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Travel within the United States for any international student or scholar on a non-immigrant visa does not require any special documentation, letters, or signatures from the Davis IC. 

Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are U.S. territories and you do not need to obtain a visa if you plan to travel here. You also do not need to have a valid F-1/J-1 visa to return to the continental U.S. from either territory. 

It is recommended you take your passport and accompanying documentation (i.e. I-20 or DS-2019 and I-94) if you travel outside of the Princeton area.

Also, it is recommended that you keep photocopies/scans of your passport, visa, I-94 record, I-20/DS-2019, and any other visa documentation with you.

Canadian citizens are exempt from visa requirements, but are required to present a valid passport, valid I-20/DS-2019 with a current travel signature, the relevant financial documents, and proof of Princeton status. Canadian landed immigrants are NOT exempt from visa requirements. 

F-1 students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) who are granted a cap-gap extension during the processing of an H-1B petition are NOT eligible to re-enter the U.S. during the cap-gap extension period if their OPT EAD card has expired. Students on OPT must have the required documents outlined for alumni on post-completion practical training to be eligible to re-enter the United States as long as they remain in F-1 status. 

Travelling abroad during this time, even if your EAD card is still valid, may interfere with the processing of your H-1B petition. Make sure that you consult with your employer and/or immigration attorney regarding any travel abroad during this time. More information regarding travel on cap-gap is available on the USCIS website. 

If you are an F-1 student remaining at Princeton, but changing to a different academic program (e.g. from a Master's to a PhD program), Davis IC must issue you a new I-20. You will need to complete the AVC process to request the new I-20. Your SEVIS number will remain the same.

If you are a J-1 student admitted to a new degree program at Princeton, meet with your international student advisor to discuss whether any updates to your immigration documents or changes to your immigration status are needed.

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You are considered legally present in the U.S. in F-1, as long as you have completed the steps listed above within your grace period, and have received your new I-20. If your F-1 has expired, the new I-20 establishes the continuance of your immigration status. 

Travel outside the U.S. will require that you present the new I-20/DS-2019 when you re-enter the U.S. If the current visa in the passport is valid, it can be used for entry to the U.S. prior to the start of your new program. If your current F-1 or J-1 visa has expired, you must apply for a new visa prior to returning to the U.S. 

You do not need to request a travel signature.

Unexpired Visa Stamp

You do not need to apply for a new visa stamp if your current one is still valid. Even if your current F-1 visa stamp indicates your previous school, you will be able to use it to re-enter the U.S. when using your Princeton University Transfer Pending I-20.

Expired Visa Stamp

If you will travel out of the U.S., and your previous F-1 visa has expired, you should use the Transfer Pending I-20 to obtain a new visa stamp for your passport. 

See instructions above under Applying for a New Visa.

If you are a J-1 student admitted to a new degree program at Princeton, meet with your international student advisor to discuss whether any updates to your immigration documents or changes to your immigration status are needed.