J-1 Travel and Re-entry

International Travel Advisory

ISSO continues to advise caution with international travel, as U.S. immigration policies are unpredictable and can rapidly change without notice. If your visa is expired, renewing it could be uncertain and may cause extended delays, potentially affecting your ability to return and continue your studies or work. Unfortunately, ISSO is unable to guarantee your ability to return. At this time, ISSO does not anticipate that domestic travel within the US will be impacted by the new Presidential administration.

Please complete the following steps if you will be traveling internationally:

  • International Scholars + Employees: Before traveling, consult with your supervisor and your campus HR representative about whether you may work and/or be paid while abroad if you are unable to return to the US as anticipated. Then, secure your visa interview appointment if appropriate. If you have remaining questions after securing your visa appointment AND talking with your supervisor, HR and/or your department, please reach out to your ISSO adviser for guidance.
  • International J-1 Students: Before traveling, contact the international student adviser, [email protected], for guidance.

Re-entering the U.S. from Abroad

We advise entering the United States through San Francisco International Airport. U.S. Customs is familiar with Bay Area institutions and Officers are more apt to call institutions directly if they have questions. This is not a requirement by any means, just a recommendation.

Present the following documents to U.S. Customs and Border Protection upon re-entry:

  1. Passport: Passports must be valid six months beyond your current program or employment end date, unless your country is waived from this requirement. When a waiver of the six-month requirement exists, your passport must be valid for the entire period of your program, but the additional six-month validity period is not required. Questions about this requirement should be directed to the airline that you will enter the U.S. on, as they will be checking prior to boarding your flight to the US.
  2. Valid J-1 Visa Stamp (with multiple entries)
  3. DS-2019 with Valid Travel Signature: Travel signatures are valid for one year from the date signed by the adviser or until the program end date, whichever date is earlier. If you need a travel signature on your DS-2019, please complete the ISSO Travel Signature Request form.
  4. UCSF Appointment Letter (recommended)
  5. Proof of Enrollment (J-1 students only)

At the port of entry, your passport will be date-stamped and returned to you. You will need to obtain your electronic I-94 form.

A note on electronic devices: 

  • Electronic Device Inspection: CBP may review your devices, including social media. Review ACLU's article for preparation tips.
  • Social Media & Apps: Ensure your online presence reflects compliance with U.S. laws and visa regulations. Evaluate your social media presence to ensure it presents a professional and appropriate representation of yourself to US Customs.

Additional Guidance Regarding Your I-94 Form

When re-entering the U.S. as a nonimmigrant, a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will assign you an electronic Form I-94 upon inspection. The I-94 confirms your U.S. legal entry, your immigration status, and your authorized length of stay. This form confirms that you entered the U.S. legally and is a very important document to check upon each U.S. re-entry.

Confirm that your electronic I-94 contains the correct information: 
  1. Access your I-94 online within 48 hours of U.S. re-entry
  2. Confirm that your I-94 is marked correctly. For example, 
  • Class of Admission should list "J-1"
  • Admit Until Date should list "D/S," denoting that you may remain in the U.S. for the "Duration of Status." This means that as long as you're maintaining your status and your DS-2019 is still valid, you may remain in the U.S. Contact your ISSO Adviser right away if there is a date listed after the "Admit Until Date." Having a date listed means that you no longer hold a valid U.S. legal status following that date. 
  • Confirm your biographical and other data are correct 

IMPORTANT: If your I-94 is not correct, contact your J-1 adviser right away for guidance on correcting your I-94. Additional information can be found on CBP's FAQ Sheet.

Sample Electronic I-94 from CBP's Website

 

 

Renewing Your Visa Stamp

Review the U.S. Embassy or Consulate website where you will apply for your visa for location-specific information.

  • When renewing your visa, anticipate delays, especially if you will be traveling during the holiday or peak travel seasons. Security checks can delay visa issuance by several weeks.
  • Please note that you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee for visa renewals. The SEVIS fee is a one-time fee paid prior to starting your J-program.
  • You can only renew your visa at a U.S. consulate abroad.
  • ISSO always recommends that you apply for your renewal visa in your home country. If you apply in a country other than your home country, you may be subject to administrative processing, which will require that you stay in that country until your visa is issued. The Department of State website states that administrative processing can take 60 days or more to resolve.

U.S. Consulates and embassies will generally require:

  1. Complete the DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application (see our DS-160 tips for more information)
  2. Pay the nonimmigrant visa application fee
  3. Make an appointment to interview for the J-visa at the nearest U.S. Consulate or Embassy. The consulate will not schedule an appointment for you.
  4. Bring the following documents to your interview:
  • Passport (valid at least 6 months beyond current end date)
  • DS-2019 form
  • UCSF appointment letter
  • Documentation of financial support, if not funded by UCSF (recommended)
  • Visa application confirmation Page
  • Visa application fee payment receipt
  • SEVIS fee receipt copy (recommended). Access and print at the FMJ website which was originally used to pay the I-901 fee.
  • Some consulates may require a birth certificate copy; check with the specific consulate for confirmation.

NOTE: Canadian citizens do not need to apply for a visa.

Automatic Visa Revalidation

If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico, or “adjacent islands” for less than 30 days, you may be eligible for automatic visa revalidation. This means that you may travel to these countries for less than 30 days and return to the U.S. with an expired visa stamp, provided that you are otherwise admissible. Please confirm your eligibility at the US DOS website.

NOTE: You may need a non-U.S. visa to enter Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands. Contact the Embassy’s website that you will be traveling to for visa requirements.