Get a Travel Signature

A Travel Signature is an additional signature located on your I-20 or DS-2019 document that confirms that you are maintaining your F-1 status and have been authorized to temporarily leave the United States while you are in your F-1 program.

It is required on-hand upon arrival into the U.S. after returning from abroad. It is not required for leaving the US. Failure to have a Travel Signature on your most recent I-20 or DS-2019 document may result in you being denied entry into the U.S.

Travel Signatures are required if you are a continuing student and are planning to travel outside of the United States and return to continue your F-1 program

This includes:

• Spring/Summer/Winter break
• If you are on F-1 Post Completion OPT or J-1 Post Completion Academic Training
• Dependents traveling outside of the United States and intending to return.

A travel signature must be on your latest valid I-20 or DS-2019 document, even if you still have a valid travel signature on a previous I-20 document for eg: If you have an I-20 with a travel signature that is still valid, but you recently changed major and received a new I-20, the NEW I-20 must have a travel signature if you wish to travel outside the US.

Travel signatures are not required if:

• the student is travelling within the United States. 
• The student has graduated or is withdrawing from their program and is not planning to return to the United States.

F-1 Student: Travel signatures are valid for a one year period from the date it was signed or until the I-20 expiration date, whichever comes first.

F-1 Student on OPT or STEM OPT: 6 months-  Proof of US employment is required.

Note:

Degree/program completion: The endorsement is no longer valid.  This may be the date you deposit your thesis, complete the semester, or graduate.

Academically dropped, suspended, expelled or terminated:  Contact ISS immediately concerning your nonimmigrant status.  Do not use the Purdue I-20 to reenter the US.

Foreign visa requirements: The country where you are travelling may require a new I-20 travel signature. Check with that country’s consulate for their advice.

Out of the US for more than 5 months: I-20 will no longer be valid for reentry.  Notify ISS of prolonged absences so we may best advise for future reentry into the US.  Exception:  Students participating in Purdue Study Abroad programs.

You do not need to visit the ISS physically to request a travel signature, its all done electronically. Before you do so, the student must have completed the vMISCi immigration checklist (which you did as one of the steps after arrival in my post To-do List on Arrival). Once the above section is complete and around after 1-2 weeks of the semester starting, ISS will process the registrations of each international student.Then and only then a new menu option will show up in your portal.

MyISS>F-1 and J-1 Student Services>Travel Signature Request.

Clicking that link, your kid has to fill in a form and then submit, ISS will then revert back with a confirmation email. Please be aware that travel signature processing can take a maximum of 14 calendar days in very busy times, but typically takes much less time.

Your student has to do this every year of the degree as its valid for 12 months only!

Plan Ahead!

ISS suggests that you always keep your travel signature valid. You can request a travel signature at any time of year: you do not need to wait until you have specific travel plans. Plan well in advance when traveling out of the US. More than 10,000 international students and scholars attend Purdue. End of semester periods can be very busy at ISS with many travel and other types of requests.

While on OPT or STEM OPT, your I-20 must be endorsed for travel in order to re-enter the U.S. Travel signatures are generally good for six months, but there are exceptions. If you need a signature, check requirements with the links provided, and then update/validate your employment information on myISS using the “OPT Reporting” e-form in order to request a signature.

• Read More on Purdue’s Optional Practical Training site
• Read More on Purdue’s OPT STEM 24 month extension site
• MyISS>F-1 Optional Practical Training>OPT Reporting

Once you receive the i-20 electronically with a Travel signature you need to print and sign it in ink.

If you have an emergency and need to travel before you have time to receive a new travel signature or when ISS is closed (weekends, federal, and university holidays), please go ahead and travel.

Remember that the travel signature is required upon returning the US, not for leaving the US. Follow the instructions above to submit a travel signature request online while you are abroad

If you do not allow enough time for you to receive a new travel signature before you travel, please be aware that most likely, the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the US port of entry will issue you a Form I-515A Notice to Student and Exchange Visitor, granting temporary admissions. Please note that the temporary admission with the Form I-515 is at the discretion of the CBP officer and ISS has no authority to persuade CBP to grant you temporary admission. On rare occasions, you may be denied entry to the US, and you should be aware of this risk before travelling to the US.

If you are issued an I-515A, you will be granted temporary admission into the US for 30 days. The I-515A form contains instructions for what you need to do to extend your stay beyond the 30 day admission. You should submit MyISS>General Services>Ask Student Counselor requesting assistance with your I-515A. ISS will provide instructions and the required documents to mail to the Department of Homeland Security within the 30-day submission deadline in order to maintain status.

Within four to six weeks, you will receive your new I-20/DS-2019 and I-94 arrival/departure card marked D/S, or duration of status. This notation extends your stay to its original length. You will not be able to travel outside the United States until you receive your documents marked D/S, so please plan accordingly.

If you do not send the I-515 and supporting documentation by the submission deadline, your visa status will be terminated and you will need to exit the United States immediately or file immediately for reinstatement with US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).