{"id":2178,"date":"2024-05-07T17:02:39","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T14:02:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lnshah.com\/purdue\/?p=2178"},"modified":"2024-06-05T15:25:43","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T12:25:43","slug":"travelling-while-a-f-1-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lnshah.com\/purdue\/2024\/05\/07\/travelling-while-a-f-1-student\/","title":{"rendered":"Travelling while a F-1 Student"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Travelling within the US<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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When travelling in the United States and outside Lafayette, you should always carry your original immigration documents, including a valid passport and visa documents (Form I-20) for identification purposes.\u00a0U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers may stop individuals and ask for identification at their discretion, especially areas near the US border. When travelling inside the United States by air, please always carry the same immigration documents and follow the guidelines set by the TSA: Transportation Security Administration<\/a>. It is important to check the TSA’s web site before travelling each time since guidelines and regulations tend to change frequently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may also wish to consider Applying for a REAL (State) ID<\/a> for domestic travel.\u00a0Although official guidance seems to say you must have a passport with you at all times, if you have the REAL ID, I would say it would be better to leave your passport safely back at Purdue. A REAL ID should suffice along with pictures of your passport I-20 and visa stamp. Losing your passport while travelling domestically is a risk and its much harder to replace a passport than a REAL ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For day to day life in the Greater Lafayette area, you do not need to carry your original documents with you. We recommend having digital copies, or photos, of your passport, visa stamp, and Form I-20 with you at all times, accessible on a phone or other mobile device. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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What Should I Remember for Travel Abroad?<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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To re-enter into the United States, you will need:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. A valid passport (> 6 months from date of re-entry<\/strong>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. A valid visa (except for Canadian students)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Signed<\/strong> I-20 or DS-2019 form (with a valid Travel Signature<\/a>)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Original financial support as listed in the I-20<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. (For Students on OPT) Valid EAD<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    If your I-20 or DS-2019 is lost, stolen, damaged, or out of travel signature space, request a new document by submitting\u00a0MyISS<\/a>>F-1 and J-1 Student Services>Reprint [I-20\/DS2019]<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Note for Students on OPT:<\/strong>\u00a0In addition to the above, OPT employment that\u2019s reported into SEVP Portal Account as well as proof of employment, such as pay stubs, job offer letter and employment verification letter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    More information about travelling abroad on\u00a0Travel Abroad Information for International Students | ISS (purdue.edu)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    For your security, documents should be with you and not in any checked in luggage<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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    Export Controls<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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    The U.S. Government has strict export control laws. If you are traveling abroad, you should check with the head of your department or laboratory before sending or taking with you materials related to your work. The U.S. Government may require a license to export such items.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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    The Five Month “Rule”<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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    Under U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS) regulations, a student in F-1 status is considered to be maintaining status without interruption as long as the student returns \u201cto the United States from a temporary absence of five months or less\u2026\u201d\u00a0 [8 CFR 214.2(f)(4)]<\/em>\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    USDHS has recognized an exception to this rule for students pursuing a full course of study while engaged in-person at an authorized program of study abroad, as long as the student is physically at the college\/university abroad and is considered part of the student\u2019s U.S. degree program. Therefore, to maintain uninterrupted F-1 status, a student would need be sure they are not outside the U.S. for a continuous period of 5 months or longer<\/strong> while pursuing their degree program.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The major impact of an interruption in F-1 status is on eligibility for off-campus employment authorization.\u00a0 Following the absence of longer than 5 months, upon a new entry to the U.S. a student would need to be enrolled full-time for a new \u201cone full academic year\u201d (a combination of a Fall + Spring semester) before they would regain eligibility for F-1 Optional Practical Training (OPT) and, in most cases, F-1 Curricular Practical Training.\u00a0 See guidance below about steps should a student be outside the U.S. longer than 5 months.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The 5-month Temporary Absence Rule also applies to alumni on authorized F-1 OPT or STEM OPT Extension, therefore these alumni should be sure not to be outside the U.S. continually for a period of 5 months or longer or it would void the OPT or STEM OPT authorization.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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    Lost or stolen passport and\/or visa documents<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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    Passports, Visas, and Arrival\/Departure Records (admission stamp or paper Form I-94) are official travel documents that foreign citizens coming to the United States (U.S.) must have in their possession to show their country of citizenship and legal status in the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    All travellers should make a copy of their passport biographic page, U.S. visa and admission stamp <\/strong>or paper Form I-94, if provided, as soon as possible after their arrival <\/strong>in the United States. If you are a foreign citizen temporarily in the United States, and you lose your U.S. visa, you can remain for the duration of your authorized stay, as shown on your admission stamp or paper Form I-94, Arrival\/Departure Record. You will need a valid passport to depart the United States and to enter another country. There are a number of steps you need to take as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If your passport is lost or stolen, either in the U.S. or while travelling:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Police Report<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Go to the local police station and report your document(s) lost or stolen. If available, you will need to provide copies of the original documents. You will be issued a police report detailing the incident. Don\u2019t forget to make an extra copy of the report for your own records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Request Replacement of a Lost\/Stolen Arrival\/Departure Record (Form I-94)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Replacement of a lost or stolen Form I-94 falls under the responsibility of Department of Homeland Security (DHS). To file for a replacement I-94, see\u00a0Application for Replacement\/Initial Nonimmigrant Arrival-Departure Document<\/a>\u00a0at the DHS, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) website and see\u00a0Arrival-Departure Record<\/a>\u00a0at the DHS, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website. This applies to those issued with paper i-94s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Report Lost\/Stolen to Your Embassy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Contact the local embassy or consular section for the country of your citizenship for information about the procedure to replace a lost or stolen passport. Most countries have Internet web sites with contact information. Sometimes, the new passport may be in the form of a travel document or a temporary passport.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Report your Visa Lost\/Stolen to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate Abroad<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    To report your visa lost or stolen, email the Consular Section at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside the United States which issued your visa. Go to the\u00a0U.S. Embassy or Consulate website<\/a>\u00a0to locate the email address and contact information. Be sure to include your full name, date of birth, place of birth, address in the United States, and an e-mail address (if available). Specifically state whether the visa was lost or stolen. If you have a copy of the passport or visa, scan and email this to the embassy or consulate. Otherwise, if known, report the category of visa, and the passport number from the lost\/stolen visa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If you have already reported your visa lost\/stolen to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, and then you later find your misplaced visa, then your visa will be invalid for future travel to the United States. \u00a0Therefore, in that situation you must apply for a new visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Applying for a Replacement U.S. Visa<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Lost or stolen U.S. visas cannot be replaced in the United States. Once you have your new passport and new I-20 or DS-2019, you must apply in person at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad for a replacement F-1 visa. You will need to provide a written account documenting the loss of your passport and visa. Include a copy of the police report. You must have a valid F-1 or J-1 visa in order to re-enter the U.S.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n

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    Travel while on OPT\/STEM OPT<\/strong><\/p>\n\t\t\t

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    International travel while on OPT or while OPT is pending is possible, but you should exercise caution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Until graduation date<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Filing for OPT should not have an effect on your ability to travel and re-enter the US before your graduation date. However, it is advisable to take as much information about your OPT application as possible. To re-enter the US before your graduation, even if you have applied for OPT, you must present the following documents to the officer at the port-of-entry:<\/p>\n\n\n\n