i20 travel

Travel Signature

Updated 12/3/2023

A signed I-20/DS-2019 is not required to depart the U.S.; however, international students and scholars who are reentering the U.S. must ensure they have a valid travel signature on their I-20/DS-2019. Only Designated School Officials (F-1)/ Responsible Officers (J-1) at the Office of International Services are permitted to sign the I-20/DS-2019 for travel.

Travel Signature Endorsement and Validity

Continuing students/scholars.

The signature on page 2 or 3 of the I-20 or on the bottom right corner of page 1 of the DS-2019 is valid for 12 months. If your re-entry date to the U.S. is within 12-months from the last signature, you will be eligible to re-enter on that I-20/DS-2019.  However, if you re-enter after the 12-month period, then a new travel signature is required.

Information for F-1 students on OPT/STEM OPT

The signature on page 2 or 3 of the OPT I-20 is valid for 6 months from when it was signed. If your re-entry date is within 6 months from the last signature, you will be eligible to re-enter on that I-20.  However, if you re-enter after the 6-month time frame, a new travel signature is required.

Information for J-1 Short-term Scholars

Travel signatures are valid for 6 months or until the end of program, whichever is sooner.

How to Request a Travel Signature Remotely

Students/scholars who need a travel signature should request one prior to their departure from the U.S. if possible. A travel signature require seven business days processing time. Please arrange your travel/re-entry plans accordingly.

F-1 Students

To request a travel signature, the student must submit a Travel Signature I-20 Request . The processing time for these requests is  seven (7) business days . The I-20 will be signed electronically and emailed to student’s USC email account. U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and Department of State (DoS) accept electronically signed I-20s.

J-1 Students/Scholars

To request a travel signature, the Exchange Visitor (EV) must complete the Student Travel Signature Request or Scholar Travel Signature Request form . The processing time for these requests is  seven (7) business days . The DS-2019 will be signed electronically and emailed to the EVs USC email account. Please note that EVs are not permitted to digitally sign the DS-2019. U.S. Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS), Customs and Border Patrol (CBP), and Department of State (DoS) accept electronically signed DS-2019s.

Special note for J-2 Dependents: OIS will automatically include travel endorsements for all J-2 records on file with the J-1 Exchange Visitor’s request.

Did you forget to get your I-20/DS-2019 endorsed for travel? 

Enter the U.S. on I-515A. The I-515A is a document issued by the U.S. Port-of-Entry officer that allows students and scholars to re-enter the U.S. on a temporary status of 30 days.  If you do not have a valid travel signature, you will likely be issued a Form I-515A by the U.S. Port-of-Entry officer.  Since this is a temporary stay document that only allows 30 days stay in the U.S., it is very important that you contact OIS immediately upon arrival to fix your status to F-1 or J-1 D/S.  Entering on an I-515A may cause some delays at the Port of Entry, so please plan accordingly.

Please visit the  Contact Us page for OIS office hours and closures. Any requests submitted during weekend or holiday closures will not be processed and emailed until the office reopens.

Reminder: Upon re-entry to the U.S., students should print out their I-94 Arrival/Departure record .

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SEVP made every effort to provide complete answers to these common questions. However, each person’s individual circumstances differ. So while these questions and answers serve as a general guide, they may not provide all the information you need to determine whether it is appropriate to travel or whether U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will re-admit you to the United States. You can contact your designated school official, officials at your embassy or consulate or your legal counsel for further assistance.

Please remember that the CBP officer at the port of entry decides whether to admit non-immigrants into the United States. The facts and circumstances presented at the time you apply to enter are the basis of this decision. SEVP cannot guarantee that CBP will admit or re-admit you into the United States.

Travel Re-entry: F Visa

Re-entry for f-1 non-immigrants travelling outside the united states for five months or fewer.

This section of the FAQ applies to continuing F-1 students who travel outside the United States for five months or less.

Students should consult their Designated School Official (DSO) prior to travelling. Your DSO generally works in the International Student Office. You must have a current SEVIS Form I-20 endorsed for travel and your DSO needs to be able to verify that your SEVIS record is accurate and up-to-date.

What are the basic requirements for an F-1 to re-enter the United States after travelling abroad on pleasure or personal business?

• A Form I-20, endorsed for travel and signed by your DSO
• You have been out of the United States for less than five months
• A current passport valid for at least six months after the date of your reentry or, if you are from one of the countries listed below, a passport that is current through the date of entry
• A valid, current visa or you travelled to contiguous country or adjacent island for less than thirty days
• Financial information showing proof of necessary funds to cover tuition and living expenses

If you are from a visa exempt country, you do not need a visa to reenter the United States from the western hemisphere, but make sure that you present your I-20 to be admitted as an F-1 student and not a visitor.

What if I have an expired passport or one that will expire in less than six months?

You must renew your passport before re-entering the United States. In most cases, to enter the United States, you must have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the date you enter or re-enter.

However, the countries listed below have an agreement with the United States that allows you to enter on a current passport up to the actual date of expiration.

Try to keep your passport current at all times. You need to determine your country’s requirements and timelines for renewing passports. Many countries will allow you to renew your passport while in the United States. The other alternative is to renew your passport when you return home for a visit.

In some cases, you may want to delay leaving the United States until you have renewed your passport. You will not be able to re-enter the United States without a valid passport. If your expired passport has a valid visa, you can still use that visa if you kept the old passport. Present the old passport, along with the new passport when you reenter the country. The countries that have an agreement with the United States allowing entry with a passport until the date of expiration are as follows:

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Bosnia-Herzegovina
• Cote D’Ivoire
• Czech Republic
• Dominican Republic
• El Salvador
• Hong Kong (certificates of identity and passports)
• Liechtenstein
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Philippines
• St. Kitts and Nevis
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines
• Slovak Republic
• South Africa
• Switzerland
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom

What if my F-1 student visa has expired?

You can stay in the United States on an expired F-1 visa as long as you maintain your student status. However, if you are returning home or traveling to a country where automatic revalidation does not apply, you must have a valid visa to return to the United States.

Ensure that you have all the documentation you need for your visa application and allow sufficient time for processing a new visa. The documentation you may need for a new visa includes, but is not limited to the following:

• A Form I-20, endorsed for travel and signed by your DSO (see your DSO before you travel)
• Original evidence showing proof of necessary funds to cover tuition and living expenses
• Evidence showing your intention to return to your home country upon program completion, including evidence of compelling social and economic ties to your home country
• If you have applied for or had optional practical training (OPT) approved, bring a copy of your Form I-20 endorsed for OPT and your Employment Authorization Document (EAD), if you have one

The Department of State recommends that you apply for a visa in your home country. For more information about visa applications visit the Department of State (DoS) website at http://travel.state.gov/ .

You can apply in a third country for a visa, but you will not be able to return to the United States until DoS issues your visa. In some cases, this could take several weeks if DoS requires a background check. If DoS denies your visa, you will not be able to return to the United States. Be sure to check the DoS website for specific information pertaining to each embassy or consulate.

If you have an expired visa and a terminated record, we strongly advise that you do not travel outside the United States until your SEVIS record shows that you are in active status. If you do travel, you may not be able to renew your visa or return to the United States.

As a continuing student, will I need to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee if I travel outside the United States?

No. See the I-901 FAQ for detailed information on the I-901 SEVIS fee.

I wish to travel to Canada, Mexico, or one of the islands adjacent to the United States. Can I return if my visa is expired?

Yes, in most cases. You can usually revalidate an expired visa automatically when returning from a visit of less than thirty days to Canada, Mexico, or one of the islands adjacent to the United States provided that you have a valid Form I-20 and a valid unexpired Form I-94. This process is known as automatic visa revalidation.

Which islands are defined as “adjacent islands”?

The adjacent islands are:

• Saint Pierre
• The Dominican Republic
• The Bahamas
• The Windward and Leeward Islands
• Other British, French, and Netherlands territory or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea

(INA, Section 101(b)(5))

Can I travel to Cuba and return to the United States?

Yes, provided that you have a valid visa to return and are otherwise admissible. Please note that Cuba may require you to apply for a visa in order to enter that country.

Do I need a valid visa to visit Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands?

No, unless your travel plans include entry to any other country en route to these U.S. territories. You will need a valid Form I-20 and a valid unexpired Form I-94. Be sure that you do not have a terminated SEVIS record indicating that you are out of status.

How do I know if I have a terminated record in SEVIS?

Your DSO can tell you your SEVIS record status and give you appropriate travel related advice.

I want to travel outside the United States, but my SEVIS record is in terminated status. Can I return if I travel?

If you need to travel on a terminated record, you must first visit your DSO. If your school has requested a correction request or data fix, the DSO will put your correction request or help desk ticket number on your Form I-20 and report your pending travel to SEVP.

There is no guarantee that Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will readmit you to the United States if you travel on a terminated record. In most cases, CBP inspectors will allow you to reenter the United States if you are otherwise admissible and your DSO has properly annotated your Form I-20. It is likely, however, that the CBP officer at the port of entry will send you to secondary inspection while they determine whether you are eligible to return to the United States.

If you have an expired visa and a terminated record, SEVP advises you not to travel outside the United States until your SEVIS record shows that you are in Active status. If you do travel, you may not be able to renew your visa or return to the United States.

Can I travel outside the United States if I have a Form I-485 adjustment of status application pending?

No, not without advance permission. If you depart the United States with a pending Form I-485, you have abandoned your application unless you receive permission in advance from USCIS to return to the United States. We call this Advance Parole . Additionally, CBP may also consider you ineligible to return to the United States as an F-1 student because your application to change status to that of a permanent resident is evidence of intent to immigrate, which is inconsistent with nonimmigrant student status.

Can I re-establish F-1 student status by obtaining a new initial Form I-20 and reentering the United States?

Yes. However, you will be considered an initial student for SEVIS purposes. You will have to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee again and you will lose any time that you have accrued toward qualification for training (OPT) or employment .

You must have the new Form I-20 showing that you are entering on a new SEVIS ID number.

You should be aware that the CBP inspecting officer will determine whether or not to admit you to the United States with the new Form I-20. If you did not comply with the terms of your status during a prior stay in the United States, the CBP officer may decide that you are not eligible to reenter.

Can I reenter during the 60-day period after finishing my program or OPT?

No. The 60-day “grace” period is only to prepare to leave the country.

Can I reenter if my request for OPT is pending?

Yes, but traveling during this time should be undertaken with caution. USCIS may send you a request for evidence while you are away, however, so you would want to make sure you have provided a correct U.S. address both to your DSO and on the application and would be able to send in requested documents. Also, if USCIS approves your OPT application, you will be expected to have your EAD in hand to re-enter the United States. Like a request for further information, USCIS can only send the EAD to your U.S. address.

Can I reenter if I left while on OPT?

If USCIS has approved your OPT you will be expected to have your EAD in hand to re-enter the United States, in addition to your Form I-20, valid passport and visa, and a letter of employment if you have one. If you exceed the limits on unemployment while outside the United States, you will not be eligible to re-enter the United States in F-1 status.

Are there any other requirements for travel outside the United States?

The questions above outline the general requirements for reentry for F-1 students. However, because individual circumstances vary, consult your DSO, embassy, or legal advisor before traveling. Planning for your trip early ensures that you have enough time to get all of your travel documents in order.

If you are not returning to your home country, you should check the requirements of the country you are visiting. Some countries require a visa. You may also need a transit visa for countries where you are making a connecting flight. Be sure to check before you travel. Most countries have immigration websites that provide visa information. If you have additional questions, please contact SEVP at [email protected] or call us at 703-603-3400.

Renewing Your F-1 Student Visa

Can i stay in the united states if my student visa has expired.

Yes, as long as you are maintaining your status, you may legally remain in the United States with an expired F-1 or M-1 visa.

Can I renew my student visa while in the United States?

No. For more information about visa applications, visit the Department of State (DoS) website .

Can I renew my visa while outside the United States in a country other than my home country?

Yes, but the Department of State recommends that you apply for a visa in your home country. For more information about visa applications, visit the DoS website.

Before you travel to a country other than yours to renew your visa, contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in that country.

If you exit the United States and apply for a visa, you cannot return to the United States until DoS issues you a new visa. This could require a lengthy stay. If DoS denies your visa application, you will not be able to return to the United States as a student.

Can I go to Canada or Mexico and apply for a new visa?

In some cases, you can. Contact the individual U.S. Embassy or Consulate in Canada or Mexico. However, you cannot return to the United States until DoS issues you a new visa. If DoS denies your visa application, you will not be able to return to the United States as a student. For more information about visa applications, visit the DoS website . You can also visit travel.state.gov , for more information on how to apply for a U.S. visa in Canada and Mexico.

Applying for a new visa is not the same as automatic visa revalidation. You cannot apply for a new visa and take advantage of automatic visa revalidation at the same time.

What is automatic visa revalidation?

Automatic visa revalidation allows most F-1 students to take a trip of less than 30 days to countries contiguous to the United States and reenter on an expired visa provided you have proper documentation and have not applied for a new visa during the visit. This process revalidates your visa (making it eligible for the single trip), but does not renew it.

Re-entry for F-2 Non-immigrants

What documents do the dependants (accompanying spouse and minor children) of a continuing f-1 or m-1 student need for readmission to the us....

What documents do the dependants (accompanying spouse and minor children) of a continuing F-1 or M-1 student need for readmission to the United States after travelling abroad?

If you are the dependent of a continuing F-1 or M-1 student, previously admitted into the United States in F-2 or M-2 status, traveled outside the United States, and are now seeking readmission, you need to have the following:

• A current Form I-20 in your name that certifies your admissibility, (i.e. DSO signature on page 3 approving travel (Each dependent must have an individual Form I-20)
• A valid visa unless you are from Canada or Bermuda
• The primary (F-1 or M-1) must be in active student status - check with DSO before traveling to verify the primary's status
• Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record

Do dependents have to travel with the primary?

No. However, your primary must be maintaining status. Consult the DSO from your primary’s school to ensure your primary is in status before traveling. You will need a valid passport. See Re-entry for F-1 Non-immigrants Travelling Outside the United States for Five Months or Fewer above

If your primary stays in the United States and has a request for optional practical training (OPT) pending or approved, you will need additional documentation. Make a copy of the primary’s Form I-20 with the page 2 annotations and/or employment authorization document (EAD) and be prepared to present it at the port of entry.

If the primary travels, can dependents remain in the United States?

Dependents may stay in the United States without the primary if the primary:

• Is in valid status
• Will return after a temporary absence using the same SEVIS ID number

What if I do not have a valid passport?

See the related questions in the F-1 section or M-1 section.

What if my visa expired?

If you are not traveling with the primary visa holder and your primary has a request for optional practical training (OPT) approved or pending, you will need additional documentation. Make a copy of the primary’s Form I-20 or EAD and be prepared to present it at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate and the port of entry.

Are there any other requirements for dependents to travel outside the United States?

The questions above outline the general reentry requirements for dependents. If you have questions, consult with the DSO at your primary’s school or seek advice from your embassy or legal advisor. However, if you are not returning to your country of citizenship, you should check the requirements of the country you are visiting. Some countries will require a visa. You may also need a visa for countries where you are making a connecting flight. Be sure to check before you travel.

Travel Re-entry: M Visa

Re-entry for m-1 nonimmigrants traveling outside the united states for five months or fewer.

This section of the FAQ applies to continuing M-1 students who travel outside the United States for five months or less.

An M-1 student should consult the designated school official (DSO) before traveling. Your DSO generally works in the international student office. You must have a current Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” endorsed for travel, and your DSO must be able to verify that your SEVIS record is accurate and up-to-date.

What are the basic requirements for an M-1 student to re-enter the United States after traveling abroad on pleasure or personal business?

• A Form I-20, endorsed for travel and signed by your DSO (talk to your DSO before you travel)
• A current passport valid for at least six months after the date of your re-entry or, if you are from one of the countries listed below, a passport that is current through the date of entry
• A valid, current visa (unless you are a citizen of Canada or Bermuda or you traveled to a contiguous country for less than thirty days)
• Be sure that you are able to return before your current program end date

Bringing your most recent Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record,” will facilitate your re-entry through a land port of entry.

If you are from a visa exempt country, you do not need a visa to re-enter the United States.

You must renew your passport before you re-enter the United States. Usually, to enter the United States, you must have a passport that is valid for at least six months after the date you enter or re-enter.

However, some countries have an agreement with the United States that allows you to enter on a current passport up to the actual date of expiration. Try to keep your passport current at all times. You need to know your country’s rules for renewing passports as well as the amount of time it will take.

Many countries will allow you to renew your passport while in the United States. The other alternative is to renew your passport when you return home for a visit.

You may want to delay leaving the United States until you have renewed your passport. You must have a valid passport to re-enter the United States. If your expired passport has a valid visa, you may still use it if you kept the old passport. Present both the old and new passports when you re-enter the United States.

The countries that have an agreement with the United States allowing entry with a passport until the date of expiration are the following:

• Hong Kong (identity certificates and passports)

What if my M-1 student visa has expired?

You must maintain your student status to stay in the United States on an expired M-1 visa. If you are returning home or traveling to a country where automatic revalidation does not apply, you must have a valid visa to return to the United States.

The Department of State recommends that you apply for a visa in your home country. For more information about visa applications, visit the Department of State website .

You can apply in a third country for a visa, but you cannot return to the United States until the Department of State issues you a new visa. In some cases, this could take several weeks if a background check is necessary. If the Department of State denies your visa, you cannot return to the United States.

If you must re-apply for a visa, remember to bring the following items with you:

• A Form I-20, endorsed for travel and signed by your DSO and your original Form I-20 (talk to your DSO before you travel)
• Original evidence showing proof of necessary funds to pay for tuition and living expenses
• Evidence showing your intent to return to your home country upon program completion with evidence of compelling social and economic ties to your home country
• For more information, please visit the Department of State’s website.

As a continuing student, must I pay the I-901 SEVIS fee if I travel outside the United States?

I want to travel to canada or mexico. may i return to the united states if i have an expired visa.

Yes, in most cases CBP will allow re-entry to the United States. Usually, you can revalidate an expired visa automatically if you meet all of the following criteria:

• Returning from a visit of fewer than thirty days to Canada or Mexico
• Have a valid Form I-20
• Have a valid unexpired Form I-94

This process is known as automatic visa revalidation.

However, if you meet any one of following criteria, 8 CFR 214.1(b)(3) mandates that you cannot automatically revalidate your visa:

• You applied for a new visa, and DoS has not issued it.
• You applied for a new visa, and DoS denied it.
• You have a terminated SEVIS record indicating that you are out of status.
• You have been out the United States for more than thirty days.
• North Korea

I want to travel to one of the islands adjacent to the United States. May I return if my visa has expired?

Yes. Regulations state that an M student or dependent can be readmitted under automatic visa revalidation if they are:

• Admissible;
• Seeking readmission after an absence not exceeding thirty days solely in contiguous territory;
• In possession of a valid passport; and
• Presenting a Form I-94, “Arrival-Departure Record,” from the previous admission or stay and a Form I-20, ‘Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status,” signed for travel by the DSO.

The definition of adjacent islands is in INA, Section 101(b)(5) :

Do I need a valid visa to visit Puerto Rico or the U.S. Virgin Islands?

No. You will need a valid Form I-20 and a valid, unexpired Form I-94. Be sure that you do not have a terminated SEVIS record indicating that you are out of status.

Your DSO can tell you your SEVIS record status and give you appropriate travel-related advice.

I want to travel outside the United States, but my SEVIS record is in Terminated status. May I return if I travel?

If you need to travel on a terminated record, you must talk to your DSO. A DSO who has requested a data fix will put your Help Desk ticket number on your Form I-20 and report your pending travel to SEVP.

There is no guarantee that CBP will readmit you to the United States if you travel on a terminated record. In most cases, CBP will allow you to re-enter the United States if you are otherwise admissible and your DSO has properly annotated your Form I-20. It is likely, however, that CBP will send you to secondary inspection while they determine whether you are eligible to return to the United States.

May I travel outside the U.S. if I have a Form I-539, “Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status,” request for extension of stay...

May I travel outside the U.S. if I have a Form I-539, “Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status,” request for extension of stay application pending?

Yes, you may travel. However, you must return at least 15 days prior to your current program end date.

May I re-establish M-1 student status by obtaining a new initial Form I-20 and re-entering the United States?

Yes, you may re-establish M-1 student status. However, in SEVIS, you will be an Initial student. You must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee, and you will lose any time that you have built up towards qualification for practical training.

May I re-enter the United States during the 30-day grace period after finishing my program or after finishing practical training?

The 30-day grace period is intended to prepare for departure. CBP would make the decision whether or not to re-admit you during your grace period.

May I re-enter the United States if I have a pending request for practical training?

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services may consider your practical training request abandoned if you depart the United States while it is pending. The same is true if you needed to file for an M-1 extension in addition to the practical training application. CBP would make the decision whether or not to re-admit you in this situation, depending upon the timing and whether you are still in M-1 status.

May I re-enter the United States if I left while on OPT?

If USCIS and your DSO have approved your OPT but you depart before you get a job, your OPT ends and you cannot re-enter. If you have a job, however, you may travel and re-enter to resume work.

Previous questions give the general requirements for M-1 student re-entry. However, because individual circumstances vary, consult your DSO, embassy officials or legal advisor before traveling. Discussing your travel plans as soon as possible will allow time to ensure you have proper documentation for travel.

Some countries will require a visa. If you are not returning to your home country, check the requirements of the destination country. You may also need an in-transit visa for countries where you are making a connecting flight. Be sure to check before you travel. Most countries have immigration websites that provide visa information.

Renewing Your M-1 Student Visa

Yes, as long as you are student in good standing and have not violated your status, you may legally remain in the United States with an expired M-1 visa. As an M-1, you may stay for up to one year from the date you arrive in the United States, also according to your Form I-20 in SEVIS, but may apply for extensions.

No. For more information about visa applications visit the Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov/ . If you need to stay longer than one year to complete your program of study, you may work with your school official to apply for an extension with USCIS.

Yes, but the Department of State recommends that you apply for a visa in your home country. For more information about visa applications visit the Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov/ .

Before you travel to a country other than yours to renew your visa, contact the U.S. embassy or consulate.

If you exit the United States and apply for a visa, you cannot return to the United States until the visa is issued. This could require a lengthy stay. If the visa is denied, you will not be able to return to the United States as a student.

In some cases, you can. Contact the individual U.S. embassy or consulate in Canada or Mexico. However, you cannot return to the United States until your visa is issued. If the visa is denied, you will not be able to return to the United States as a student. For more information about visa applications visit the Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov/ .

Automatic visa revalidation allows most M-1 students to take a trip of less than thirty days to countries contiguous to the United States and reenter on an expired visa provided you have proper documentation and have not applied for a new visa during the visit. This process revalidates your visa (making it eligible for the single trip), but does not renew it.

Re-entry for M-2 Nonimmigrants

What documents do the spouse and minor children of a continuing m-1 student need to reenter to the united states after traveling abroad.

If you are the spouse or minor child of a continuing student you need to have the following:

• A current SEVIS Form I-20 in your name (and one for each M-2 traveling)
• A valid passport
• A valid visa unless you are from a visa exempt country or, in some cases, you are traveling to a contiguous country
• The primary (M-1) must be in active student status

Do M-2 nonimmigrants have to travel with the primary (M-1)?

No. However, you must be able to show that your primary (M-1) has been admitted and has maintained student status. We recommend that you consult with the DSO from your primary’s school to ensure the M-1 is in status before traveling. You will need the documents, which are listed in the “What documents do the spouse and minor children of a continuing M-1 student need to reenter to the United States after traveling abroad?” FAQ.

If your primary has practical training approved, you will need additional documentation. Make a copy of the primary’s Form I-20 with the page 2 annotations and/or EAD (employment authorization document) and be prepared to present it at the consulate and POE.

If the primary (M-1) travels, can the M-2 nonimmigrant family members remain in the United States?

M-2 nonimmigrant family members may stay in the United States without the primary if the primary:

See What if I have an expired passport or one that will expire in less than six months? in the M-1 section.

What if my M-2 visa expired?

See What if my M-1 student visa has expired? in the M-1 section.

I wish to travel to Canada, Mexico, or one of the islands (other than Cuba) adjacent to the United States. Can I return if my M-2 visa is expired?

See I want to travel to Canada or Mexico. May I return to the United States if I have an expired visa? in the M-1 section

Can I re-enter if my primary has practical training pending?

It is best to travel after practical training is approved.

Are there any other requirements for M-2 nonimmigrants to travel outside the United States?

The questions above outline the general reentry requirements for M-2 nonimmigrants. If you have questions, consult with the DSO at your primary’s school or seek advise from your embassy or legal advisor. However, if you are not returning to your country of citizenship, you should check the requirements of the country you are visiting. Some countries will require a visa. You may also need a visa for countries where you are making a connecting flight. Be sure to check before you travel.

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The ISS physical office will be closed August 19-30. Read more.

Travel Signatures

On This Page:

What is a Travel Signature?

Travel signature eligibility, how to get a travel signature, emergency travel.

• An advisor issues you a signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 after you enter the U.S. to begin your F-1 or J-1 status.
• The travel signature is on page two of an I-20 or page one of a DS-2019.
• The signature confirms that you have valid F-1 or J-1 status.
• You must have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 to return to the U.S. after you travel abroad.
• Each signature is valid for one year . (F-1 students on OPT: the travel signature is valid for six months).
• The travel signature is required for returning to the U.S. It is not required for leaving the U.S.
• If your current travel signature will expire before you will return to the U.S., you must request an updated travel signature.
• Have a valid I-20 or DS-2019 issued by UW Seattle
• Meet immigration requirements of maintaining a full course of study
• Be in good academic standing
• Have a current U.S. address and a permanent non-U.S. address active in MyUW
• New Students: Have completed the required immigration check-in

Students may request Electronic Travel Signatures through MyISSS. ISS will send a confirmation email notifying you that your travel signature has been processed.

Log into MyISSS

If you have an emergency travel need when the ISS is closed (weekends and federal holidays), go ahead and depart the U.S.

The travel signature is required to return  to the U.S. It is not required to depart the U.S.

What if I do not have enough time to receive a new I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature before returning to the U.S.?

Planning ahead is always key. If you did not receive a travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 before traveling, please  request Form I-515A at the immigration port of entry . It is most likely the Customs and Border Protection officer at the U.S. Port of Entry will issue you an I-515 form. This form would allow you temporary admission to the U.S. for 30 days. If admitted to the U.S. with Form I-515A, If you have questions or concerns, submit them through the Contact ISS form immediately after you return to Seattle. We will send you an appointment booking link.

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International services.

Office of Global Learning

Travel Signatures and I-20/DS-2019 Reprints

• For Students

Your I-20 or DS-2019  is an important document that proves you are legally enrolled in a program of study in the United States. 

You will need it to enter and reenter the country, among other things. An advisor in International Services will electronically sign your I-20 (or hand sign your DS-2019) to verify that you are eligible to travel. This is called a travel signature. 

It’s very important to keep your I-20 or DS-2019 up-to-date, safe, and available at all times. We can help with any questions or problems.

Travel Signatures

To obtain a new signature, either come to the office during advising hours with your original I-20 or DS-2019 OR request a reprint of your I-20 or DS-2019 via our I-20/DS-2019 reprint request form . We will send you your form by one of three methods: PDF, "regular" USPS (no delivery time estimate or tracking), or express mail (payment instructions are included in the request link). Express mail is required for international shipments.

You may be able to travel many times on one travel signature. Students on an F-1 or J-1 visa are not required to have an original "wet" signature on the I-20 or DS-2019; a digital signature from our advising team is fully acceptable for your travel needs. Note that you are still required to print and sign your digital I-20 or DS-2019 for visa applications and for travel to the U.S.

A travel signature from the International Services is good for six months or a year, depending on your visa status and situation. Here’s how long your travel signature will remain valid …

What if I plan to travel home, and my travel signature has expired?

In order to reenter the United States, you need to have a valid travel signature. If you need to update the signature, request a new I-20 or DS-2019 with a new travel signature via our I-20/DS-2019 reprint request form . If you are a Cornell Tech student, visit the Cornell Tech office to obtain an updated signature.

Need a I-20/DS-2019 reprint for travel?

If you’ve lost your form, forgot to bring it with you, or need an updated travel signature while traveling, we can help! We will reprint your I-20 or DS-2019 and send it to you wherever you are in the world! Just complete the I-20/DS-2019 reprint request form .

Need a new I-20 to apply for OPT? 

To request an new I-20 for the OPT application, follow the directions on  F-1 OPT . 

What if I have a recent change to my program, and I want an updated form?

Use the request form to update us on your new employment, cap-gap extension, change of major, or other change. We will send you an updated I-20 or DS-2019.

How will I get my updated form? Can I get it faster?

We will send you your new I-20 or DS-2019 PDF form within five business days after you submit your online request. If you wish to receive an original paper form quickly or need tracking, request expedited shipping via eShipGlobal . Once you have completed the eShipGlobal payment make sure to notify an advisor. 

What if I’m traveling and don’t have any time to wait?

If you are traveling back to the United States too soon to receive a new I-20 or DS-2019 by mail, don't panic! When you reach your port of entry, explain to the officer that you forgot your I-20 or DS-2019, and ask the officer to let you in to the United States with an I-515A . The I-515A will allow you entry to the United States in F-1 or J-1 status for 30 days. If you get an I-515A at the port, visit International Services as soon as you arrive back in Ithaca, and we will help you complete the requirements.

Can I request a reprint of my I-20 if I’ve already applied for an OPT I-20?  

If you missed the 30-day window for mailing your OPT application, do not ask for a reprint! Request a cancellation of your first OPT request. Then use this OPT request form  to ask for a new I-20 with OPT recommendation. 

I’m not traveling, but I think I need to extend my I-20!

If you need more time to complete your academic program, you’ll need to apply for an extension to your I-20 or DS-2019. Find out more.  

Next Up:  Study or Research Abroad  

Campus Resources

Students seeking advising services can see our student services page , which includes virtual and in-person options. For J scholar and Employment-based services, please see our Contact Us page .

Understanding Your I-20

The I-20 is a multi-purpose document issued by a U.S. government-approved educational institution certifying that a student has been admitted to a full-time study program and has demonstrated sufficient financial resources to stay in the United States. The I-20 is officially titled the “Certificate of Eligibility” because it allows an individual to apply for an F-1 student visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

See a Sample I-20 here ! 

I-20s: Electronic or Original

As of October 12, 2021 ,  the  U.S. Department of Homeland Security   allows I-20s to be signed and distributed electronically by Designated School Officials (DSOs). Berkeley International Office Advisors are DSOs. When you receive an I-20 from BIO, you can either choose to receive the I-20 electronically with a digital signature or as a printed and signed physical paper I-20. If you receive an electronically signed I-20, you must print out the I-20 and carry a physical copy when using it for travel or other official purposes. As always- be sure to keep all old I-20s for your records, but use the newest version for travel or other purposes.

Do all students need I-20s?

No. If a student is maintaining a status in the United States other than F-1, an I-20 is not needed. Dependent children in E, H, I, J, L, M, N, 0, P, R, or S status must change status after their 21st birthday. Students who are at UC Berkeley in a dependent child status and approaching their 21st birthday should see an International Student Adviser at Berkeley International Office for information about  changing their nonimmigrant status  to F-1.

How is an I-20 created?

After a school completes the admissions process, it collects necessary financial support and identification documentation for admitted international students requesting F-1 status. Those student names and biographic information are entered into a U.S. government database called  SEVIS  (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). SEVIS processes the information and produces an I-20. The school official (called the Designated School Official or DSO) processes and signs the I-20 and then delivers it to the student.If a student needs to update or change information on their I-20, the DSO makes these requests through SEVIS to produce a new document.

How is the I-20 used?

Outside the U.S.:   After receiving an I-20 from a school, an international student must make an appointment to  apply for an F-1 visa  at a U.S. embassy or consulate (the visa is needed to be allowed entry into the United States in F-1 status). Students must present both the F-1 visa and the I-20 to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer upon  arrival at the U.S. port-of-entry .

Inside the U.S.:  Once a student has arrived in the United States and passes through the border inspections process (either at an airport, seaport, or land border), the I-20 is used as identification and proof of legal and academic status. Typically, students must show their I-20 at the Social Security Office and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). The I-20 is also shown to employers in the hiring process for employment.  Off-campus employment  information and/or authorization will be printed on page 2 of the I-20.

Do I need the I-20 for travel?

When traveling abroad, students must take their I-20 with them. The I-20 is required to  reapply for a visa  (if needed) and for  re-entering the United States . Before departure from the United States, students should verify that they have a valid   travel endorsement on page 2  of their I-20 from an adviser at Berkeley International Office. This signature is valid for one year for multiple visits outside the United States. In most cases, a travel endorsement can be done quickly and easily at Berkeley International Office, however students should plan ahead and get their travel endorsement several weeks before departing the United States to avoid the holiday rush.

Why do I have multiple I-20s?

New I-20s are issued to continuing students whenever there is a significant update to a student's record. This includes changes in biographical data, program dates, change of major, the addition of a work authorization, etc. These types of changes are typically prompted by student request, but Berkeley International Office will automatically produce a new I-20 when a student declares or changes their major. It is not necessary for students to request this new I-20. BIO will email the new Change of Major I-20 directly to you when it is ready.

What is the I-20 completion date?

The "completion date" is entered in the Program Start/End Date section of the I-20 based on a student's particular major and degree level. This is an estimate of time the University feels it may take to fulfill all degree requirements. However, if a student is not able to finish the program on that date, an  extension  must be requested from BIO at least one month before the completion date expires.

According to U.S. immigration regulations, the "completion date" is defined as the day final degree requirements are completed. The actual completion date may not necessarily be the day of the graduation ceremony or the date on the I-20. (In fact, many students actually finish degree requirements before the completion date on the I-20).

Undergraduate Students:

The completion date is considered to be the last day of final exams of the semester degree requirements are fulfilled.

Graduate Students:

The completion date is the day on which all degree requirements are fulfilled, such as filing the thesis or dissertation in the Graduate Division. If there is no research component to the degree program (such as in the MBA program or other professional schools), the completion date would be the last day of final exams of the semester degree requirements are fulfilled.

The 60-day Grace Period

When students complete a study program, they are allowed a 60-day grace period to either 1) depart the United States, 2) request a school transfer , or 3) change visa status.

Note: Students who are interested in working in the United States following their program completion must apply for  Optional Practical Training  work authorization before the expiration of the 60-day grace period.

What happens if I lose my I-20?

If you are a UC Berkeley F-1 student, please submit a Replacement Document request to [email protected] to request a replacement I-20. Please note that if you are outside the United States, you must obtain the replacement I-20 before entering the U.S. to resume your studies. Allow sufficient time for processing and  email or mail delivery, depending on your preference.

Should I keep all copies of my I-20s?

Yes. You may obtain several different versions of your I-20s while you are in the United States if there are changes to your program or other information. Keep all copies for future reference. Always use the most recently issued I-20 for travel, work, or other purposes. Which one is the most recent? Check the Date Issued under the School Attestation section. if you have multiple I-20s, always use the most recently issued I-20.

Do my family members need I-20s?

If you will be accompanied by your spouse and children, they will each need their own I-20 to obtain the F-2 dependent visas and to remain in the United States during your program and for travel purposes. See  Inviting Family  for more information.

Get a New Travel Signature

Getting a travel signature from an OGS advisor is easy. For current students, your travel signature is valid for 1 year (unless the end date on your I-20 or DS-2019 is sooner). For those on post-completion Optional Practical Training or Academic Training , it is valid for 6 months. 

The travel signature is on page 2 of your most recent I-20 and the bottom right of page 1 of your DS-2019. If the signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 will expire before you reenter the US, you need to get a new signature. We may take up to 5 business days to complete your request. 

Please remember, the US government determines your eligibility to enter the US. Be prepared and have the necessary travel documents with you. If you are on post-completion, STEM OPT or Academic Training, review our travel instructions for alumni .

To update your travel signature 

Please complete the Travel Signature Request and OGS will email you with your updated document with an electronic travel signature. 

If your return date is within 3 days, please fill out the Travel Signature Request as soon as possible and indicate your anticipated return date. Although OGS cannot guarantee expedited processing, contact us by phone to inform us of your urgent travel request.

If you are already outside of the U.S and lost or forgot your I-20

If you must reenter the US in less than a week and are unable to receive an I-20/DS-2019 from the OGS, respectfully request that the officer at the US immigration crossing allows you to enter with Form I-515A . This gives you a thirty-day admission as an F-1 or J-1 student, and requires you to report to the OGS within that time frame to secure the required travel signature.

To qualify for the Form I-515A, you must have a valid passport, valid F-1 or J-1 visa, and your most recently issued I-20 or DS-2019 (the officer may allow you to enter without your I-20 or DS-2019 at his/her discretion).

• How to get a new visa
• Travel to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean
• Travel after you finish your studies

Office of International Education

• International Students

Study Abroad

Global engagement.

• J Exchange Visitors
• Faculty Resources
• Travel Information

Click the link below to submit travel endorsements.

Please remember that COVID restrictions can change quickly and with little warning. OIE cannot predict sudden implementations of travel restrictions. Please consider avoiding non-essential international travel carefully during this time.

F-1 students traveling internationally must have a travel endorsement (from an OIE advisor) on page 2 of the I-20 in order to return to the U.S. The signatures are valid for 1 year, if you already have one that will be less than 1 year old when you return, you do not need to request a new one. There is not a special “travel” I-20. Regardless of the reprint reason, the important thing is the signature on page 2.

You do not need the signature to leave, only to return. You can request a travel endorsement by submitting the form found here to the Office of International Education.

Please remember that the OIE processing time can take up to 7 business days (especially during peak times such as August or December)

Students are only eligible for a travel endorsement if OIE can verify that they will be eligible to enroll in the following semester. If you are currently on academic probation, you will need to wait for grades to post before we can sign for travel.

Electronic Sending of I-20 Forms: All relevant government agencies accept an emailed I-20, so there is no need to arrange shipping or to pick up an original copy. See here for more information about this guidance.

If you are completing your program, it is important to know travel during the grace period is not allowed.

If you are applying for OPT, you should wait until the OPT is approved and you have the EAD card before traveling.

If you are starting a new program, you should use the I-20 for the new program to re-enter the U.S.

If you are not planning to do OPT or start a new program, you should make plans to remain outside the U.S. once you leave (within the 60-day grace period). You cannot leave and then re-enter in F-1 status.

Request for Travel Endorsement

To request a travel endorsement on the I-20 please click on the "REQUEST FOR TRAVEL ENDORSEMENT EFORM IN GLOBALMAVS" button below

TRAVEL SCENARIOS

• Valid Passport
• Travel endorsement on page 2 of the I-20 (only valid for 6 months while on OPT)
• Offer letter or letter of continued employment

Automatic Visa Revalidation

Automatic Visa Revalidation allows F and J status holders to visit Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands (other than Cuba) for a short period of time (less than 30 days) and re-enter the U.S. with an expired visa. 

Students can find details for eligibility and procedures at the CBP website here and at the U.S. Department of State website here .

It is important to review all eligibility requirements before traveling under these conditions. Please note that you are not eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation if you apply for a visa during your stay and are denied.

Traveling to Gain/Change Status

If you plan to travel in order to regain valid F-1 status please refer to the reinstatement page . If you plan to travel internationally to change to F-1 status from current status, please see here .

Locate a U.S. Embassy or Consulate

• GlobalMavs Help
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• SEVP Portal
• OPT Pre & Post Completion Mailing Checklist
• STEM OPT Mailing Checklist
• H-1B Cap Gap
• Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
• Economic Hardship
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• Tax Help Page
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• F-1 & J-1 Office Procedures
• Social Security
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High Risk Travel

• Russia, Ukraine and Belarus
• Travel to Israel, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, Jordan and Lebanon

Swift Center 1022 UTA Blvd Arlington, Texas 76019

[email protected] Phone: (817) 272-2355 Fax: (817) 272-5005

Faculty & Staff Resources

INTERNATIONAL STUDENT & SCHOLAR SERVICES

Swift Center 1022 UTA Blvd Arlington, TX 76019

Phone: 817-272-1120 Email: [email protected]

OIE Social Media

300 W 1st St Arlington, TX 76010 B120, Lower Level

Email:  [email protected]

Study Abroad Social Media

Main navigation

Travel requirements.

When re-entering the United States from abroad, be sure you have with you (not in your suitcase):

• Passport valid at least six months into the future. See the list of exceptions.
• F-1 students
• J-1 students
• Assistantship letter
• Fellowship letter
• Athletic scholarship letter
• Government sponsorship letter
• Agency sponsorship letter
• Bank statement
• Visit Buckeye Link
• Click on the advising report link
• Enter your Ohio State username and password
• Click on View Advising Report
• Click on the blue hyperlink: Your Advising Report
• Print or save the PDF

If taking a short trip (30 days or less) to Canada, Mexico or some islands in the Caribbean, please read additional guidelines below. If you are traveling domestically within the United States, it is recommended that you carry your passport and current Form I-20, but no travel signature is needed.

If you are traveling while on OPT, please read these additional guidelines .

Electronic I-94 process

Customs and Border Protection utilizes an electronic Form I-94 process at most ports of entry. F-1 and J-1 students and their dependents, as well as other non-immigrants, are not issued a paper Form I-94 – the small white card stapled into the passport – when entering the United States. Instead, passports will still be stamped at the port of entry, showing the date and place of entry, non-immigrant status and the "admitted to" notation (D/S).

Entry information is recorded electronically by Customs and Border Protection, but instead of being given an I-94 at the time of entry, students can print the I-94 form online . When departing from the United States, travelers who have previously issued a paper Form I-94 should surrender it upon departure . Read more about these changes at the Customs and Border Protection website .

Visa applications

If you are traveling and need to apply for a new U.S. visa, it is important to thoroughly review all information on the specific  Embassy's Consular Section website for local procedures and instructions, such as how to make an interview appointment. Consular websites will also explain any additional procedures for students, exchange visitors and those who need an earlier visa interview appointment.

Due to security screening procedures, international students and scholars should expect delays when getting a new U.S. visa. Visa processing time can range from a few days to six to eight weeks or longer. In some cases, the delays are indefinite. Learn more about visa wait times . The Office of International Affairs is unable to help with any visa delays that may occur.

Please be advised that certain students or scholars may be required to pay the SEVIS fee when applying for a new visa.

Automatic revalidation in Canada, Mexico or "Adjacent Islands"

Under certain circumstances, a non-immigrant alien (F-1/F-2 or J-1/J-2) may re-enter the United States with an expired visa provided that they:

• Apply for re-admission to the United States after an absence not exceeding 30 days in Canada or Mexico. F-1s and J-1s and their dependents may also seek re-admission to the United States after an absence not exceeding 30 days in adjacent islands in the Caribbean, except Cuba. Adjacent islands include Saint Pierre Miquelon, The Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, The Windward and Leeward Islands, Trinidad, Martinique and other British, French and Dutch territories or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea.
• Have maintained and intend to resume status as an F-1 or J-1 student
• Present (or is the accompanying spouse or child of an alien who presents) a valid Form 1-94 and the current 1-20 or DS-2019 endorsed for travel
• Possess a valid passport (unless exempt from passport requirements)
• Apply for re-entry to the United States by the program completion date listed on the 1-20 or DS-2019

Students from Cuba, Iran, Syria and Sudan cannot participate in this program.

This process is technically called "automatic extension of validity of visa." This means that the United States Customs & Immigration Service (USCIS) extends the expired visa to the day of application for a single entry. Automatic extension of your visa does not extend your visa for future use. Traveling to all other countries will still require a new visa.

If you are denied a visa from a U.S. consulate in Canada, Mexico or "Adjacent Islands," you will not be allowed to re-enter the United States on an expired visa.

Steps to follow for Automatic Revalidation

• Check to see if you meet the above requirements
• Be sure you have a travel authorization signature on I-20 or DS-2019 that is current
• Be sure your passport is valid. If your current passport does not contain the visa you used to enter the United States, bring the old passport that does contain the visa.
• Keep the I-94 card in your possession, unless traveling by plane. Do not surrender it at the time of your departure from the United States. This is an essential document for re-entering the United States.

If you encounter any problems in re-entering the United States, ask to speak to an immigration coordinator.

Students who do not have an F-1 visa and changed status in the United States

A person who entered the United States in a classification other than an F-1 student and later changed their status to an F-1 student may also re-enter the United States with this process. In this situation, the visa is automatically changed to meet the status identified on the I-94 card. The F-1 student only needs to meet the conditions of whether the original visa has expired or is unexpired. [22 CFR 41.112(d)(ii)]. A student whose visa has been canceled is not eligible.

Students with new passports not containing the visa

Individuals carrying passports issued from within the United States to replace the passport that contains their original non-immigrant visa must have the old passport in their possession. Citizens of countries that keep the old passport upon issuance of a new one, therefore, are at a disadvantage when traveling to contiguous territories (i.e., Mexico, Canada and certain adjacent islands in the Caribbean). These individuals must apply for a new F-1 or J-1 visa before re-entering the United States.

You can obtain an entry visa to Canada either by mail or by visiting the Canadian Consulate. Please note that students from certain countries will be required to wait for 10-15 business days for the visa issuance; therefore, we suggest that you apply through the mail. Leave 30 days for processing.

The closest Canadian Consulates to Columbus are in Detroit, Michigan and Buffalo, New York. If you are not certain that you need to obtain a visa to enter Canada, you should consult the web addresses found below for further information.

Make sure to have your signed I-20 or DS-2019, I-94, passport and the proper amount of money when you visit the Canadian Consulate. It is best to arrive early.

Learn more about  Automatic Revalidation if re-entering the United States on an expired visa.

Steps to obtain a U.S. visa while in Canada:

• Determine the type of visa required to travel to the United States. Learn more about visa types .
• Complete the online visa application , DS-160. Each applicant must complete this form before using any services on this website.
• Create a user account
• Enter the DS-160 confirmation number for each applicant applying for a Visa
• Complete the courier document return process
• Pay the Nonimmigrant Visa (MRV) application fee(s)
• Schedule a Consular Section appointment
• Attend the Consular Section appointment
• After your interview, please follow specific instructions provided by the consular section or check this website for visa status and delivery information

Learn more  or call  +1 703 249 4643 .

Helpful links

• Information about obtaining a visa to travel to Canada
• Find out if you need a visa to travel to Canada

Additional information

• Ten tips to remember when applying for a non-immigrant visa
• U.S. Department of State
• Entry and exit procedures for F-1 students
• Customs and Border Protection arrival procedures
• General port of entry information
• Automatic revalidation

Official website of the Department of Homeland Security

What is the Form I-20 and when do I need it?

Please note, this content may be outdated. Visit Study in the States'  Students , Schools and Blog pages for more timely information on this topic.

Note: On Nov. 1, 2021, the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) published SEVP Policy Guidance: Use of Electronic Signatures and Transmission for the Form I-20, outlining the procedures for the use of electronic signatures and transmission of the Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” Read the guidance .

All F and M students that study in the United States need a Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status.” Once you are accepted into a Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified school , you will receive one of these two forms from your designated school official (DSO) depending on your F or M student visa status:

F Students: Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status – For Academic and Language Students.”

M Students: Form I-20, “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status – For Vocational Students.”

The Form I-20 is an important document that you should keep safe, as there are a number of instances where you will need it, such as the following:

• Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee : Before you pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System Fee, you must receive the Form I-20 from a DSO at the school you plan to attend. You will need information from the Form I-20 to pay the fee. The I-901 SEVIS Fee is mandatory and must be paid before you enter the United States.
• Apply for a nonimmigrant visa : The Form I-20 lists the date in which you are allowed to enter the United States. F-1 and M-1 student visas can be issued up to 120 days in advance of your course of study start date. Your type of student visa must match the type of I-20 you have (e.g., F-1 or M-1).
• Enter the United States : You need to have your Form I-20 on hand as you enter the country. Do not pack it away in your suitcase. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer will instruct you to present your Form I-20 at the port of entry . You may arrive up to 30 days before the start date listed on your Form I-20.
• Apply for benefits: Your Form I-20 proves that you are legally enrolled in a program of study in the United States. Therefore, it may be needed when you apply for the benefits available to F and M students. If you are eligible to apply for a driver’s license or a social security number , remember to bring your Form I-20 with you.

Any questions that you have about the Form I-20 can be answered by the DSO at your school, or you may contact the SEVP Response Center at 703-603-3400 between 7 a.m.–8 p.m. EST, except on holidays.

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Currently Enrolled F-1 Students

We have launched a new portal for all F-1 requests. You can access MyBruin International using the button below to submit your requests. Our current document processing timeline is 10 business days .

MyBruin International Portal

Currently enrolled UCLA F-1 students are responsible for maintaining their F-1 status during their UCLA degree program and are eligible for the following benefits and services from the Dashew Center.

Students who would like to submit requests or who have questions regarding their visa status may schedule an appointment with an F-1 Counselor from 10AM - 12PM or 2PM - 4PM Monday through Friday. Please visit www.internationalcenter.ucla.edu/contact-us to schedule an appointment with an F-1 Counselor.

Maintaining F-1 Status

Once you have completed your mandatory post arrival status check-in and visa workshop requirements at UCLA, it is your responsibility to review and understand Dashew Center's guidelines for maintaining valid F-1 status to ensure compliance with F-1 visa regulations during your academic program.

Failure to comply with F-1 regulations may result in the termination of your F-1 status and loss of future eligibility to enter the U.S.

Full-time Enrollment

F-1 students are required to maintain full-time enrollment and make normal academic progress toward completion of their degree program.

• Undergraduate Students : minimum of 12 units per academic quarter (students are not required to enroll full-time for Summer term).
• Graduate Students : minimum of 8-12 units per academic quarter (please check with your department for full-time course load unit requirements).

* F-1 students must have full-time enrollment for each academic quarter, which may include only one online class to be counted towards their full-time enrollment. If your courses include lectures and discussion sessions, the lecture component must be in-person and noted in your official student enrollment records.

* Students who are in their final quarter of degree completion are not required to have full-time enrollment. However, students do need to complete and submit a final quarter RCL Request E-Form request to the Dashew Center by quarter add/drop deadline for maintaining status. Please note, your final quarter enrollment must include in-person course(s).

Failure to maintain full-time enrollment requirement during your program will result in severe consequences for your F-1 status.

F-1 students are not allowed to drop below full-time enrollment without receiving prior authorization for a Reduced Course Load (RCL) from Dashew Center.

Address Reporting

F-1 students are required to maintain a valid local U.S. address, overseas address, U.S. telephone number, overseas telephone number, and e-mail address at all times during their studies at UCLA Upon arrival to UCLA, please log in to MyUCLA , click on 'Settings,' then click on 'Official Email/Address/Phone' at the top right hand corner to update your contact information. Update your contact information as follows:

• E-Mail: Must reflect a verifiable email address that you check on a daily basis.
• Mailing Address : Must reflect your local U.S. address within the Los Angeles area.
• Permanent Address : Must reflect your overseas address outside the U.S. country.
• Primary Phone Number : Must reflect a valid 10-digit U.S. phone number. Input numbers only. No special characters, spacing, or parentheses (Example: 3109876543).
• Home Phone Number : Must reflect a valid overseas phone number with country code. Input numbers only. No special characters (e.g. '+', '-', etc.), spacing, or parentheses (Example: 440123456789).

Note: Updating your contact information in MyUCLA is very important. Dashew Center cannot validate your arrival and F-1 status with U.S. Department of Homeland Security until your information has been updated.

Valid Passport

F-1 students must maintain a valid passport at all times. Your passport must always be valid for at least 6 months into the future.

Program Completion

F-1 students are allowed an additional 60-day grace period after their program completion date to prepare for their departure from the U.S., transfer to another U.S. school/degree program, or change their visa status in the U.S. During the grace period, employment or full-time study is not allowed.

Upon departure from the U.S. during these 60 days, the F-1 visa status automatically expires and you will not be able to re-enter the U.S. to reclaim the rest of your grace period time.

Services for Continuing Students

I-20 extension.

F-1 students who are unable to complete their degree requirements by the end date indicated on their current UCLA I-20 may request an I-20 extension for the following reasons:

• Change of major
• Need more time to complete thesis/dissertation
• Change in the research topic
• Unforeseen circumstances

To request an I-20 Extension, please submit the I-20 Extension Request E-Form

* Note: Additional documentation than those outlined above may be required for an I-20 extension to be granted.

* I-20s may be extended for a maximum of one academic year at a time. Students who require an extension of more than one academic year must submit another I-20 Extension Request the following year.

* Students who are changing their degree level at UCLA (i.e. Bachelors to Master’s, Master’s to Doctorate, etc.) must submit a Change of Education Level I-20 Request instead of an I-20 Extension Request.

Reduced Course Load

F-1 students may be authorized by Dashew Center to drop below full-time enrollment for the following circumstances:

• Academic Difficulty: student has difficulties with a course due to improper course placement, initial difficulty with reading requirements, or unfamiliarity with UCLA teaching methods (this reason can only be used once during the degree program).
• Illness/Medical Condition: student has medical condition (medical doctor's recommendation letter required).
• Final Quarter at UCLA: student has less units remaining to complete their program than is required to maintain full-time enrollment.

To request authorization for a Reduced Course Load (RCL), please submit the RCL Request E-Form : * Academic Difficulty RCL: Students must maintain at least 50% of full-time enrollment. Dashew Center must receive the complete RCL E-Form before quarter end date. * Medical RCL : Obtain a support letter from a U.S. medical doctor recommending you to drop below full-time enrollment or drop all enrollment for a specific academic term due to a medical condition. * Final Quarter RCL: Students must be enrolled in at least one degree required course during their final quarter.

• Dashew Center must receive your completed Final Quarter RCL Requests by the end of Week 2 of the quarter you will be dropping below full-time enrollment. An F-1 Counselor will confirm your RCL authorization after your request has been accepted.

Students must always obtain authorization from Dashew Center prior to dropping below full-time enrollment.

I-20 Request

Dashew Center can issue an F-1 student a new I-20 for the following reasons:

I-20 Update

• Change of Major
• Change of Funding
• Name Change
• Change of Country of Citizenship
• Add a Second Major
• OPT Approved/Update (e.g. change of OPT status, employment update)
• STEM OPT Extension Approved

Other I-20 Requests

• Change of Education Level (COEL)
• Add F-2 dependent (spouse or children)
• Returning from Leave of Absence / Readmission

SEVIS Transfer

If you have been admitted to an F-1 program at another U.S. institution that will begin within 5 months of your last date of enrollment at UCLA or your last date of OPT employment, you must request a SEVIS Transfer Out from Dashew Center to transfer your SEVIS record to your new institution so they can issue you a new I-20. To request a SEVIS Transfer Out:

* Note: Students who are not completing their degree program at UCLA and would like to transfer to another U.S. institution must submit their SEVIS Transfer Out Request to Dashew Center prior to the start date of the UCLA academic term they do not plan to enroll to be transferred out in good-standing.

* Students who have completed their degree program have a 60-day grace period to legally remain within the U.S. after their degree completion. Students must submit their SEVIS Transfer Out Request to Dashew Center before the end of their 60-day grace period to be transferred out in good-standing.

Leave of Absence

F-1 students who are not planning to enroll for an academic term (Fall, Winter, or Spring quarter) for personal or academic reasons must meet with an F-1 Counselor during a scheduled appointment to discuss their eligibility for a leave of absence and its consequences for maintaining F-1 status.

Registration In-Absentia

Eligible F-1 graduate students planning to engage in degree-related research 100 miles or more away from UCLA will be eligible to maintain F-1 status through registration in-absentia.

To request Dashew Center approval for your Registration In-Absentia, please complete the In Absentia Registration Petition and obtain your departmental signatures before requesting a signature from Dashew Center. Once you have received the appropriate signatures from your department, please contact the Dashew Center to schedule an appointment with Tina Nguyen, Associate Director of Student Visa Service for more details.

Travel Authorization

F-1 students traveling outside of the U.S. must have a valid travel authorization signature endorsed on page 2 of their UCLA I-20 to re-enter the U.S. in valid F-1 status. Each travel authorization signature is valid for one year from the date it was last signed and must be valid at the time of re-entry to the U.S. F-1 students must present the following documents at their port of entry to re-enter the U.S.:

• Valid Passport (must be valid for at least 6 months into the future)
• Valid F-1 Visa (Canadian citizens exempt)
• Valid UCLA I-20 with travel authorization signature (must present printout of I-20)

To request a new travel authorization signature, please submit the Travel Authorization Request E-Form at least 10 business days prior to your scheduled travel date.

Your endorsed I-20 will be issued 10 business days after the date of submission.

* Note: Students who are on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or the STEM OPT Extension must complete their SEVP Portal reporting and submit copies of the front and back of their Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card with their Travel Authorization Request.

* F-2 dependents also require valid travel authorization signatures for re-entry to the U.S.

Automatic Visa Revalidation

Eligible F-1 students with expired F-1 visas may re-enter the U.S. in valid F-1 status with Automatic Visa Revalidation. Please click here for eligibility requirements .

F-1 students are eligible to work part-time (up to 20 hours per week) during the academic year and full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during vacation terms (e.g Summer or Winter break).

On-campus employment may include teaching assistantships, research assistantships, reader appointments, or student positions at the campus library, bookstore, food/dining services, etc.

F-1 students may work on-campus without obtaining employment authorization from the Dashew Center or U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

F-1 students may not engage in off-campus employment (including paid and unpaid internships) before receiving proper employment authorization from the Dashew Center or USCIS (see CPT and OPT sections).

* Note: F-1 students are not eligible for federally-funded work-study appointments.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

Curricular Practical Training (CPT) is employment authorization that allows F-1 students to engage in an off-campus academic internships or employment (paid or unpaid) that is a required or integral part of their academic curriculum.

• Part-time: up to 20 hours per week during the academic year (Fall, Winter and Spring)
• Full-time: more than 20 hours or more per week (only available during the Summer)

For eligibility requirements and application instructions, please review the CPT Guidelines and CPT Workshop below:

• CPT Workshop
• CPT Guidelines (Undergraduate Students )
• CPT Guidelines (Graduate Students )

CPT authorization dates must occur within UCLA academic term start and end dates. Click here for the UCLA Academic Calenda r.

To apply for CPT, submit a completed CPT Request E-Form . Please allow 10 business days for processing.

*Students who are authorized for CPT to engage in off-campus employment during fall, winter, spring, or summer terms must maintain active enrollment in the internship course in order to remain in compliance with F-1 status conditions. Dropping the internship course at any time, intentionally or unintentionally, will constitute violation of the F-1 status compliance requirements and their SEVIS record / I-20 will be terminated as required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

To apply for OPT, students must first request an OPT I-20 from the Dashew Center and follow the OPT Application Submission Instructions to submit your OPT application materials to USCIS. For more information, please see the OPT Guidelines and OPT Workshop .

Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) is available to eligible F-1 students interested in engaging in employment in the U.S. directly related to their field of study after their degree completion. F-1 students are eligible for an initial 12 months of OPT per higher degree level achieved.

Eligibility Requirements:

• One Year of F-1 Status: Students must have maintained F-1 status for at least one academic year
• Previous OPT Approval: Students must not have had previous OPT authorization for the same degree level
• CPT: Students must not have accrued 12 months of full-time Curricular Practical Training (CPT) authorization for the same degree level

Application Timeline:

OPT applications may be submitted to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for processing as early as (but no earlier than) 90 days before a student’s program completion date. Please note that USCIS requires approximately 3 to 4 months to approve an OPT application. It is highly recommended that students submit their OPT I-20 request to Dashew Center at least 3 months before their requested OPT start date.

OPT Administrative Processing Fee:

The OPT Administrative Processing Fee is required for Dashew Center to maintain systems required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to maintain a student’s F-1 SEVIS record during their OPT period.

SEVIS maintenance fees are covered for current, enrolled UCLA students through their UCLA enrollment fees. Since students will not be enrolled at UCLA during their OPT period, they will be charged an OPT Administrative Processing Fee during their OPT period to allow Dashew Center to process F-1 benefits such as travel authorization, Cap-Gap I-20 Requests, and OPT employment and address reporting.

Students are required to pay the OPT Administrative Processing Fee each time they apply for Post-Completion OPT or the STEM OPT Extension:

• Initial 12-month OPT Administrative Processing Fee: $340
• OPT Administrative Processing Fee

OPT Reporting:

F-1 students engaging in Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) must report their employment status and any changes to their address or phone number within 10 days of the change through the SEVP Portal :

• Employment Status: Report your current employer’s information, employment start date, and previous employment end date (if applicable).
• Address and Phone Number Change: Report your current U.S. residential address and local phone number.

STEM OPT Extension

Eligible F-1 students who have completed a designated STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degree may be eligible to apply for a 24-month STEM OPT Extension. For a list of designated STEM degrees, please click here .

To be eligible for the 24-month STEM OPT Extension, students:

• Must be in their initial, 12-month Post- Completion OPT period (EAD card must not have already expired).
• Must have completed a designated STEM degree.
• Must not have exceeded 90 days of unemployment time during their initial, 12-month OPT period.
• Must have a bona fide employer-employee relationship with an employer enrolled in E-Verify (self-employment not eligible).
• Must have a paid, full-time employment offer (20 or more hours per week) for a position directly related to their field of study and appropriate for their degree level. Volunteer/unpaid positions not eligible.

To apply for the OPT STEM Extension, please review the STEM OPT Extension Guidelines and STEM OPT Extension Workshop .

STEM OPT Extension Administrative Processing Fee:

The OPT Administrative Processing Fee is required for DCISS to maintain systems required by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to maintain a student’s F-1 SEVIS record during their STEM OPT Extension period.

SEVIS maintenance fees are covered for current, enrolled UCLA students through their UCLA enrollment fees. Since students will not be enrolled at UCLA during their OPT/STEM OPT Extension period, they will be charged an OPT Administrative Processing Fee during their OPT period to allow DCISS to process F-1 benefits such as travel authorization, I-20 Requests, and STEM OPT Extension employment and address reporting.

Students are required to pay the OPT/STEM OPT Extension Administrative Processing Fee each time they apply for Post-Completion OPT or the STEM OPT Extension:

• STEM OPT Extension Administrative Processing Fee: $380
• STEM OPT Extension Administrative Processing Fee

STEM OPT Extension Reporting Requirements:

Students with STEM OPT Extension authorization must report the following information within 10 days of any change to maintain valid F-1 status during their STEM OPT Extension period. To report any changes, please complete the STEM Update Employment Information E-Form .

• Changes to their legal name
• Updates to their residential address
• Employer's name and address
• Status of current employment
• Self-evaluations
• Specify the evaluation date range (e.g. the timeline considered during the evaluation)
• Assess their overall performance using the measures identified in the agreed-upon training plan
• Evaluate their success in applying and acquiring the knowledge, skills, and competencies that were previously identified in the Training Plan.
• Discuss accomplishments, successful projects, overall contributions, etc., that occurred during the specified review period
• Address whether there are any modifications to the objectives and goals for projects or new areas for skill and competency development
• Unemployment
• Material changes to an existing Form I-983
• Material changes include (but are not limited to): any change of the employer's EIN, any reduction in student compensation that is not tied to a reduction in hours work, any significant decrease in hours per week that a student engages in a STEM training opportunity, changes to the employer's commitments or student's learning objectives as documented on the Form I-983.
• Changing employers
• Employer non-compliance

Reporting Timeline:

Students engaging in the STEM OPT Extension must submit validation reports at the 6, 12, 18 and 24-month marks of their STEM OPT Extension period. To submit a validation report, please submit the following documents via email to [email protected] )

• 6-month: submit STEM OPT Extension Reporting E-Form
• 12-month: submit STEM OPT Extension Reporting E-Form and 12-month self-evaluation (top half of page 5 of Form I-983 )
• 18-month: submit STEM OPT Extension Reporting E-Form
• 24-month: submit STEM OPT Extension Reporting E-Form and final self-evaluation (bottom half of page 5 of Form I-983 ).

Cap Gap Extension/Transition to H-1B

A “Cap Gap” extension is a period in which an eligible F-1 student’s status is automatically extended to bridge the gap between the end of their F-1 status and the beginning of their H-1B status. The most common situation occurs when a student’s OPT ends in early spring or summer, and the 60-day grace period following the completion of their OPT ends before their H-1B status, creating a gap in status. A Cap Gap I-20 can be issued by DCISS to extend an F-1 student’s authorized period of stay in the U.S. and OPT employment authorization until the start of their H-1B status (student will not receive a new EAD).

To request a Cap Gap I-20, please submit the Cap-Gap I-20 Request E-Form .

Additional Services

Certification of Status Letter

F-1 students who need certification that they holding valid F-1 status and in good standing at UCLA can request a Certification of Status (CoS) letter from Dashew Center. The CoS can assist students with visa renewals, passport renewals, and the transmission of funds, etc. To request a CoS, please submit a CoS Request E-Form to Dashew Center (no appointment required). Your CoS will be processed in 10 business days after the date of submission.

* Note: Dashew Center CoS letters do not verify academic status, course enrollment, or registration (fee payments). For Verification Transcripts, Academic Transcripts, or Official Transcripts please contact the UCLA Registrar’s Office .

Individual Tax Identification Number (ITIN) Letter

F-1 students receiving fellowships, scholarships, or grants must have a SSN or an ITIN (Individual Taxpayer Identification Number) to access GLACIER and report such awards to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for tax purposes.

F-1 students who are receiving awards, but are currently not eligible for a SSN must instead apply for an ITIN. To request an ITIN:

• Step 1: Obtain an Award Letter Obtain an official scholarship/fellowship/grant award letter indicating the type of award, amount, and term of the award (provided by the awarding organization or academic department).
• Step 2: Submit ITIN Request E-Form and Award Letter to Dashew Center Submit a completed ITIN Request form and your official award letter to Dashew Center (no appointment required). Your ITIN Eligibility Letter will be processed in 10 business days after the date of submission.
• Step 3: Schedule an Appointment with UCLA Tax Services
• Take the following documents to your appointment with UCLA Tax Services:
• Dashew Center ITIN Eligibility Support Letter
• Scholarship/Fellowship/Grant Award Letter(s)
• * To schedule an appointment with UCLA Tax Services personnel, please call 310-794-0538.

* Note: You only need to apply for an ITIN if you are currently ineligible for a SSN. If you are eligible for a SSN, you do not need to apply for an ITIN. If you are currently receiving awards but plan to work in future quarters, then you must first apply for an ITIN first, and upon receiving your job offer in the future, apply for an SSN.

Social Security Letter

A Social Security Number (SSN) is required to receive wages, file taxes, and receive some types of government services in the U.S. Private industries such as mobile phone retailers, banks, apartment management companies, etc. may also require that you have a SSN to utilize their services.

F-1 students are only eligible for a Social Security Number (SSN) if they have a paid job offer through on-campus employment or authorized off-campus employment. To request a SSN:

• Step 1: Obtain an Employment Verification/Offer Letter Obtain an employment verification/offer letter from an on-campus or off-campus employer (valid off-campus employment authorization required). The letter must be on official employer letterhead and include your job title, dates of employment, number of hours of work per week, and location of employment. For a sample, please see Sample Employment Verification Letter .
• Step 2: Submit a Social Security Letter Request E-Form to Dashew Center
• Step 3: Apply for a SSN at the Social Security Administration Review the SSN Guidelines for instructions on how to apply for a SSN at a Social Security Administration Office

Click here to locate your nearest Social Security Administration Office .

* Note: The earliest you can request a Social Security Letter from Dashew Center and a SSN from the Social Security Administration is 45 days before your paid employment start date.

* If you are receiving scholarships, fellowships, or grants, but are currently ineligible for an SSN, then you must instead apply for an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN).

Invitation Letter

Dashew Center does not provide family invitation letters for B-1/B-2 visitor visas. The U.S. Department of State does not consider invitation letters when determining whether to issue or deny a visa:

" Visa applicants must qualify on the basis of the applicant's residence and ties abroad, rather than assurances from U.S. family and friends. A letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support is not needed to apply for a visitor visa. If you choose to bring a letter of invitation or Affidavit of Support to your interview, please remember it is not one of the factors used in determining whether to issue or deny the visa. " - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visitor.html

Students who would like to write their own invitation letters for their family members can use the Sample Invitation Letter template here .

Concurrent Enrollment Letter

F-1 students may concurrently enroll at UCLA and a California Community College (or other U.S. institution) under the following circumstances:

• During the Academic Year (Fall, Winter and Spring Quarters): while maintaining full-time enrollment at UCLA (course units enrolled concurrently at a community college or other U.S. institution do not count toward full-time enrollment at UCLA).
• While Engaging in OPT: for incidental study only. Courses taken at a community college (or other U.S. institution) may not lead to a degree or be part of an academic program. *Students who begin their program in Summer (I-20 must have a summer start date) must be enrolled full-time in UCLA Summer Sessions courses for concurrent enrollment approval.

To request a Concurrent Enrollment letter, please submit a Concurrent Enrollment Request E-Form to Dashew Center (no appointment required). Please list all course title(s) and name(s) on the request e-form. Your Concurrent Enrollment Eligibility Letter will be processed in 10 business days from the date of submission.

F-1 / J-1 U.S. Address Requirement

Have You Moved Recently? Update your U.S. Address through MyBruin International .

Travel Abroad & Reentry to the United States

The Student and Exchange Visitor Program which governs the F-1 program and the Department of State which governs the J-1 program will now allow schools to issue electronic I-20s and DS-2019s to students and scholars overseas. The I-20s and DS-2019s must be printed and presented at the U.S. consulates and U.S. port of entry officials. Continuing students who did not request a travel signature before departing the U.S. can request a new I-20 or DS-2019, with signature, through Duke’s Terra Dotta Portal . If you need assistance, p lease email  [email protected] .

Due to our large international student population, the normal processing time for issuing a travel signature  document electronically  is 10 working days. We strongly recommend that students and scholars currently in the U.S. and preparing to travel, bring their I-20s or DS-2019s, passports and electronic I-94 records (click “the most recent I-94 section”)  to the Duke Visa Services Office for a travel signature to avoid processing delays.

The Duke University International Travel Policy requires that all faculty, staff, undergraduate and graduate/professional students enter their travel plans in the  Duke Travel Registry  if a trip abroad will be funded by, sponsored by, or entails earning credit to be transferred to Duke or used to earn a Duke degree. This University-wide policy applies to students in all programs at any of Duke's schools, institutes, departments, programs, and labs. Please check the Duke Travel Registry website for additional information.

Vocabulary And Terminology

Understand the difference between a Visa stamp, a visa document, and visa status.

VISA STAMP OR FOIL

A Visa Stamp in your passport gives you permission to enter the U.S. in a certain visa status. The modern, machine-readable "stamp" is not a stamp, but a specially designed "foil" affixed to a page in your passport and carries identity and other information. Many people still use the term "stamp," but consular officers may also use the term "visa foil. This entry stamp does not tell you how long you have permission to stay in the U.S.; it simply tells you how many times and for how long you have permission to apply for entry into the U.S. in that particular non-immigrant category.

For information on applying for a U.S. Visa, please see the  Department of State's U.S. Passports & International Travel  webpage.

VISA DOCUMENT

The non-immigrant document indicates how long you have permission to remain in the U.S., what activities you have permission to pursue, and where you have permission to pursue those activities. The non-immigrant document, alone, does not give you permission to enter the U.S., but you must have a valid non-immigrant document in order to obtain and use your visa stamp. The most common non-immigrant documents on a university campus are the I-20 for F status, the DS-2019 for J status, and the I-797 for E, H, O, or TN status.

VISA STATUS

The non-immigrant status or classification granted when admitted to the U.S., and reflected on your non-immigrant document and in your electronic I-94 record . The non-immigrant status or classification determines the nature, location, and duration of your authorized activities, as well as your authorized length of stay in the United States.

Travel Abroad

For specific guidelines for checking whether all of your documents are in order for travel, please review our  Visa Documents Guidelines  table.

Before entering your home country, you will need a valid passport, or some other acceptable proof that you are a citizen or legal resident of that country and have the right to return to and enter it.

Before entering another country, you should contact the country's consulate or embassy and obtain a visa, if one is required for citizens from your country of citizenship or lawful residence. One of the basic rights of any country under international law is the right to determine who may enter its borders, under what conditions and rules they may enter, and how long they may stay...

Contact the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit before you leave the U.S. in order to save yourself much time, trouble, expense, and disappointment at the border or airport. To obtain contact information for the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit, check the  Washington D.C. Embassies list . 

Reentry Into The United States

To reenter the United States you must have three things (for citizens of Canada, please review the "Exceptions to the Rules" section below):

• A valid unexpired passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months into the future each time you enter the United States. Please see the Study in the States website for information required for reentry to the U.S.  The Customs and Border Protection website provides entry information and a   list of countries  with six-month validity agreements that make the passport valid for six months beyond the expiration date listed in the passport.
• An immigration document that is valid on and beyond the date you plan to reenter the U.S. and that has been signed and updated, if needed, by the appropriate official (Duke Visa Services Advisor). If you are in F or J status you must have a valid SEVIS Form I-20 or Form DS-2019. A Duke Visa Services Adviser’s most recent signature on the I-20 or DS-2019 should be less than one year old on the date that you plan to return to the U.S. (less than 6 months old if you are traveling while in F-1 OPT status). If you need an updated signature on the I-20 or DS-2019, visit or contact the Duke Visa Services Office before you leave.
• If you are applying for an H or O visa stamp be sure to carry a copy of your approval notice and most recent I-94. PLEASE NOTE: Any time you apply for a visa or enter the U.S., you should be prepared to show proof that you have adequate financial support for the remainder of your program (i.e., assistantship award letter, bank statements, employment letter, etc.).
• A valid and unexpired visa stamp in your passport that matches the immigration document. All visa stamps include a visa type, such as B-1, J-1, F-2, etc., and an ending date. It is imperative that you read the visa stamp carefully and make sure it is valid for reentry. The visa stamp may be valid for multiple entries or it may be limited to one or two entries. It may be valid for only a few months or for the entire time listed on the I-20, DS-2019, I-797 Approval Notice, or other visa document. The duration of the validity of the visa stamp and the number of entries it permits based upon reciprocity with the sending country. The restrictions the U.S. puts on your visa are similar to the restrictions that your country puts on the visas of U.S. citizens traveling to your country for similar purposes. Certain visa stamps may have other limitations as well.

Exceptions To The Rules

Persons in the lawful permanent resident (lpr) process (at any level).

Important Note:  If any of the situations listed below apply to you, discuss your travel plans with your Duke Visa Services advisor and/or an experienced immigration attorney before you travel.

Applicants for LPR or "green card": DO NOT TRAVEL  using temporary visa documents such as an I-20, DS-2019, I-797 Approval Notice for TN status, or TN documents. Once you file an application for LPR, your prior temporary status is generally considered canceled, and you should not use those old documents. If it is necessary for you to travel abroad while your LPR adjustment application is pending, you may need to apply for and receive "Advance Parole" from the DHS to give you special permission to enter the U.S. even though your temporary status has ended. If you leave the U.S. without Advance Parole, you may have no legal way to reenter and may have to wait outside the U.S. and complete your permanent residence processing at a U.S. embassy or consulate. There is a special exception for maintaining "H" status while LPR is pending.

Spouses of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents: DO NOT TRAVEL  using temporary visa documents such as an I-20, DS-2019, I-797, Approval Notice for TN status, or TN documents. Consular and immigration officers generally assume that marriage to a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident indicates an intention to live in the U.S. permanently with the spouse. Consular and immigration officers have the authority to deny you a visa or deny you entry to the U.S. based on that assumption.

Others involved in the LPR process: DO NOT TRAVEL  unless you have discussed your situation with Duke Visa Services or with an experienced immigration lawyer. Certain actions that you take or that others take for you in the LPR process can make it difficult or impossible for you to return to the U.S. in a temporary status. These actions include, but are not limited to, filing a labor certification application, filing an immigrant petition based on family relationship, filing an immigrant petition based on employment, or filing an asylum application. Note that some of these actions may have been taken by you, but others may be taken by other people on your behalf.

CANADIAN CITIZENS

You must carry a passport and valid immigration documents (see chart above) to enter or reenter the U.S. You are required to carry a passport but are not required to have a valid visa stamp to reenter the U.S. When returning from Canada after short trips, be sure to check your electronic I-94 record to verify that you reentered in the appropriate visa status. You must present the proper non-immigrant documents to the immigration officer, EVEN IF THE IMMIGRATION OFFICER DOES NOT ASK TO SEE THEM. If you reenter as a tourist, all of the employment and other benefits connected to your old status are gone.

If you are attempting to reenter in TN status, remember that the TN requires that you have an intention to return to Canada. For more information, please review the "Exceptions to the Rules" section above.

AUTOMATIC REVALIDATION

The Department of State regulations have a special provision called "automatic revalidation" that permits persons in F, J, H and O status to enter "contiguous territory" (Canada and Mexico) and return to the U.S. without a currently valid visa stamp in the passport. For those who hold F and J status, this special "automatic revalidation" also applies to travel to "adjacent islands" (islands in the Caribbean except Cuba). Automatic revalidation applies in two ways.

• If you have a visa stamp in your passport that matches your status, but has expired, that visa stamp is considered to be automatically revalidated to a current date for your return to the U.S. even though it has expired.
• If you have changed status while in the U.S., and you have a visa stamp that matches your old status (either expired or unexpired), that visa stamp is considered to be automatically changed to a stamp matching the new status. It is also revalidated to a current date for your return to the U.S. even though it is not the same as your status and may have not expired. Automatic revalidation is a very useful and convenient provision, but it has very strict rules for its use. Do not even attempt to use automatic revalidation until you have read  Travel to Contiguous Territory and Adjacent Islands .

How To Avoid Problems

Multiple visa stamps.

If you have more than one visa stamp in your passport, be sure to use the correct one to enter the country.  When you reenter the United States, you are in the category in which you are admitted and which appears on your electronic I-94 record, regardless of what other stamps may be in your passport.

Example:  You have a B-1/B-2 tourist stamp and a J-1 stamp. You use the B-1/B-2 stamp to enter the U.S. because it is easier or you did not want to take time to get a proper J-1 stamp. If you use the B-1/B-2 stamp, then you are officially present in the U.S. in a tourist visa class, not J-1, even though you may have been in J-1 class before you left. If you enter in the wrong visa class, you cannot perform your designated activities or receive payments in the United States until DHS has changed your visa class back to one that permits your designated activities. This change can take many, many months, so be careful when entering!

VISA WAIVER PROGRAM

If you are a citizen of a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program, meaning that you are allowed to enter the United States as a visitor without first obtaining a visa stamp, be sure that you do NOT enter the United States on this program.  If you enter on this program, you will be admitted as a WT or WB and will only be allowed to remain in the United States for a maximum of 90 days. You will not be eligible for employment and other benefits normally afforded persons in other temporary visa classifications. A WB or WT cannot be changed to another visa status, nor can it be extended beyond the 90-day period. PLEASE REMEMBER that entry on the Visa Waiver Program in WB or WT status cannot be "fixed" in the United States. You will have to leave the U.S. and return in proper status.  No exceptions!

GET A VISA STAMP

If you go to a United States embassy or consulate abroad to get a visa stamp, take the proper immigration documents with you.  If you do not have the proper document, such as the I-20, DS-2019, or I-797 Approval Notice, the consular officer has no evidence that you are entitled to that visa and cannot issue it. It does not matter that you may already have an old visa stamp in the passport. The old stamp provides no information about your current situation.  Always check the Visa Wait times-For Interview Appointments and Processing  from the  Department of State  website and note that additional time may be required for administrative processing..

INVALID OR EXPIRED VISA STAMP

Do not attempt to enter the United States with an invalid or expired visa stamp or no visa stamp at all.  If you try to enter the U.S. with an invalid or expired visa stamp or with no proper stamp at all, the immigration officer at the port of entry has two choices: (1) deny you entry and send you back on the next plane; or (2) call a supervising officer and request permission to let you in without a visa. If, and only if, the supervising officer agrees, may you be admitted without a visa stamp. You must pay a fee to cover the cost of this visa waiver request. DHS will make a record that you failed to present a proper visa stamp and that DHS gave you a visa waiver. If you again try to reenter the United States without a visa, you likely will be denied entry. Often you must wait until all of the other passengers on your plane, train, or bus have been admitted before DHS can take time to complete your admission. It may take several hours to do this. Reports from other students and scholars indicate that your wait will not be pleasant.

IMMIGRATION DOCUMENTS

Do not attempt to enter the United States without the proper immigration document.  If you fail to present a valid visa document, such as an I-20 or DS-2019, and you try to enter the United States, the immigration officer has two choices: (1) deny you entry and send you back on the next plane: or (2) to admit you for a very short period of time, usually 30 days. In the latter case, you will be issued a Form I-515 that requires you mail the appropriate documents to DHS before the expiration of your electronic I-94. If you are issued an I-515, then you need to contact an advisor in the Duke Visa Services Office immediately for assistance. Failure to respond to an I-515 in a timely manner is a violation of status and could be grounds for deportation.

NON-IMMIGRANT CATEGORY

Do not attempt to enter the U.S. in the wrong non-immigrant category with the intention of changing it to the correct one later.  Some people enter the U.S. in the wrong non-immigrant class because it is easier, or faster, or they are not sure they will be able to get the proper visa. They then plan to change to the proper class after they arrive in the U.S. Examples: entering the U.S. as a tourist when the real intention is to enroll as a student or to change to J or H class in order to work. Generally, this is considered visa fraud, and the DHS will examine very closely any application to change non-immigrant category under these circumstances. In addition, you cannot work or attend school until you have obtained the proper class and the necessary approval. Therefore, it is imperative that you enter in the proper non-immigrant category avoid long delays and possible unpleasant exchanges with DHS.

Other Helpful Information

• Travel to Contiguous Territory and Adjacent Island

• International Student Portal Access
• Open Search Search

Home  /  Coming to Tufts  /  Obtain Your Visa Certificate  /  Understanding Your I-20

Understanding Your I-20

FOR F-1 STUDENTS

Your Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility  is a document issued by the Tufts International Center to show that you have been admitted to a full-time program of study at Tufts, and that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your educational and living expenses.

How Do I Obtain My I-20?

Once you are admitted to your program, you will need to  apply to the International Center for your I-20. Once the International Center receives your complete application, an advisor create a record for you in the US government's SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) database. Once your SEVIS record is created, the International Center will be able to create and print a Form I-20 for you. With your I-20, you can then apply for an F-1 student visa at a US consulate and later travel to the US as an F-1 student.  Note: the International Center is responsible for issuing all Form I-20s to F-1 students (and their F-2 dependents) studying at Tufts University.

Main Points about Form I-20

• Basic information on an I-20: Your I-20 contains your biographical information. It also includes information about your degree or educational objective, the school's address and contact information, the program start and end date, the estimated expenses associated with your program, your financial resources, and other details including employment and practical training authorizations. Click on the image to the right and read the information about the main sections of the I-20.
• Your I-20 has a unique SEVIS ID number: The SEVIS ID number can be found at the top of the form. In general, you will keep the same SEVIS ID number throughout your program, even if you transfer your F-1 status to another school. You will get a new SEVIS ID only if you stop your studies for any reason and more than five months passes before you come back to the US to re-start your studies (or start a new program).
• The I-20 can be updated multiple times as your information changes:  Your initial I-20 reflects your initial program information. As your academic situation changes, you may need to get an updated I-20. For example, you may need to get a new I-20 if you change your major or degree objective, or get an extension if you need more time to complete your program. You will also need to get a new I-20 if you decide to transfer from one school to another. Consequently, you may end up receiving multiple I-20s during your time as an F-1 student. We recommend that you keep all I-20 copies in your personal records.
• Your Form I-20 is not a visa :  You need an I-20 to apply for an F-1 student visa and enter the US as an F-1 student. However, it is not the same thing as a visa; the I-20 is produced by your school, but visas are issued only by US consulates outside of the US. Note: Canadian citizens do not need to apply for visas, but still must have an I-20 in order to enter the US as F-1 students.
• The program start and end dates are extremely important: Your I-20 reflects your expected program start date (usually the first day of classes) and program end date (usually the last day of your final semester). Understanding these dates is critical, as they determine how long you can stay in the US or when you need to do certain things, like applying for an extension. The program start and end dates reflects an estimate of the amount of time an average student in your program would need to complete the requirements for the program. See the "Program of Study" tab on this page.
• The I-20 is used during travel:  During your studies, and as long as you are an F-1 student, you will need to carry your I-20 and use it with your passport and F-1 visa when traveling internationally and re-entering the US. Your I-20 needs to be signed by an International Center advisor at least once a year if you plan to travel outside of the US. See the "Travel Endorsement Signatures" tab on this page.
• The I-20 can be replaced: If your I-20 is lost, stolen, or damaged, contact the International Center. We can issue a replacement.
• Dependent I-20s:  Your dependents (legal spouse or unmarried children under 21) must have their own individual I-20s. They will need to have their own I-20s to apply for and enter the US using F-2 visas.

The I-20 is also often needed for other official purposes such as when applying for a Social Security Number, driver's license, or doing employment verification paperwork when starting an on-campus or off-campus job.

• Study in the States: Students and the Form I-20

Sample I-20

Click on the image above to look at a sample I-20. Note: Form I-20 is updated with minor revisions periodically. Your actual I-20 may differ slightly from the sample above, but the main sections should be the same.

I-20 sections.

Your SEVIS ID number is printed at the top of the form and has the format " N000xxxxxxx ". It is a unique identifier that matches your SEVIS database record.

You should make sure that your personal and biographical information are correct.

• Your surname and given name should match your name as printed in your passport
• Your country of birth, country of citizenship, and date of birth should be correct

Non-required Fields:

• The passport name field does not need to be filled out and may be blank
• The admission number is no longer filled out and will be blank

Form Issuance Reasons:

• The form issuance reason will usually be "initial attendance" for your first I-20, and "continued attendance" after you arrive in the US, and only if your I-20 is later updated with new information
• It may also indicate "transfer pending" if you have finished your studies at one school and are waiting to start your program at another school
• There may be other reasons indicated - contact the International Center if you have any questions

The school information section indicates your school's name, reporting address, the name of the international student advisor ("Designated School Official") who issued the I-20, and your school's SEVP School Code.

The Program of Study section includes:

• Your degree objective (e.g., bachelor's, master's, doctorate, etc.)
• Your major(s) - note that the major listed on the I-20 may not be exactly the same as your official Tufts major. This is because the I-20 reflects a list of majors drawn from the US government, not from Tufts. The US government's major listed on your I-20 is the "closest match" to your actual Tufts major.
• Your program start and end dates - the program start and end dates reflect the anticipated start to your program (usually the first day of classes) and the end date to your program (the last day of your final semester or term)

Program Start / End Date

It is important to understand your program start and end date information. Every I-20 includes an average estimate of the amount of time it takes to complete the program.

• Under F-1 visa rules, you are permitted to arrive in the US no earlier than 30 days before the program start date on your I-20.
• Once the program end date is reached, and you have finished your program, you have 60 days to depart the US. Once the program end date is passed and you leave the US, your grace period automatically expires.
• If you need more time to complete your program requirements, you must submit a request to the International Center for an  F-1 program extension BEFORE the I-20 program end date is reached.
• If you complete your program (or stop studying) before the program end date, contact the International Center as we may need to update your SEVIS record.

The financials section of the I-20 includes the estimate of expenses for your program and a description of the financial resources you showed when applying for your I-20. Your financial resources can include a combination of personal or family funds, scholarships, fellowships, employment, or other resources.

You must submit new financial documents if you apply for an I-20 extension (see F-1 Program Extension ) or F-1 reinstatement .

The financial information on an I-20 is always an estimate of your educational expenses. Actual expenses may vary from student to student and program to program. However, the information on the I-20 should provide a reasonable indication of the likely costs for a full-time student in your program.

At the bottom of page 1 of your I-20, your international student advisor will sign the School Attestation section of the form. You are also required to read the Student Attestation section and should sign the form to indicate your agreement to the terms outlined on the I-20.

Later in your program, if you choose to pursue employment options such as curricular practical training or optional practical training, your SEVIS record will be updated and a new I-20 issued to you. The updated I-20 will have the type of employment authorization (e.g., curricular practical training or CPT) and information such as the name and location of your employer (if required).

The travel endorsement section of the I-20 is signed by your international student advisor, usually once a year. By signing the form, the advisor is confirming that you are attending school, maintaining valid F-1 status, and are eligible to return to Tufts after a trip abroad. When you return, the US Customs and Border Protection officer will look to see that your I-20 has been signed by an international advisor.

The travel endorsement section only needs to be signed after you arrive in the US and register with your school as an F-1 student. After that point, the travel endorsement confirms your arrival and status as an F-1 student in good standing.

Only International Center advisors can sign Form I-20 for Tufts students - do not request travel signatures from your academic advisors or professors / instructors.

• The travel signature should be no more than one year old at the time of your return to the US. You do not need a travel signature if you are not traveling outside the US or if you have completed your program and are simply leaving the US for good.
• If you are on post-completion Optional Practical Training, the travel signature should be no more than six months old on the date of your return.

To learn more about obtaining a travel signature, refer to these instructions .

International Student Services

• Requesting Your Form I-20
• Applying for Your Visa
• International Check-In Requirements
• Online Course Policy
• SEVIS Record Transfer

Travel, I-20, and F-1 Visa

This page was last updated on January 3, 2023.

Travel Documents Checklist

I-20 and travel signature, travel during opt, travel to and within the u.s. (including puerto rico).

• Invitation Letters

Read below to find out what documents you need to enter the U.S. in F-1 status. Note: The following information applies to continuing students, returning students, and alumni on OPT. The Undergraduate Admissions page has information for accepted and entering international students .

For Continuing and Returning Students

Documents required to enter the u.s..

You must present physical copies of the documents listed below. Digital images of your documents on your phone or other device are not acceptable for travel purposes. Keep all of the following documents in your carry-on bag:

• Your passport, valid for at least six months into the future.
• Printed copy of your most recent I-20 with your original (ink) signature, signed for travel on page 2 within one year of travel date. Read about how to request a new I-20 with an updated travel signature .
• A valid F-1 visa.* If your F-1 visa has expired or will expire while you are traveling, you must apply for a new F-1 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy in your home country before traveling to the U.S. Read about how to apply for a new F-1 visa .
• A printed copy of the I-901 (SEVIS) fee payment receipt for your current SEVIS ID number. ( Recommended)
• Printed copies of the financial documents you used to request your I-20. ( Recommended)

*Canadian and Bermudian citizens:  Note that you are not required to apply for an F-1 visa. However, you will need to present your passport, I-20, I-901 SEVIS fee receipt, and supporting financial documentation at the U.S. port of entry in order to be admitted to the U.S. in F-1 status.

For Alumni on Post-Completion OPT

You must present physical copies of the documents listed below. Digital images of your documents on your phone or other device are not acceptable for travel purposes.

*Canadian and Bermudian citizens do not need an F-1 visa in their passport to enter the U.S.

**If you are outside of the U.S. when your OPT is approved, you may print out the scanned image of your EAD card to enter the U.S. If you don't have a scanned image of your EAD card, bring a printed copy of your I-20 showing the approved OPT status on page 2 and a printed copy of your I-797 Notice of Approval.

• Read about how to request a new I-20 with an updated travel signature .
• Go to the Travel During OPT section for important travel information.

For Alumni on STEM OPT

***A printed copy of your I-983 Training Plan is sufficient proof of employment; you may also bring a letter from your employer if you wish.

Jump to top

Note: The information below applies to continuing students and alumni on OPT. The Undergraduate Admissions page has information for accepted and entering international students .

How do I get a new I-20 with an updated travel signature?

Check your i-20 travel signature.

Before requesting a new I-20 with an updated travel signature, make sure you have your most recent I-20 and check the travel signature on page 2. The date written next to the travel signature is when the travel signature was issued.

• Continuing students: you need a new I-20 with an updated travel signature if the signature will be more than one year (12 months) old on the date of your return to the U.S.
• Alumni on OPT: you need a new I-20 with an updated travel signature if the signature will be more than six months old on the date of your return to the U.S.

How to Request a New I-20 With an Updated Travel Signature

Complete the I-20 Travel Signature Request form below. Once your request is approved, ISS will scan and email your new, signed I-20 to your Berklee email address within 10 business days. You must print out the I-20, sign it, and use the physical copy to enter the U.S.—a digital copy on your phone or other device is not acceptable for travel purposes. We will email you if we need more information before we can approve your request.

Request a new I-20 with an updated travel signature  (login required)

How long is the travel signature on my I-20 valid?

For entering, returning, and continuing students: the travel signature is valid for one year (12 months) from the signature date. You need a new I-20 with an updated travel signature if the signature will be more than one year old on the date of your return to the U.S.

For alumni with USCIS-pending or -approved OPT: the travel signature is valid for six months from the signature date. You need a new I-20 with an updated travel signature if the signature will be more than six months old on the date of your return to the U.S. (Note: the I-20 and travel signature are only valid if your OPT application is pending with or approved by USCIS.)

Can I use an image of my I-20 on my phone to enter the U.S.?

No. You must print your I-20, sign it by hand in ink, and show the physical paper copy to the immigration official when you enter the U.S. A digital copy on your phone or other device is not acceptable for travel purposes.

What should I do if I lost or forgot my I-20?

ISS can issue a new I-20 and email it to you. Complete the online form below to request a replacement I-20. You do not need to submit any additional documents for a replacement.

Once your request is approved, ISS will scan and email your new, signed I-20 to your Berklee email address within 10 business days. You must print out the I-20, sign it, and use the physical copy to enter the U.S. (a digital copy on your phone or other device is not acceptable for travel purposes).

We will email you if we need more information before we can approve your request.

Request a replacement I-20  (login required)

When does my I-20 expire?

Your I-20 expiration date is the same as the program end date, shown in the "Program of Study" section on page 1 of your I-20. The program end date is the date you are expected to complete all graduation requirements for your academic program. If it takes you less time to complete your program, the date will be updated to match the last day of the semester during which you complete all program requirements. If you need more time to complete your program, you must request an extension at least two weeks before the program end date shown on your I-20. Go to the Extend Your I-20 page to learn how to request an extension.

How do I get an I-20 extension if I need more time to complete my program?

Go to the Extend Your I-20 page and follow the instructions to request an extension. 

Is it okay if my visa expires while I’m in the U.S.?

Yes. An F-1 visa is a travel permit that allows you to request permission to enter the U.S. as an F-1 student at the U.S. port of entry. The visa does not need to remain valid while you are in the U.S. The F-1 visa might expire before your status expires, or your status might end before your visa expires. The length of time you are permitted to stay in the U.S. is not related to the F-1 visa expiration date; it is determined by your I-20 program end date and maintaining your F-1 status.

You need to apply for a new F-1 visa only if you will travel to the U.S. after the expiration date printed on your F-1 visa, or if your visa will expire while you are outside of the U.S.

Note that Canadian and Bermudian citizens do not need an F-1 visa to enter the U.S., but they do need a valid I-20 from Berklee.

Can I apply for or renew my visa while I'm in the U.S.?

No. Visas are only issued by U.S. consulates and embassies abroad. It is neither possible nor necessary to renew your visa while you are in the U.S. However, if you leave the U.S. after your visa has expired, you must apply for a new F-1 visa in your home country before you can re-enter the U.S..

How do I apply for or renew my F-1 visa?

Note: Applying for an F-1 visa will take several weeks. Although applicants for F-1 visas are given priority for visa interview appointments, you must consider the time it will take to process your visa and return your passport to you. Check the visa appointment wait times for each U.S. embassy/consulate .

How to Apply for an F-1 Visa

• Visit USEmbassy.gov to locate the U.S. consulate or embassy that serves the area where you live.
• Follow the instructions on the website of your local U.S. consulate or embassy to schedule an interview for your F-1 visa. Typically, visa interviews are scheduled through USTravelDocs.com .
• Verify the required application documents and application procedures on the website of your local U.S. consulate or embassy where will have your visa interview.
• Complete the online Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application Form DS-160 and pay the visa application fee. Make sure to print your payment receipt and DS-160 confirmation page.

After your visa interview, you can track the status of your visa application .

What documents should I bring to my visa interview?

Be sure to verify the required application documents and application procedures on the website of your local U.S. consulate or embassy where will have your visa interview.

For All Students and Alumni on OPT

The following documents are typically required:

• Continuing students: make sure the travel signature on page 2 has been issued within the last 12 months.
• Alumni on OPT: on page 2, make sure the travel signature has been issued within the last six months and your OPT authorization status, start date, and end date are accurate.
• A printout of your I-901 SEVIS fee payment receipt for your current SEVIS ID number.
• Your passport, valid for at least six months beyond your travel date.
• Official letters, issued by a bank or other governing bodies, proving that you or your family own a business.
• Deeds or papers showing that you or your family own property.
• If you or your family have made numerous visits to the U.S., passports (even expired ones) that prove that you or your family have returned home after each visit.
• Proof of membership in a professional organization.
• A letter from a prospective employer stating that a position may be offered to you upon your return or that professionals with your academic qualifications are needed.
• A letter from your current employer stating that you will resume work with them after your time in the U.S.

For Continuing Students Only

In addition to items 1–4, the following documents are typically required:

• Your official Berklee or Conservatory transcript. Read about how to request a transcript for Berklee College of Music students or for Boston Conservatory at Berklee students .
• A Verification of Enrollment letter issued by the Registrar's Office.
• The minimum amount you must document is shown on page 1 of your I-20.
• Financial documents should be dated within six months of your visa interview date.
• Documents can include bank statements, bank letters, scholarship award letters, etc.
• An Affidavit of Support must accompany all financial documentation that is not from your own personal account.

For Alumni on USCIS-Approved Post-Completion OPT Only

Note: you must wait until your post-completion OPT application has been approved by USCIS before applying for a new F-1 visa. Read more in the Travel During OPT section .

• Your current, valid EAD (a digital copy on your device or printout of the scanned image is not acceptable). ISS can mail your EAD to you if it is issued while you are outside the U.S.
• Contracts or letters from your employer(s) confirming your employment dates (the end date should be in the future).
• If you are self-employed: contracts or letters showing that you have future employment obligations in the U.S.
• Publicity for upcoming gigs (print copies of venue advertisements or ask the venue to write a letter confirming your booking date).
• Recommended: financial documents demonstrating that you have access to additional financial support. Financial documents can include bank statements or letters and should be dated within six months of your visa interview date. An Affidavit of Support must accompany all financial documentation that is not from your own personal bank account.

For Alumni With USCIS-Pending or -Approved STEM OPT Only

• If your STEM OPT is pending with USCIS: you will not yet have a valid STEM OPT EAD; you may instead bring a printed copy of your I-797 Notice of Receipt showing that your STEM OPT application was filed in a timely manner.
• If your STEM OPT has been approved by USCIS: bring your current, valid EAD (a digital copy on your device or printout of the scanned image is not acceptable). ISS can mail your EAD to you if it is issued while you are outside the U.S.
• Proof of employment: a printed copy of your completed and signed Form I-983 is sufficient. You may also bring a contract or signed letter from your employer if you wish.

My F-1 visa is valid, but it has my old school's information on it. Do I need to apply for a new visa?

It depends. You do not need to apply for a new F-1 visa if you used it to enter the U.S. in F-1 status in the past, even if you have been outside the U.S. for more than five months and/or if it shows a different school name or SEVIS ID number. Make sure the visa expiration date is after the date you plan to enter the U.S.

You do need to get a new F-1 visa if you have a valid F-1 visa with old information on it (previous SEVIS ID number, school name, etc.) but you never used it to enter the U.S.

Can I travel to Canada or Mexico with an expired F-1 visa and return to the U.S. in F-1 status using automatic revalidation?

Yes. An F-1 visa holder may be permitted to enter the U.S. with an expired F-1 visa. This is called automatic revalidation . While this exception will allow citizens of some countries to return to the U.S. in F-1 status with an expired F-1 visa, it does not renew or extend your F-1 visa.

Who Can Use Automatic Revalidation

Students in F-1 status who spend less than 30 days in one of the following countries can use automatic revalidation: Canada, Mexico, Saint Pierre, Miquelon, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, the Windward and Leeward Islands, Trinidad, Martinique, and other British, French, and Dutch territories or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea (except Cuba).

Who Cannot Use Automatic Revalidation

As of 2015, citizens of Iran, Syria, Sudan, and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea are not eligible to re-enter the U.S. using automatic revalidation.

You cannot use automatic revalidation if you choose to apply for a new F-1 visa during your visit to one of the countries where automatic revalidation is permitted. In this case, you may not re-enter the U.S. until the new visa is issued.

How to Use Automatic Revalidation

Print out this information sheet from ISS , which includes the regulatory citation as well as a list of documents you should carry with you. Keep the information sheet and the recommended documents in your carry-on bag. You may show these to an airline or immigration official if requested. 

Should I inform ISS if I get a new passport?

Yes. Please email an image of the biographical page of your passport (the page(s) with your photo and passport expiration date) to [email protected] .

Do I need a new I-20 or new F-1 visa when I get a new passport?

No. You do not need a new I-20 or new F-1 visa when you get a new passport. When you travel, bring both your new passport and your old passport with your valid F-1 visa in it. 

Is it okay if my passport expires while I’m in the U.S.? How do I renew it?

Your passport should be valid for at least six months into the future. You should not allow it to expire while you are in the U.S.

If necessary, you can renew your passport from within the U.S. Contact your country’s embassy or consulate in the U.S. to inquire about the process for renewing your passport. An up-to-date list of diplomatic missions in the U.S. is on the CIA World Factbook website (press CMD + F and type your country's name in the search box).

Official information from the Student and Exchange Visitor Program can be found on the  SEVP Travel and Re-entry: F Visa page .

My passport was lost/stolen. What should I do?

Report your passport as lost or stolen.

Report your lost or stolen passport to both Berklee Public Safety and the Boston Police Department. First, visit Berklee Public Safety or complete the online form to report the incident. Next, contact or visit Public Safety, and ask them to direct you to the nearest Boston Police Department location to file a report. By reporting the incident, your contact information will be on file if your passport is found and returned to a police station. You may also need to provide a report to your local embassy or consulate.

Report Your F-1 Visa as Lost or Stolen

If your valid F-1 visa was in your lost/stolen passport: you must report your F-1 visa as lost or stolen. Email the consular section of the U.S. embassy or consulate outside the U.S. that issued your visa. In your email, include your full name, date of birth, place of birth, address in the U.S., and an email address. 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 (you can request a copy from [email protected] ). Otherwise, if known, report the category of visa (F-1) and the passport number from the lost or stolen visa. Your lost or stolen visa will be canceled and invalid for future use.

How to Get a Replacement Passport

Contact your country’s embassy or consulate in the U.S. to determine their procedures for replacing a lost or stolen passport. An up-to-date list of diplomatic missions in the U.S. is on the CIA World Factbook website (you can press CMD + F and type your country name in the search box). You can get a replacement passport from within the U.S.

Replacing Your F-1 Visa

Lost or stolen visas cannot be replaced in the U.S. If you travel outside the U.S., you will need to apply for a new F-1 visa in your home country to re-enter the U.S. In addition to the required documents, you may need to bring the police report and a written statement documenting the loss of your passport and visa.

Visit the U.S. Department of State website for more information about lost or stolen travel documents.

Do I still need an I-20 to travel during OPT?

Yes. When ISS recommends OPT in your SEVIS record, your requested OPT start and end dates will appear in the "Employment Authorizations" section on page 2 of your I-20. This effectively extends the validity of your I-20, but only if your OPT application is pending with or approved by USCIS. The program end date on page 1 of your I-20 will match the last day of the semester during which you completed all of your graduation requirements.

If the USCIS-approved OPT start and end dates are different from the requested dates, ISS will issue a new I-20 to you with the updated USCIS-approved dates. Typically this updated I-20 is issued to you along with your EAD.

Review the Travel Documents Checklist to make sure you have everything you need to enter the U.S.

Can I travel while my OPT is pending with USCIS?

Yes. You may exit and re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status while your application is pending with USCIS. However, there are some important points you should consider before making the decision to travel:

• If you are outside the U.S. and your application is rejected or denied, it may not be possible for you to return to begin or resume your OPT. While ISS has a rigorous protocol in place to support the success of your OPT application, ultimately it is your responsibility to make sure that your OPT application is correct, complete, and received by USCIS within the required time frame.
• If you choose to travel while your application is pending, be sure that you are monitoring your Berklee email and USCIS Case Status online . Contact ISS right away if there is a problem with your OPT application.
• Post-Completion OPT: if you depart the U.S. during your 60-day grace period without having submitted your OPT application to USCIS, your F-1 status ends and you are no longer eligible for OPT.
• STEM OPT: you must submit your STEM OPT application to USCIS before your post-completion OPT authorization end date.

Can I renew my F-1 visa during my OPT?

In general, yes. However, when you can apply for a new F-1 visa depends on your OPT type and whether your application is pending with or approved by USCIS.

Note: passport holders of Canada or Bermuda are not required to apply for an F-1 visa; entry to the U.S. will be processed as an F-1 visa holder based on your I-20 and EAD.

Post-Completion OPT: you must wait to apply for a new F-1 visa until your OPT application is approved by USCIS and you have your current, valid EAD (a digital image on your device or printout of the scanned image is not acceptable). You should also be sure that you have sufficient proof of employment to present during your visa interview to demonstrate that you have a reason to return to the U.S. to begin your OPT. Go to the F-1 Visa section to review the visa application process and list of documents to bring to your interview.

STEM OPT: you may apply for a new F-1 visa while your OPT application is pending with USCIS or after it has been approved. Go to the F-1 Visa section to review the visa application process and list of documents to bring to your interview.

What do I need to know before I travel during my USCIS-approved OPT period?

Travel outside the U.S. is permitted between your USCIS-approved OPT or STEM OPT start and end dates as long as you have not exceeded the maximum unemployment time allowed under OPT or STEM OPT. Review the unemployment regulations for post-completion OPT or STEM OPT (login required).

Re-entering the U.S. in a status other than F-1 (such as tourist or with the ESTA ) will invalidate your F-1 status and cancel your OPT authorization.

Should I subtract time spent outside of the U.S. from my allowed unemployment time?

It depends on where your employer/freelance clients are based. 

• SEVP is temporarily allowing students on OPT to maintain their OPT by working remotely for a U.S.-based company or freelance clients. Your employer and/or freelance clients must be physically based inside the U.S. for your work to qualify as OPT employment.
• Work performed for non-U.S.–based entities does not count toward your OPT employment time. 
• Unfortunately, the regulations regarding unemployment time post-completion OPT or STEM OPT (login required) have not changed. Your OPT authorization will be canceled if you reach your maximum unemployment time.

I want to travel from the U.S. to a location outside of my home country. What do I need to know?

Immigration regulations are different for every country. The regulations that apply to you are determined by the relationship between your country of citizenship and the country you plan to visit. ISS cannot advise students on visa requirements for other countries. 

Before you travel, verify whether citizens of your country are required to have a visa or other kind of travel document to enter. Also, review the travel document checklist to make sure that you have all the documents required to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status. 

Find out if you need a visa to visit  Canada ,  Spain , the  United Kingdom , or  Mexico .

What do I need to know before traveling to another city or state within the U.S.?

You do not need special documents to travel within the U.S. However, we recommend that you carry your valid passport, most recent valid I-20, and your F-1 visa with you. This is particularly true while traveling through states bordering Mexico or Canada, as immigration officers have the authority to request immigration documents from anyone within 100 miles of a U.S. port of entry. 

Students on USCIS-approved post-completion OPT or STEM OPT should also carry their EAD; students with USCIS-pending post-completion OPT should bring a copy of their I-797 Notice of Receipt.

Do I need a visa to visit Puerto Rico?

No, you do not need a valid F-1 visa to travel to Puerto Rico unless your travel plans include entry to any other country en route to Puerto Rico. However, we recommend that you carry your valid passport, most recent valid I-20, and your F-1 visa with you in a safe place. 

Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States, which means that it is neither a separate country nor a U.S. state. The primary difference between a territory and a state is that residents of a territory cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections and do not have their own representatives in the U.S. Congress. For travel purposes, however, traveling to Puerto Rico is just like traveling to New York, California, or any other U.S. state. 

My family wants to visit me in the U.S. Can ISS write an invitation letter for their visa application?

No, ISS cannot issue an invitation letter. The U.S. Department of State has let us know that invitation letters from colleges and universities do not affect the outcome of a visa application. However, you can write an invitation letter yourself and provide additional documents that will help support their visa application:

• Write a short, informal invitation letter. Include your name, address, contact information, the dates and purpose of the visit, and what activities you have planned while your family member is visiting you. 
• Provide proof of your enrollment with either your official Berklee transcript  or a Verification of Enrollment Letter . Read about how to request a transcript for Berklee College of Music students or for Boston Conservatory at Berklee students .
• Provide your family member with a copy of your I-20 (signed by you) and other documents verifying your status in the U.S., such as a copy of your F-1 visa and/or your electronic I-94 .
• Remind your family member to check the specific visitor visa requirements for the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.

Travel Signatures

When travelling outside the U.S. students in F-1 and J-1 status should verify they have a travel endorsement from ISSS on the Form I-20 or DS-2019.  The signature will be on page 2 of the Form I-20 or page 1 of the Form DS-2019 and is valid for 12 months or until the program end date.

Students who need a travel signature should submit a request as follows:

• Log in to the ISSS Portal using Onyen and password
• Select General Student Services from the menu on the left-hand side
• Select Student Travel Signature under Tasks and follow form instructions

Students requesting a travel endorsement will receive a new Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 via email. The document will be emailed to your UNC email account as a PDF file and you will need to print and sign the form to present when re-entering the U.S.

Travel documents

The following documents are required for re-entry to the U.S.

• Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 signed for travel by an ISSS “Designated School Official” within 12 months (unless on a period of Optional Practical training, then the signature must be valid within 6 months).
• Valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp (Canadian and Bermudian citizens do not require a visa stamp)
• Passport valid for at least six months into the future on the date of re-entry

ISSS recommends students travel with the following documents:

• Financial support information to document the funding indicated on Form I-20 or DS-2019
• Documentation verifying full-time enrollment ( enrollment certification , transcript , or letter from academic department)

Students who need to obtain a new visa must apply at a US Embassy outside of the U.S. (preferably in their home country). Please check the U.S. Embassy’s website for more information before leaving the U.S.

Automatic Revalidation

Consult with the embassy or consulate for the country you plan to visit to determine whether a visa will be required for entry into that country.

The Form I-94 is issued at the port of entry to nonimmigrants by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials to record arrivals and departures from the U.S.

Travelers may access their Form I-94 immediately on the CBP website by inputting their information (if they entered the U.S. by air or sea):

• Name as listed in the passport
• Passport number
• Country of issuance
• Class of admission
• Date of entry into the U.S.

Travelers are encouraged to print their electronic Form I-94 from the website upon arrival, as a print copy may be needed for work authorization, driver license and social security applications, etc. Check the class of admission (F-1, J-1, H-1B, etc.), the date of entry and “admitted to” date (D/S for F and J status) and bring errors to the attention of the ISSS office.

Travelers at land ports of entry to the U.S. will receive a modified paper version called the I-94A.  Some individuals, such as refugees and asylees, will continue to receive a paper form I-94.

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Want a Rich, Rustic Taste of Spain? Head for the Hills of La Rioja.

A drive through rolling vineyards will take you to 5 family-run restaurants where you’ll find flavorful, affordable dishes you can linger over for hours.

Bodega Pimiento is a family-run restaurant in Tirgo, Spain, where the jamón Ibérico and chorizo are house-cured, the vegetables are grown in the restaurant’s garden, and the lamb is from a local farm. Credit... Emilio Parra Doiztua for The New York Times

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By David Farley

• Aug. 28, 2024

Hear the word “Rioja” and the first thing that comes to mind is wine — high-quality, fruit-forward red wine.

But there’s another side to this small region in northeastern Spain: family-run restaurants in quiet villages atop craggy mountains or surrounded by farmland. You won’t see signs boasting Michelin stars; instead, you’ll find a constellation of flavorful, rustic dishes and extremely affordable and drinkable wine that you can rarely find outside of the region. It’s served by people who treat diners like out-of-town family friends who just happened to pop in for a three-hour lunch. Driving there is half of the fun, as roads snake through rolling, vineyard-clad hills and alongside verdant mountains.

Here are five restaurants that will give you a rich taste of La Rioja.

La Cueva del Chato

In Spanish, “chato” refers to someone with a flat nose and the chato in question here is the chef César Torrecilla, who doesn’t have a particularly flat nose. “That was my father,” he said. “I’m el chatito,” he added, using the diminutive. Located in the tiny village of Canillas de Río Tuerto (population 42), about 25 miles west of Logroño, the capital of La Rioja, the restaurant is run by Mr. Torrecilla and his wife, María Isabel Hermosilla, who works the front of the room.

I came here with my Logroño-born wife, Ivana, and her family — six of us in all — and by the end of the meal, Ms. Hermosilla had memorized our names.

The menu is filled with rustic goodness, including white asparagus smothered in a mushroom sauce; a stew of caparrónes (a local red bean) studded with slices of morcilla (blood sausage), pork belly and chorizo; foie gras salad, essentially a heap of rich and delicious foie gras; and the menu’s tour de force, an enormous bone-in chuletón, or rib eye, which diners cook by placing the raw steak on portable grills sitting on the table.

Mr. Torrecilla, who grew up in the village, is the son and grandson of farmers and decided as a young man to carve out a new path for himself as a chef and restaurateur, converting the garage that was used to store the family tractor into a restaurant with four distinct dining rooms, all on different levels.

La Cueva del Chato, Camino Torrecilla 1, Canillas de Río Tuerto, +34 941 416 148. Lunch or dinner and drinks for two about 80 euros, or around $89.

Bodega Pimiento

As Marimar Porres put a thick piece of just-off-the-grill morcilla on our table, she said, “Morcilla, it’s the sushi of Rioja.” Ms. Porres, who co-owns and runs Bodega Pimiento, a 50-year-old restaurant in the village of Tirgo, works the dining room while her brother and co-owner, Pablo Porres, oversees the grilling of meat and vegetables in the enormous walk-in fireplace in the dining room.

Housed in a late-18th-century stone building with wooden ceiling beams, the dining room has long wooden tables and benches. Nearly everything edible comes from the nearby farm-and-vineyard-blanketed countryside. The jamón Ibérico and chorizo are house-cured, the vegetables are grown in the restaurant’s garden, and the lamb is from a local farm.

If you request a physical menu, they’ll give you one, but servers prefer to recite the short compendium of what’s being offered that day. The food is Rioja to the core: bowls of patatas a la Riojana (chunks of potatoes and chorizo bobbing in a smoked paprika broth); grilled morcilla stuffed with pig’s blood, lard, onions and rice, that pairs nicely with a side dish of sweet roasted red pimientos; and the meal’s main event, suckling lamb chops — chuletillas al sarmiento — cooked over dried vine shoots, making it an ideal companion to a bold Rioja vintage. In our case, we chose a five-year-old Crianza from the local winery Caecus .

Dessert was a heaping plate of cream-stuffed eclairs.

Bodega Pimiento, Calle Salvador 8, Tirgo, +34 941 30 17 77. Dinner and drinks for two about 80 euros.

Casa Comidas Irene

If you’re willing to brave the narrow, mountainous road that twists along the border of the La Rioja and Castilla y León regions, you’ll be rewarded with views of tall, green mountains dotted with grazing cows, and a luscious lunch in the quiet village of Viniegra de Abajo, population 78. In her 20-seat spot with wood-beamed ceilings and large photos of sheep on the walls, Irene Sobrón and her two-woman team cook up hearty, inspired fare.

Casa Comidas Irene, which first fired up its burners in 2013, offers up a lunchtime menu del dia, a three-course meal, plus house wine for 22 euros. Ms. Sobrón said the lunch menu — which is delivered verbally tableside by Ana Montero, the restaurant’s only server — doesn’t change often, so diners will likely be offered something similar to what I feasted on: timbal de patata, a bowl layered with uncased chorizo stuffing, mashed potatoes, with a fried egg on top; and a tureen holding a hearty stew of smoky chorizo and red beans.

For the main course, we ate tender pig trotters in thick tomato sauce, three large pork meatballs in a slightly sweet orange sauce, and a very intensely flavored venison dish slathered in a mushroom sauce. For dessert, try the torrija, a French toast-like bread that’s been dipped in egg, pan-fried and sweetened with honey.

Casa Comidas Irene , Calle Josefa Martinez 10, Viniegra de Abajo, +34 941 37 82 21. Lunch and drinks for two about 44 euros.

When the husband-and-wife-team Manuel Ruiz and Ana Isabel Diaz opened Casa Tila in an 1882 building in the hilltop village of Clavijo (population 300), they conceived a menu with Spanish staples. And then one day someone asked Mr. Ruiz, the Rioja-born chef, what his particular specialty and favorite local dish was. He shrugged and thought about it, realizing he often ate rice dishes growing up. So, he put a rice-based dish on the menu. It was a hit. So much so that when diners called to make reservations, they specifically asked for the rice dish.

“We now have six rice dishes on the menu, and it’s become our specialty,” said Ms. Diaz, who works the five-table dining room.

The rice dishes have to be ordered in advance — online through Casa Tila’s website or via telephone — and include a large paella pan filled with creamy Albufera rice from Valencia, cooked in a broth of Rioja wine, garlic, onion, leek and cognac and then topped with a whole cockerel (a young, male chicken) slow-cooked with smoked butter and rosemary; a surf-and-turf version with venison and shrimp; and one that includes candied pigs ear, Iberian pancetta and morcilla.

There’s also a tapas menu: sauteed artichokes in a silky potato purée with toasted corn kernels; salmorejo, a popular soup from Córdoba in southern Spain, although Mr. Ruiz’s version substituted a tomato base with peas and ling fish roe, which imparts a fresh, bright flavor.

The short wine list includes bottles from small Rioja winemakers — so small, that even my La Rioja-born, wine-geek dining companions had not heard of many on the list. We drank an excellent Tempranillo, Garnacha and Carignan blend from ZaRuGa, a winery in the medieval hill town of Briones, about 25 miles northwest of the restaurant. For dessert, we shared ice cream made from Basque idiazábal cheese from the Logroño-based ice cream maker DellaSera .

Casa Tila , Calle Don Marcial 8, Clavijo, +34 655 24 57 53. Lunch and drinks for two about 120 euros.

“This is not a restaurant,” a diner at the next table told me at a recent lunch. “This is a temple of gastronomy.” I heeded the words of the diner who happened to be Martín Berasategui, one of the most famous chefs in Spain, whose restaurant in neighboring Basque country has three Michelin stars. Mr. Berasategui said he comes here twice a year.

Alameda, in the town of Fuenmayor — near the Ebro River and the La Rioja-Basque Country border — is run by the husband-and-wife team Tomás Fernandez and Esther Álvarez. Mr. Fernandez mans the charcoal grill, which diners can see via large windows, and Ms. Alvarez oversees the kitchen. Before opening Alameda in 1988, Ms. Alvarez learned to cook at her family restaurant Mesón Chuchi , also in Fuenmayor; Mr. Fernández had been a farmer.

The restaurant is known for its wine list — which includes bottles from 120 local wineries — and its grilled 40-day-aged rib-eye steak. Ms. Álvarez and Mr. Fernández have long been buying their beef from Luismi Garayer, a butcher in the Basque Country, whose specialty is older cows from the region of Galicia. The meat is less tender than that from a calf, but much more flavorful — as I discovered when the barely medium-rare, bone-in hunk of steak appeared at our table. The slightly chewy, yet flavor-popping meat is the best steak I’ve eaten in Spain. The cocochas, or grilled hake chins, were also revelatory: The server recommended eating each of the 10 specimens in one bite, letting the flavor — a combination of smokiness from the grill and saline from the sea — burst onto one’s palate. Which it did.

Alameda , Plaza Félix Azpilicueta 1, Fuenmayor, +34 941 450 044. Lunch or dinner with drinks for two about 180 euros.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

D enver: The city is undergoing a rebirth , with a newly refreshed Union Station and the gradual reopening of the mile-long, pedestrian-friendly 16th Street Mall to go along with views of the snow-capped Front Range.

Amtrak’s Empire Builder Route :  Most people who take the 4,000-mile journey from Chicago to Seattle will just watch the heartland whiz by. Our writer hopped off to explore six places you might otherwise miss .

Provincetown, Mass.:  Located at the tip of Cape Cod, P-town (as locals call it) has overlapping — and sometimes competing — identities : one of America’s oldest art colonies, nature preserve, thriving L.G.B.T.Q. resort and historic Portuguese fishing village.

Lake Como, Italy:  Stars like George Clooney frequent this scenic corner of northern Italy, but you might be surprised by how affordable it can be. Here’s an insider’s guide .

South of France:  Horses, bulls and birds of all types live among the pink marshes of the Camargue, a rugged landscape shaped  by the relentless push and pull of sea and river.

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A History of Moscow in 13 Dishes

Featured city guides.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow: The Best of Moscow!

I just got back from one week in Moscow. And, as you might have already guessed, it was a mind-boggling experience. It was not my first trip to the Russian capital. But I hardly ever got enough time to explore this sprawling city. Visiting places for business rarely leaves enough time for sightseeing. I think that if you’ve got one week in Russia, you can also consider splitting your time between its largest cities (i.e. Saint Petersburg ) to get the most out of your trip. Seven days will let you see the majority of the main sights and go beyond just scratching the surface. In this post, I’m going to share with you my idea of the perfect travel itinerary for one week in Moscow.

Moscow is perhaps both the business and cultural hub of Russia. There is a lot more to see here than just the Kremlin and Saint Basil’s Cathedral. Centuries-old churches with onion-shaped domes dotted around the city are in stark contrast with newly completed impressive skyscrapers of Moscow City dominating the skyline. I spent a lot of time thinking about my Moscow itinerary before I left. And this city lived up to all of my expectations.

Travel Itinerary For One Week in Moscow

Day 1 – red square and the kremlin.

Metro Station: Okhotny Ryad on Red Line.

No trip to Moscow would be complete without seeing its main attraction. The Red Square is just a stone’s throw away from several metro stations. It is home to some of the most impressive architectural masterpieces in the city. The first thing you’ll probably notice after entering it and passing vendors selling weird fur hats is the fairytale-like looking Saint Basil’s Cathedral. It was built to commemorate one of the major victories of Ivan the Terrible. I once spent 20 minutes gazing at it, trying to find the perfect angle to snap it. It was easier said than done because of the hordes of locals and tourists.

As you continue strolling around Red Square, there’s no way you can miss Gum. It was widely known as the main department store during the Soviet Era. Now this large (yet historic) shopping mall is filled with expensive boutiques, pricey eateries, etc. During my trip to Moscow, I was on a tight budget. So I only took a retro-style stroll in Gum to get a rare glimpse of a place where Soviet leaders used to grocery shop and buy their stuff. In case you want some modern shopping experience, head to the Okhotny Ryad Shopping Center with stores like New Yorker, Zara, and Adidas.

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To continue this Moscow itinerary, next you may want to go inside the Kremlin walls. This is the center of Russian political power and the president’s official residence. If you’re planning to pay Kremlin a visit do your best to visit Ivan the Great Bell Tower as well. Go there as early as possible to avoid crowds and get an incredible bird’s-eye view. There are a couple of museums that are available during designated visiting hours. Make sure to book your ticket online and avoid lines.

Day 2 – Cathedral of Christ the Saviour, the Tretyakov Gallery, and the Arbat Street

Metro Station: Kropotkinskaya on Red Line

As soon as you start creating a Moscow itinerary for your second day, you’ll discover that there are plenty of metro stations that are much closer to certain sites. Depending on your route, take a closer look at the metro map to pick the closest.

The white marble walls of Christ the Saviour Cathedral are awe-inspiring. As you approach this tallest Orthodox Christian church, you may notice the bronze sculptures, magnificent arches, and cupolas that were created to commemorate Russia’s victory against Napoleon.

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Unfortunately, the current Cathedral is a replica, since original was blown to bits in 1931 by the Soviet government. The new cathedral basically follows the original design, but they have added some new elements such as marble high reliefs.

Home to some precious collection of artworks, in Tretyakov Gallery you can find more than 150,000 of works spanning centuries of artistic endeavor. Originally a privately owned gallery, it now has become one of the largest museums in Russia. The Gallery is often considered essential to visit. But I have encountered a lot of locals who have never been there.

Famous for its souvenirs, musicians, and theaters, Arbat street is among the few in Moscow that were turned into pedestrian zones. Arbat street is usually very busy with tourists and locals alike. My local friend once called it the oldest street in Moscow dating back to 1493. It is a kilometer long walking street filled with fancy gift shops, small cozy restaurants, lots of cute cafes, and street artists. It is closed to any vehicular traffic, so you can easily stroll it with kids.

Day 3 – Moscow River Boat Ride, Poklonnaya Hill Victory Park, the Moscow City

Metro Station: Kievskaya and Park Pobedy on Dark Blue Line / Vystavochnaya on Light Blue Line

Voyaging along the Moscow River is definitely one of the best ways to catch a glimpse of the city and see the attractions from a bit different perspective. Depending on your Moscow itinerary, travel budget and the time of the year, there are various types of boats available. In the summer there is no shortage of boats, and you’ll be spoiled for choice.

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If you find yourself in Moscow during the winter months, I’d recommend going with Radisson boat cruise. These are often more expensive (yet comfy). They offer refreshments like tea, coffee, hot chocolate, and, of course, alcoholic drinks. Prices may vary but mostly depend on your food and drink selection. Find their main pier near the opulent Ukraine hotel . The hotel is one of the “Seven Sisters”, so if you’re into the charm of Stalinist architecture don’t miss a chance to stay there.

The area near Poklonnaya Hill has the closest relation to the country’s recent past. The memorial complex was completed in the mid-1990s to commemorate the Victory and WW2 casualties. Also known as the Great Patriotic War Museum, activities here include indoor attractions while the grounds around host an open-air museum with old tanks and other vehicles used on the battlefield.

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The hallmark of the memorial complex and the first thing you see as you exit metro is the statue of Nike mounted to its column. This is a very impressive Obelisk with a statue of Saint George slaying the dragon at its base.

Maybe not as impressive as Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower , the skyscrapers of the Moscow City (otherwise known as Moscow International Business Center) are so drastically different from dull Soviet architecture. With 239 meters and 60 floors, the Empire Tower is the seventh highest building in the business district.

The observation deck occupies 56 floor from where you have some panoramic views of the city. I loved the view in the direction of Moscow State University and Luzhniki stadium as well to the other side with residential quarters. The entrance fee is pricey, but if you’re want to get a bird’s eye view, the skyscraper is one of the best places for doing just that.

Day 4 – VDNKh, Worker and Collective Farm Woman Monument, The Ostankino TV Tower

Metro Station: VDNKh on Orange Line

VDNKh is one of my favorite attractions in Moscow. The weird abbreviation actually stands for Russian vystavka dostizheniy narodnogo khozyaystva (Exhibition of Achievements of the National Economy). With more than 200 buildings and 30 pavilions on the grounds, VDNKh serves as an open-air museum. You can easily spend a full day here since the park occupies a very large area.

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First, there are pavilions that used to showcase different cultures the USSR was made of. Additionally, there is a number of shopping pavilions, as well as Moskvarium (an Oceanarium) that features a variety of marine species. VDNKh is a popular venue for events and fairs. There is always something going on, so I’d recommend checking their website if you want to see some particular exhibition.

A stone’s throw away from VDNKh there is a very distinctive 25-meters high monument. Originally built in 1937 for the world fair in Paris, the hulking figures of men and women holding a hammer and a sickle represent the Soviet idea of united workers and farmers. It doesn’t take much time to see the monument, but visiting it gives some idea of the Soviet Union’s grandiose aspirations.

I have a thing for tall buildings. So to continue my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow I decided to climb the fourth highest TV tower in the world. This iconic 540m tower is a fixture of the skyline. You can see it virtually from everywhere in Moscow, and this is where you can get the best panoramic views (yep, even better than Empire skyscraper).

Parts of the floor are made of tempered glass, so it can be quite scary to exit the elevator. But trust me, as you start observing buildings and cars below, you won’t want to leave. There is only a limited number of tickets per day, so you may want to book online. Insider tip: the first tour is cheaper, you can save up to $10 if go there early.

Day 5 – A Tour To Moscow Manor Houses

Metro Station: Kolomenskoye, Tsaritsyno on Dark Green Line / Kuskovo on Purple Line

I love visiting the manor houses and palaces in Moscow. These opulent buildings were generally built to house Russian aristocratic families and monarchs. Houses tend to be rather grand affairs with impressive architecture. And, depending on the whims of the owners, some form of a landscaped garden.

During the early part of the 20th century though, many of Russia’s aristocratic families (including the family of the last emperor) ended up being killed or moving abroad . Their manor houses were nationalized. Some time later (after the fall of the USSR) these were open to the public. It means that today a great many of Moscow’s finest manor houses and palaces are open for touring.

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There are 20 manor houses scattered throughout the city and more than 25 in the area around. But not all of them easily accessible and exploring them often takes a lot of time. I’d recommend focusing on three most popular estates in Moscow that are some 30-minute metro ride away from Kremlin.

Sandwiched between the Moscow River and the Andropov Avenue, Kolomenskoye is a UNESCO site that became a public park in the 1920’s. Once a former royal estate, now it is one of the most tranquil parks in the city with gorgeous views. The Ascension Church, The White Column, and the grounds are a truly grand place to visit.

You could easily spend a full day here, exploring a traditional Russian village (that is, in fact, a market), picnicking by the river, enjoying the Eastern Orthodox church architecture, hiking the grounds as well as and wandering the park and gardens with wildflower meadows, apple orchards, and birch and maple groves. The estate museum showcases Russian nature at its finest year-round.

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If my travel itinerary for one week in Moscow was a family tree, Tsaritsyno Park would probably be the crazy uncle that no-one talks about. It’s a large park in the south of the city of mind-boggling proportions, unbelievable in so many ways, and yet most travelers have never heard of it.

The palace was supposed to be a summer home for Empress Catherine the Great. But since the construction didn’t meet with her approval the palace was abandoned. Since the early 1990’s the palace, the pond, and the grounds have been undergoing renovations. The entire complex is now looking brighter and more elaborately decorated than at possibly any other time during its history. Like most parks in Moscow, you can visit Tsaritsyno free of charge, but there is a small fee if you want to visit the palace.

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Last, but by no means least on my Moscow itinerary is Kuskovo Park . This is definitely an off-the-beaten-path place. While it is not easily accessible, you will be rewarded with a lack of crowds. This 18th-century summer country house of the Sheremetev family was one of the first summer country estates of the Russian nobility. And when you visit you’ll quickly realize why locals love this park.

Like many other estates, Kuskovo has just been renovated. So there are lovely French formal garden, a grotto, and the Dutch house to explore. Make sure to plan your itinerary well because the estate is some way from a metro station.

Day 6 – Explore the Golden Ring

Creating the Moscow itinerary may keep you busy for days with the seemingly endless amount of things to do. Visiting the so-called Golden Ring is like stepping back in time. Golden Ring is a “theme route” devised by promotion-minded journalist and writer Yuri Bychkov.

Having started in Moscow the route will take you through a number of historical cities. It now includes Suzdal, Vladimir, Kostroma, Yaroslavl and Sergiev Posad. All these awe-inspiring towns have their own smaller kremlins and feature dramatic churches with onion-shaped domes, tranquil residential areas, and other architectural landmarks.

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I only visited two out of eight cities included on the route. It is a no-brainer that Sergiev Posad is the nearest and the easiest city to see on a day trip from Moscow. That being said, you can explore its main attractions in just one day. Located some 70 km north-east of the Russian capital, this tiny and overlooked town is home to Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius, UNESCO Site.

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Sergiev Posad is often described as being at the heart of Russian spiritual life. So it is uncommon to see the crowds of Russian pilgrims showing a deep reverence for their religion. If you’re traveling independently and using public transport, you can reach Sergiev Posad by bus (departs from VDNKh) or by suburban commuter train from Yaroslavskaya Railway Station (Bahnhof). It takes about one and a half hours to reach the town.

Trinity Lavra of St. Sergius is a great place to get a glimpse of filling and warming Russian lunch, specifically at the “ Gostevaya Izba ” restaurant. Try the duck breast, hearty potato and vegetables, and the awesome Napoleon cake.

Day 7 – Gorky Park, Izmailovo Kremlin, Patriarch’s Ponds

Metro Station: Park Kultury or Oktyabrskaya on Circle Line / Partizanskaya on Dark Blue Line / Pushkinskaya on Dark Green Line

Gorky Park is in the heart of Moscow. It offers many different types of outdoor activities, such as dancing, cycling, skateboarding, walking, jogging, and anything else you can do in a park. Named after Maxim Gorky, this sprawling and lovely park is where locals go on a picnic, relax and enjoy free yoga classes. It’s a popular place to bike around, and there is a Muzeon Art Park not far from here. A dynamic location with a younger vibe. There is also a pier, so you can take a cruise along the river too.

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The Kremlin in Izmailovo is by no means like the one you can find near the Red Square. Originally built for decorative purposes, it now features the Vernissage flea market and a number of frequent fairs, exhibitions, and conferences. Every weekend, there’s a giant flea market in Izmailovo, where dozens of stalls sell Soviet propaganda crap, Russian nesting dolls, vinyl records, jewelry and just about any object you can imagine. Go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds.

All the Bulgakov’s fans should pay a visit to Patriarch’s Ponds (yup, that is plural). With a lovely small city park and the only one (!) pond in the middle, the location is where the opening scene of Bulgakov’s novel Master and Margarita was set. The novel is centered around a visit by Devil to the atheistic Soviet Union is considered by many critics to be one of the best novels of the 20th century. I spent great two hours strolling the nearby streets and having lunch in the hipster cafe.

Conclusion and Recommendations

To conclude, Moscow is a safe city to visit. I have never had a problem with getting around and most locals are really friendly once they know you’re a foreigner. Moscow has undergone some serious reconstruction over the last few years. So you can expect some places to be completely different. I hope my one week Moscow itinerary was helpful! If you have less time, say 4 days or 5 days, I would cut out day 6 and day 7. You could save the Golden Ring for a separate trip entirely as there’s lots to see!

What are your thoughts on this one week Moscow itinerary? Are you excited about your first time in the city? Let me know in the comments below!

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24 comments.

Ann Snook-Moreau

Moscow looks so beautiful and historic! Thanks for including public transit information for those of us who don’t like to rent cars.

MindTheTravel

Yup, that is me 🙂 Rarely rent + stick to the metro = Full wallet!

Mariella Blago

Looks like you had loads of fun! Well done. Also great value post for travel lovers.

Thanks, Mariella!

I have always wanted to go to Russia, especially Moscow. These sights look absolutely beautiful to see and there is so much history there!

Agree! Moscow is a thousand-year-old city and there is definitely something for everyone.

Tara Pittman

Those are amazing buildings. Looks like a place that would be amazing to visit.

Adriana Lopez

Never been to Moscow or Russia but my family has. Many great spots and a lot of culture. Your itinerary sounds fantastic and covers a lot despite it is only a short period of time.

What was their favourite thing about Russia?

Gladys Parker

I know very little about Moscow or Russia for the\at matter. I do know I would have to see the Red Square and all of its exquisite architectural masterpieces. Also the CATHEDRAL OF CHRIST THE SAVIOUR. Thanks for shedding some light on visiting Moscow.

Thanks for swinging by! The Red Square is a great starting point, but there way too many places and things to discover aside from it!

Ruthy @ Percolate Kitchen

You are making me so jealous!! I’ve always wanted to see Russia.

Moscow is in my bucket list, I don’t know when I can visit there, your post is really useful. As a culture rich place we need to spend at least week.

DANA GUTKOWSKI

Looks like you had a great trip! Thanks for all the great info! I’ve never been in to Russia, but this post makes me wanna go now!

Wow this is amazing! Moscow is on my bucket list – such an amazing place to visit I can imagine! I can’t wait to go there one day!

The building on the second picture looks familiar. I keep seeing that on TV.

Reesa Lewandowski

What beautiful moments! I always wish I had the personality to travel more like this!

Perfect itinerary for spending a week in Moscow! So many places to visit and it looks like you had a wonderful time. I would love to climb that tower. The views I am sure must have been amazing!

I was lucky enough to see the skyline of Moscow from this TV Tower and it is definitely mind-blowing.

Chelsea Pearl

Moscow is definitely up there on my travel bucket list. So much history and iconic architecture!

Thumbs up! 🙂

Blair Villanueva

OMG I dream to visit Moscow someday! Hope the visa processing would be okay (and become more affordable) so I could pursue my dream trip!

Yup, visa processing is the major downside! Agree! Time and the money consuming process…

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Planning a trip to Moscow? Our travel guide contains up-to-date, personal information on everything from what to see , to when to visit , where to stay , and what to eat !

• General Information
• What to see
• How to get to Moscow
• Where to stay
• Where to eat

Why visit Moscow?

Majestic churches, impressive historic fortresses, and palatial buildings: Moscow is a fascinating city whose emblematic architecture reflects the turbulent history that has defined Russia throughout the centuries.

The traces of the USSR can be found around every corner of the city , side by side with the iconic relics of Imperial Russia , like the mythical Red Square , the imposing Kremlin , and the beautiful  St Basil's Cathedral . 

Discover a fascinating world of Cold War bunkers, golden-domed basilicas, world-class art museums, and the legendary "palace of the people,"  as the Moscow Metro has been nicknamed. Whether you fancy watching a classical Russian ballet at the Bolshoi Theatre , perusing the fine arts at the Pushkin Museum , or marveling at the sheer size of the monuments to the Soviet state's achievements at the  All-Russia Exhibition Centre , this travel guide will help you on your way!

Where to start?

If you're going to travel to Moscow and you don't know much about the city yet, the first thing to do is to dive into its legendary history - understanding the past will help you understand the present. Next, check out our practical hints and tips on traveling to the city before discovering which of its most important museums , monuments , and attractions pique your interest.

Looking for a place to stay?

Booking your accommodation in advance is the best way to get great discounts. Our detailed guide on where to stay in Moscow  will help you decide which neighborhood you'd like to look for hotels or apartments in, and our hotel search engine will find you the best deals!

Why is our Moscow travel guide the best?

Introducing Moscow is a  city guide written by travelers for travelers  and contains personalized advice to help you make the most of your trip to the city.

All the information in this guide is valid as of December 2022. If you find any errors or have any comments, please feel free to contact us .

Our travel guides

• top attractions
• where to stay
• and much more

• English (EN)
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Is Moscow Safe? Crime Rates & Safety Report

On Feb. 24, 2022, Russia invaded its neighbor country Ukraine, starting a war between these two countries.

This act of invasion caused many Ukrainians to flee their country and seek shelter in places like Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, etc…

At this time, we recommend no travel to Russia or Ukraine, or any neighboring countries for your own safety.

Russia : Safety by City

• Nizhny Novgorod
• Novosibirsk
• Saint Petersburg
• Yekaterinburg

Moscow, the capital of Russia, is a political, scientific, historical, architectural and business center of this huge country.

It’s one of the most visited places in Russia, and for good reason.

The best-known parts of Russia are concentrated precisely in the urban areas and cities like Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Moscow’s history attracts the most tourists, as they are fascinated by it is a surreal and sometimes brutal but nevertheless thrilling and jaw-dropping national story.

In this city, visited by 17 million tourists annually, the history, told in its numerous museums, some of which are the world’s greatest, interacts with modernity.

For example, in the Garden of Fallen Monuments (Fallen Monument Park), you can see entire clusters of modern art contrasting with the very non-conceptual Communist monuments.

• Warnings & Dangers in Moscow

OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM

Generally speaking, Moscow today is safe as much as other cities in Europe, despite its problematic history with criminal activity in the 90s. However, if you’re planning on traveling to Moscow, keep in mind that you should always keep your guard up and remain aware of your surroundings, just in case.

TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW

Generally speaking, transportation in Moscow is safe, but you should bear in mind that kidnappings have been known to happen, mostly in unlicensed taxis, so be careful when hailing one on the streets. Keep in mind that the most dangerous areas where small crime tends to occur are the underground walkways, called “perekhods”. Only use official services like Yandex Taxi, Uber or Gett taxi.

PICKPOCKETS RISK: HIGH

Pickpocketing is very common in Moscow, and surprisingly it is mostly performed by groups of children. Pay attention to your belongings, don’t leave them in plain sight and be especially careful in crowded places like stations or near tourist attractions.

NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW

Moscow isn’t particularly susceptible to natural disasters. Some blizzards and snowstorms are possible during winter which can affect the traffic and delay your flights. During winter, be prepared to face the below-freezing temperatures.

MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM

The situation improved drastically when it comes to kidnappings and muggings. Generally, never accept free drinks or food when you’re in a club or a bar. Drink spiking and then attacking and robbing the victim have been reported on numerous occasions.

TERRORISM RISK: HIGH

After the recent terrorist attack in the subway in St. Petersburg the probability of this situation happening again in Moscow is very high.

SCAMS RISK: HIGH

There are many scams in Moscow, usually performed by children trying to distract you and then steal some money from you. Never talk to strange kids on the street. Also, you should avoid playing street gambling games.

WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW

Women are generally safe in Moscow, though you should avoid finding yourself alone in clubs or bars, and of course, apply all normal precaution measures like avoiding remote and poorly lit streets and areas.

• So... How Safe Is Moscow Really?

Moscow experienced a rise when it came to crime rates during the 1990s.

Violent crime, as well as petty crime and scams,  had increased, but the biggest part of the violence was within the criminal groups themselves, and it didn’t affect foreigners that much.

However, it decreased since the 90s, so right now, for tourists, Moscow isn’t more dangerous than any other European city, it’s even less so.

The crime rate in Moscow is fairly lower than one in New York, London or Paris, so you should feel safe here.

Also, you can count on the officials to be uncorrupted – don’t ever try to bribe them: you will be charged with bribery.

Bear in mind that if you are a member of the LGBT community, there is no reason to avoid Moscow altogether but you should refrain from any public displays of affection.

As of June 2013, “homosexual propaganda to minors” is prohibited, which means that any discussion of gay rights or homosexuality issues in the presence of minors is punishable by law.

While you walk around Moscow, you might encounter police officials that may demand to see your papers to check if you have been registered within 7 business days of your arrival into Moscow.

You shouldn’t have any problems with this, because if you stay in a hotel then you are automatically registered and will be handed a confirmation paper.

• How Does Moscow Compare?
• Useful Information

Most countries do need a visa to enter Russia, and if you’re a U.S. citizen you must possess both a valid U.S. passport and a bona fide visa issued by a Russian Embassy or Consulate. None of the nationals that do need a visa can acquire one upon arrival, so make sure you apply for your visa in advance. If you are not sure about your visa status, visit www.doyouneedvisa.com which will let you know whether or not you need visa based on your nationality and the country you want to visit.

The Russian ruble is the official currency in Moscow. ATMs are widespread throughout the country and credit cards are accepted everywhere.

Moscow has a highly continental influenced climate characterized by warm to hot and dry summers and extremely cold, freezing winters with temperatures as low as -30°C – sometimes even lower, with heavy snowfall.

Sheremetyevo International Airport is the Russian busiest international airport. It is located in Molzhaninovsky District, Northern Administrative Okrug, in Moscow, about 29 km northwest of central Moscow.

Travel Insurance

Just like anywhere else, we advise getting travel insurance when traveling to Moscow, because it would cover not only medical problems but also theft and loss of valuables.

Moscow Weather Averages (Temperatures)

• Average High/Low Temperature

Russia - Safety by City

• Where to Next?

9 Reviews on Moscow

That's just not true.

The person who wrote the text obviously have never been in Moscow and in Russia at all. This is ridiculous. Even about pickpocketing, the risk at most is medium, mugging is zero in historical places but is pretty high in sleeping quarters

Your rating is only two stars for safety though? So I am confused. Are you rating the article to be in poor taste?

I went to Moscow in 2021. I enjoyed the trip. I felt there were “unsafe areas” so I avoided them. So long as you know where you are going and don’t insult the locals, you should be fine.

51% safe?! Is this out of date?

Moscow and Russia in general are MUCH SAFER than Paris or London, yet those latter are more than 15 points ahead?!

Hell, it’s even admitted in the above text: “Moscow isn’t more dangerous than any other European city, IT’S EVEN LESS SO.” Yeah, you bet! And then: “the crime rate in Moscow is fairly lower than one in New York, London or Paris, so you should feel safe here.” So why the low rating? I don’t get it.

Also, the latest terrorist attack in Moscow happened in 2010… so how can you honestly say that the risk is still “high”? Especially for the fact Russia is very much on the edge when it comes to fighting terrorism domestically and over the world.

Sure, it might not be ideal everywhere in Moscow, but it’s WAY SAFER than in Paris, especially at night. You just can’t go out in Paris after the evening anymore, in most areas (I got assaulted for no reason at Châtelet-les-Halles and taking the RER train at dark is becoming more and more risky)… while in Moscow, chances are that you’ll see girls in miniskirts walking home while quietly singing. Or maybe you’ll stumble upon some gorgeous lady asking you for a lighter and then giving you her number for a coffee the next day. So very dangerous!

I sense a serious bias, here. Is it because of that LGBT thing? Could you pick a more extreme case? Yeah, you can totally be gay in Russia, just be so in private. There even are transsexuals, but this is a traditional and respectable country, so you should respect their choice of not publicizing various sexual lifestyles.

Moscow and Saint Petersburg are safe

Moscow and Saint Petersburg are very safe in my opinion! I’ve been to both cities visiting family! There are so many people out on the streets and on public transportation- I felt very safe! You need to change your ratings!!

Any update on Covid-19 to visit Moscow

I visited 118 country and Moscow one of the safest city I have been, st Petersburg as well, I read this article hoping to find any update on covid-19 restrictions upon arrival, so if anyone can update I’m planning to visit Moscow again but I need to know if quarentain is required or mandatory, anyone can share, cheers.

In Russia nobody cares, masks off. I dont know if fiew thousands of infected per day are high for you though. I was never arrested for not wearing mask, but you have to have it on you. Sometimes cops ask to put mask, you just do that and everything ok, some shops can refuse to do service if you dont have mask. I assume they pressured by boss, so just put on mask, they can give you gloves and dont cause any problems.

Written by someone who never visited Russia

A veer biased review. Moscow or St. Petersburg for being such brilliant truly cosmopolitan cities are extremely safe. Pickpocketing in Russia?! By children?! Who wrote this? Clearly by someone who has never been to the great country of Russia.

Have never been there. But wish me well

Bias review, Moscow is much safer than that!

This review is so bias and just wrong! First of all apart from being a political, scientific and etc center, it is an absolutely beautiful city and a very culturally rich city. For tourists there’s a huge range of delicious food, amazing shopping, a lot of cultural activities, and all sorts of entertainment. I’ve travelled there in December 2019, and most of the time I spent walking around and exploring by myself, be it during day time or night, nothing happened to me once. I mostly used subways and sometimes taxi, both safe. Just have a common sense when it comes to safety and you’ll be fine. You need to travel there at least once in a lifetime, it’s a completely different experience and it’s a beautiful one, NOT a communistic terrorist epicenter as some describe it to be.

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Article Contents

• Moscow : Safety by City
• Overall Risk
• Transport & Taxis Risk
• Pickpockets Risk
• Natural Disasters Risk
• Mugging Risk
• Terrorism Risk
• Women Travelers Risk
• Weather Averages (Temperatures)
• User Reviews
• Share Your Experience

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Best Arizona lakes you can swim in, from Lake Havasu to Canyon Lake

Swimming is a classic summertime activity for all ages, and Arizona's swimming season lasts a lot longer than in many parts of the country.

Arizona has a surprising number of lakes you can swim in. You just have to decide whether you want mountain or desert scenery and how far you feel like driving.

Here are more than 20 swimmable lakes in Arizona. (The list is not comprehensive.) Some lakes have designated swimming areas but don't expect lifeguards, and rescue could be a long way off if you need help.

Check your destination before you head out to find out about admission fees and whether any advisories, closures or fire restrictions are in effect.

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Swimmable lakes in Arizona

• Alamo Lake: About 150 miles northwest of central Phoenix off U.S. 60 and Salome Road. 928-669-2088, azstateparks.com .
• Apache Lake: On State Route 88 (the Apache Trail) about 16 miles east of Tortilla Flat. Because the Apache Trail is closed a short distance east of Tortilla Flat, it's about a 120-mile detour through the Tonto Basin and Roosevelt to the east end of the Apache Trail. 602-225-5200, fs.usda.gov .
• Bartlett Lake: About 20 miles east of Carefree via Cave Creek Road/Forest Road 24 and FR 19. 602-225-5200, fs.usda.gov .
• Big Lake: In Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests in eastern Arizona's White Mountains. Use Grayling Campground or Big Lake Recreation Area for your GPS. 928-333-6280, fs.usda.gov .
• Canyon Lake: About 51 miles east of Phoenix on SR 88 (Apache Trail) near Tortilla Flat. 480-610-3300, fs.usda.gov .
• Fool Hollow Lake: The state recreation area is just outside Show Low. 928-537-3680, azstateparks.com .
• Granite Basin Lake: About 9 miles northwest of Prescott off FR 374. 928-443-8000, fs.usda.gov.
• Lake Havasu: Numerous access points, including Lake Havasu State Park . Lake Havasu City is about 193 miles northwest of Phoenix. 928-453-3444, golakehavasu.com .
• Lyman Lake: The state park is 17 miles north of Springerville off U.S. 191/180. 928-337-4441, azstateparks.com .
• Lynx Lake: About 5 miles east of Prescott off SR 69. 928-443-8000, fs.usda.gov/prescott .
• Lake Mead: The lake is part of Lake Mead National Recreation area on the Nevada/Arizona state line in western Arizona. It's reachable via U.S. 93 about 272 miles from Phoenix. 702-293-8990, nps.gov .
• Lake Powell: The lake is part of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Marinas, hotels, restaurants and services are available in Page, about 273 miles north of Phoenix on U.S. 89. 928-608-6200, nps.gov .
• Lake Pleasant: The Maricopa County Park is about 40 miles northwest of Phoenix via Interstate 17 and SR 74. 602-506-2930, maricopacountyparks.net .
• Patagonia Lake: The state park is off SR 82 about 14 miles south of Patagonia in southern Arizona. 520-287-6965, azstateparks.com .
• Roosevelt Lake: About 108 miles northeast of Phoenix via SR 87 and SR 188. 602-225-5395, fs.usda.gov .
• Roper Lake: The state park is off U.S. 191 about 5 miles south of Safford in eastern Arizona. 928-428-6760, azstateparks.com .
• Saguaro Lake: About 41 miles east of Phoenix via SR 87 and Bush Highway. 602-225-5200, fs.usda.gov .

Swimming is allowed at these lakes but it's not encouraged, according to Debbie Roznovak, an acting recreation program manager in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests supervisor's office.

The lakes don't have designated swimming areas away from boat traffic, and they have rocky shorelines, sudden drop-offs and fishhooks and other debris that could injure swimmers.

• Bear Canyon Lake: On the Mogollon Rim. Take State Route 260 to Forest Road 300, then FR 89. 928-535-7300, fs.usda.gov .
• Black Canyon Lake: On the Mogollon Rim about 10 miles east of Forest Lakes Estates off SR 260 and FR 86. 928-333-6280, fs.usda.gov .
• Chevelon Canyon Lake: On the Mogollon Rim, reachable from FR 300, FR 169 and FR 169B. 928-535-7300, fs.usda.gov .
• Willow Springs Lake: On the Mogollon Rim off SR 260 and FR 148. It's about 2.5 miles east of FR 300. 928-333-6280, fs.usda.gov.
• Woods Canyon Lake: On the Mogollon Rim. From SR 260, turn north on FR 300 and go about 3 miles. 928-333-6280, fs.usda.gov .

Meredith G. White covers entertainment and culture for The Arizona Republic and   azcentral.com . She has the latest news about video games, television and things to do in metro Phoenix. Follow her on X and Instagram @meredithgwhite and on Facebook  as Meredith G. White. Email her at  [email protected] .