Travelling Home and Returning to the U.S.
1) Valid Travel Signature Required
If you are leaving the country please remember that you need a valid travel signature on the 2nd or 3rd page of your I-20 (or 1st page of your DS-2019).
Processing Time for Travel Signatures: 5 business days
The staff at the Office of International Student and Study Abroad Services (ISSAS) needs this time so that we can look at your SEVIS record, and your enrollment in CampusConnection, and verify that you are in active status to ensure a smooth re-entry back into the United States upon your return.
Remember, having a valid travel signature on your I-20/DS-2019 is not necessary to leave the country--only to re-enter. But please, plan ahead.
How to Obtain a Travel Signature
- Drop your document off at the international office, in Memorial Union 116.
- Document drop-off hours: 10 am - 12 noon -or- 1 pm - 3 pm (Monday-Friday)
- Upon dropping off your document, you will be asked to complete some brief information on a paper form.
- This form will be attached to your document and will be given to the assigned international student advisor. The information will help us review your situation and enable us to hopefully provide a signature, before your upcoming travel date.
- On the form, we also ask you for your current address where you are living. This helps us ensure that your address in SEVIS is up-to-date.
- We will email you when your signed document is ready to pick up.
- If you are leaving in less than 5 business days we will be happy to sign your I-20 and email you a copy.
- Before returning to the United States, you would then print that copy off in color, sign it, and use that hardcopy document as your original.
- J-1 students, please note: You must have the original document, with a 'wet signature' from your international student advisor - we cannot email copies of DS-2019s.
Please note: Signatures are valid for one year upon re-entry for F-1 and J-1 students. This one-year validity period is stated above the signatures on page 2 on an I-20 and on page 1 of the DS-2019.
You are not required to get your I-20/DS-2019 signed once a year if you do not travel outside of the U.S. But, if you do need to leave the United States, look at the date of the last signature to make sure the most recent signature will not be more than 1 year old when you re-enter.
F-1 Students: Please see page 2 of your I-20 and the note above the signature lines which reads:
"This page when properly endorsed, may be used for reentry of the student to attend the same school after a temporary absence from the United States. Each certification signature is valid for one year."
J-1 Students: Please see the "Travel Validation by Responsible Officer" section on page 1 of your DS-2019 and the note below which reads: "Maximum validation is for 1 year." (This only pertains to students in the J-1 category - This period may be different for J-1s in other categories).
Also please note if your DS-2019 was issued by another organization, you will need to contact your sponsoring organization to request a travel signature.
A special note for F-1 students on OPT
The signature on page 2 of your I-20 is valid only for 6 months, not one year. We recommend you also carry any I-797 approval notices and the original printed EAD card from USCIS, in addition to a letter from your employer stating you are currently employed.
In addition to the general guidelines on this page, be sure to also read the OPT applications found on our website for special information regarding travel while on OPT: www.ndsu.edu/international/employment.
A special note for F-1 or J-1 students who are working on-campus
There are specific rules prohibiting on-campus employment while students are physically located outside the United States, whether that is during the academic year or one of the official school break periods (Winter Break, Spring Break, or Summer Break). If you have on-campus employment or have an assistantship (teaching, research, or graduate assistant), please consult with the campus department where you are employed and/or direct questions to the NDSU Graduate School to ensure your compensation is handled correctly during your absence from the United States. If you have further questions about this policy, please contact NDSU HR/Payroll.
Enrollment letters from the ISSAS Office are not needed for re-entry to the U.S.
Your I-20 or DS-2019 is your international office verification of your eligibility as a student at NDSU. It may be helpful to carry a copy of your current transcript to prove your enrollment at NDSU. You can also consider getting an enrollment verification from NDSU: https://www.ndsu.edu/onestop/enrollment-verification
2) Carry your Valid Visa and Valid Passport
In addition to having a valid I-20 or DS-2019 (endorsed for travel as noted in #1), you must also possess a valid visa and passport to return to the U.S.
Information about "Automatic Revalidation"
Are you in valid F or J status but your is visa expired - and you plan to travel to Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days? You may have heard of "Automatic Revalidation." This does NOT apply to everyone, but it does apply to certain nonimmigrants, and only to those persons who are currently in a valid immigration status. Click here for more information. The ISSAS office cannot advise on this - it's the responsibility of the travelling individual to ensure they meet the criteria to use the automatic revalidation exception.
(3) After You Have Re-Entered the U.S.
When you are returning, you must obtain your electronic I-94 number after your entry.
Electronic I-94 Record
- Find your electronic I-94 (Departure and Arrival Record) via this website managed by Customs and Border Protection: https://www.cpb.gov/i94.
- Tips for finding your I-94 online
Travelling to Canada
An individual is responsible for ensuring that they meet all requirements to both enter Canada, and re-enter the United States after their stay in Canada.
Each person's situation may vary based on country of citizenship (and whether or not you need a visa to enter Canada), and COVID-19 related testing or vaccine requirements.
Canadian Government Resources
U.S. Government Resources