|
FAQ’s/Frequently Asked Questions
What do I do before I leave the U.S.?
Endorse documents:
If you are an J-1 scholar, you will apply to you sponsor for the DS-2019
travel endorsement. Check in # 2 on your DS-2019 to find your sponsor.
If your sponsor is UNT, consult international Advising.
The request form for Travel Endorsement Request is available here.
Please print and fill it out. Submit it to International Advising with
your I-20 or DS-2019. If there are no problems, it will be ready at 2
p.m. the next workday.
This endorsement verifies you have maintained your status, and affirms
our recommendation to return to the U.S. to continue your program. Your
passport and visa stamp must be valid beyond the date you plan to
re-enter the U.S.
We ask that you apply 2 weeks ahead, for the SEVIS DS-2019 endorsement.
This allows time if there should be a problem.
Dependents will each have their own SEVIS document, and will also need
an endorsement.
Complete the procedures for Travel to Mexico or Travel to Canada, if
applicable, or to apply for visas to enter a third country as described
below:
Consult the Embassy or Consulate of the country you wish to enter to
determine if you do need a visa to enter that country. They can also
give you application information. You will need to have your DS-2019
endorsed before you apply.
Guidelines for travel when applying for a visa in Canada and Mexico
change frequently. Please check with International Advising.
As of 5/03, automatic revalidation is available if the student or
scholar has not applied for a visa in Canada or Mexico. Also, students
or scholars who are nationals of a country on the list of countries
sponsoring terrorism, are not eligible. Detailed information on
automatic extension (or revalidation) If you have any questions about
this, please contact an advisor before traveling.
The links listed below can give you contact information.
U.S. Embassy websites
http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions_embassy.html
Embassies in Washington D.C.
http://www.embassy.org
Embassies using Escapeartist
http://www.escapeartist.com/embassy1/embassy1.htm
Gather documents you will need to reenter
Valid passport
Check validity of visa
Endorsed DS-2019
Optional (but recommended) documents:
Financial documents
Letter of employment for J-1 scholars
Letter from Department verifying that you are teaching or doing research
there
If you will need a new visa stamp, check consulate website for required
items.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions_embassy.html
What do I do outside the U.S. before I re-enter the U.S.?
If your visa stamp is still valid, you will not need to apply for a new
visa stamp.
If you do not yet have an J-1 visa stamp, you will need to apply to a
U.S. Consulate for the visa stamp. If your visa stamp will be expired
when you plan to enter the U.S., you will also need to obtain a new visa
stamp before entering the U.S. J-2 dependents must also have valid visa
stamps to enter.
As of 5/03, the consulate in Cuidad Juarez has resumed processing visa
applications for third country applicants under certain circumstances.
The applicant must not have entered the US on a visitor’s visa, must
have obtained the original visa in the home country, and must be in
status.
Please plan adequate time on your trip to obtain a visa stamp if you
will need it. This situation changes frequently. Please check with an
advisor.
You can link to the U.S. Embassy web sites through
http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions_embassy.html for detailed information.
Note exceptions for Canadian citizens:
Entering from the Western Hemisphere: Canadians do not need to have
passports nor visa stamps. They do need to have an DS-2019.
Entering from outside the Western Hemisphere: Canadians need to have a
passport, but do not need to have a visa stamp.
What do I take with me when I apply for a visa?
Endorsed DS-2019, or Initial Attendance DS-2019.
Previous DS-2019’s
Valid passport
Financial documentation.
Consult consulate web page for a list of other items needed at that
consulate.
http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions_embassy.html
I am applying for a visa, and the consulate told me I need to make sure
I am entered on the SEVIS system. How do I do this?
If you have a valid DS-2019 with a bar code in the upper right corner,
you have been entered into the SEVIS system.
If you do not yet have your document, please contact International
Advising.
I had to register for Special Registration. What do I do?
You can only leave and reenter through certain ports of entry – airports
and land crossings. Check the list before buying your plane ticket.
You MUST check out before you leave the U.S. If you do not, you most
likely will not be able to get back into the U.S.
You MUST check in at the port of entry when you come back.
All this very important information can be found at
http://www.ice.gov/graphics/enforce/imm/imm_sr.htm
under the “Walkaway Materials”. If you scroll down far enough, you will
find the ports of entry and the place in the port of entry where you
check in/out.
Travel Endorsement
J-1 scholars:
Your DS-2019 must be valid.
Your DS-2019 must be endorsed (signed) for travel by a Responsible
Officer. Check in #2 to see who your sponsor is. If it is UNT, apply to
International Advising for the endorsement. If it is another sponsor,
please contact that sponsor for an endorsement.
This signature is valid for one year, as long as you are a continuing
UNT scholar in the same program, and are in valid J-1 status.
If you need an endorsement from UNT, please submit your DS-2019 to
International Advising along with the form requesting endorsement at
least two weeks before travel. If there are no complications, it will be
ready for you the next business day after 2 pm.
Link to Endorsement Form
J-2 dependents:
Your DS-2019 must be valid.
Your J-1 spouse or parent must be in valid status.
Your DS-2019must be endorsed (signed) for travel by a Responsible
Officer. Check in #2 to see who your sponsor is. If it is UNT, apply to
International Advising for the endorsement. If it is another sponsor,
please contact that sponsor for an endorsement.
This signature is valid for one year, as long as your J-1 spouse or
parent is a continuing UNT scholar in the same program, and is in valid
J-1 status.
If you need an endorsement from UNT, please submit your DS-2019 to
International Advising along with the form requesting endorsement at
least two weeks before travel. If there are no complications, it will be
ready for you the next business day after 2 pm.
Link to Endorsement Form
Passport
Your passport must remain valid at all times while in the U.S.
If you are traveling out of the U.S. and reentering the U.S., the
passport must be valid 6 months in advance.
Please contact your country’s embassy for renewal information.
www.embassy.org
Canadian citizens: Canadian citizens do not need to show a passport when
entering the U.S. from the Western Hemisphere. They do need to show a
passport when entering from outside the Western Hemisphere.
Special Registration
Certain individuals may be subject in Special Registration, the NSEERS ,
National Security Entry-Exit Registration System.
You may leave and enter the U.S. only from certain airports. You can
find this list at:
http://www.ice.gov/graphics/enforce/imm/imm_sr.htm
It is under “Walkaway Materials”
If you are now in Special Registration, you MUST check out when you
leave the U.S. There will be a special place to do this at the airport
when you leave the U.S. DFW is one of the airports designated for
Special Registrants to use. Please check in the above site for details.
You must also check in when you reenter the U.S.
The requirement to report to the District Office in 30 days, and
annually, has been suspended. You do not need to do this unless there is
a special request.
DO NOT forget to check out when you leave the U.S. If you forget, you
may not be admitted back into the U.S.
Travel to Canada, Mexico, and Contiguous Islands, excluding Cuba
DS-2019 must be endorsed for reentry to the U.S.
Check with the Mexican, Canadian or island embassy to determine if you
will need a visa to enter that country
www.embassy.org
If you are planning to apply for a U.S. visa, please check with an
advisor in International Advising for the current situation. Conditions
change frequently.
If you are applying for a new visa stamp and if your current visa has
expired, or has no more entries, you take a definite risk. In this case,
if the U.S. consulate denies your visa application, you cannot use the
automatic revalidation option. You will be stuck in that country, and
will need to make plans to travel home from there.
If your visa has expired, and if you are NOT applying for a new visa
stamp, and you will be in that country for 30 days or less, you may be
eligible for the automatic visa revalidation. See the detailed
information: Link to handout on automatic extension
This means that you can reenter the U.S. with your expired visa stamp.
AUTOMATIC EXTENSION OF U.S. VISAS AFTER TRAVEL TO CANADA, MEXICO OR
ADJACENT ISLANDS (OTHER THAN CUBA)
F and J visa holders who travel to Canada, Mexico, or an adjacent island
(other than Cuba) for 30 days or less with an expired visa stamp, may be
eligible for an automatic extension of their visa upon reentry to the
U.S. The visa will be extended to the date of application for
readmission to the U.S. This provision, contained in 22 CFR 41.112(d),
does not apply to those whose visas have been canceled or those who do
not have a visa stamp.
As of April 1, 2002, travelers from the following countries are not be
eligible for automatic extension: Libya, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, North
Korea, and Cuba.
A student or scholar who has an expired visa stamp and who has applied
for a visa stamp in Canada, Mexico, or an adjacent island, and been
denied, is not eligible for automatic extension. A student who has been
visiting, and has not applied for a visa stamp is eligible.
The student or scholar must have maintained valid status, and must
intend to continue maintaining valid status.
Those who have changed their visa status in the U.S. are eligible for
automatic extension if they have their previous visa stamp, plus the
stamped I-20 or DS-2019, and the I-94 card or I-797A documenting that
the change of status was approved by USCIS.
To qualify for Automatic Extension of the Validity of the visa, F and J
visa holders should be in possession of the following:
A visa to enter the adjacent country, if needed.
An unexpired passport
An expired visa stamp (If the expired visa stamp is in an expired
passport, that passport and visa stamp must also be presented upon
reentry to the U.S.)
An I-20 ( for F status) or DS-2019 (for J status) endorsed for travel
I-94 marked D/S
Evidence of an INS-approved change of status, e.g. I-797A and/or I-94
card, and I-20 or DS-2019 stamped by USCIS only for those who have had a
change of status within the U.S.
PLEASE NOTE: With Automatic Extension, your I-94 card should NOT be
taken from you upon exiting the U.S.
02/04
U.S. Visa stamps
When entering the U.S. you must have the proper visa to match what you
intend to do in the U.S.
We strongly urge prospective scholars to enter the U.S. with their J-1
visa, NOT a visitor’s, B-2 or B-1 visa. Absolutely do not enter with a
visa waiver, if you are from a country which is allowed visa waivers.
If you are a continuing scholar with a visa that will expire before you
return to the U.S., you must apply for, and obtain, a new visa before
entering the U.S. Please contact an advisor in International Advising
for current conditions, and also the U.S. consulate where you will
apply. Detailed information about application, including the list of
items you need to submit, can be found at:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions_embassy.html
Please allow plenty of time for the interview reservation date, and any
subsequent security checks which may be required. If you have limited
time, it may be safer not to travel.
Name checks
All applications are subject to a name check. If your name comes up as a
“hit”, meaning it is the same as someone the U.S. is concerned about, it
may take additional time. Otherwise, the standard name check should not
require much time.
Technical Alert List.
Some study and research areas may require additional security checks.
This is an area which may cause significant time delays. The file is
sent to Washington D.C., and is reviewed by several agencies.
The Technical Alert List is now a classified document.
Please consult an advisor in International Advising if you have concerns
about your field of study or research and the TAL.
Some scholars may be subject to a security check due to their country of
origin.
Please note: Canadian citizens do not need U.S. visa stamps to enter the
U.S.
|
