Travel to Other Countries
Other countries may require a visa and/or immunizations to enter their country. Before your departure, contact the nearest consulate or embassy of the country(ies) you plan to visit; contact information is either in the San Francisco phone directory or on the Web. Some consulates are located out of the area, so plan ahead.
- Foreign consular offices in the U.S.
- Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco
- Travel to Canada
- Travel to Cuba
- U.S. Department of State travel warnings
- Travelers' Health
Travel Delays: Students traveling outside of the U.S. should be aware of possible delays in reentering the United States. National security concerns have occasionally led to long delays in returning to the U.S. for some students and scholars doing research in sensitive areas.
Documents Needed to Re-enter the United States
Valid Passport
Your passport must be valid at least six months into the future at all times, especially upon entry or re-entry to the U.S.
Valid U.S. Entry VISA in your Passport
The visa stamp in your passport should be valid on the date of your return to the U.S. (It does not, however, need to remain valid during your stay in the U.S.) If you have an old, expired passport with a valid U.S. entry visa, you do not need to get a new visa stamp in your new passport as long as you carry both passports when you enter the U.S. Canadian citizens do not need a U.S. visa. Canadian landed immigrants, however, are required to obtain U.S. entry visas.
If you need to renew or apply for a U.S. entry visa, expect delays. Plan ahead, as this may take longer than in the past. Because most visa applicants are now required to appear for a personal interview, you should expect processing delays. In addition, "administrative processing " which is typically typically resolved within 60 days, but can take longer in some cases. More information about administrative processing can be found at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/a_zindex/a_zindex_4353.html.
SISS recommends you speak to an advisor before you plan your travel or apply for a new visa.
Check the U.S. Department of State's website http://usembassy.state.gov/ for the standard visa procedures at each U.S. consulate or embassy. YOU CANNOT OBTAIN A U.S. ENTRY VISA INSIDE THE U.S. Those in H-1B or O-1 status see the instructions below on obtaining appropriate documents needed to apply for the visa.
Other Documents
F-1/F-2, J-1/J-2 documents: If you will renew/apply for a U.S. entry visa, see the important information above. Those who are re-entering the U.S. must make sure their Form I-20 or DS-2019 has been signed for travel within six months of your intended re-entry date by a SISS advisor. J-1 scholars will need to complete the J-1 Scholar DS-2019 Travel Signature Request Form and bring it to SISS.
Additional letter for J-1 Scholars on extended trips
J-1 Scholars who are traveling outside of the U.S. for more than 30 days should carry a letter from their host professor. The letter should state that your absense is approved and that you will continue your research or teaching when you return. The letter should also include the dates of your travel.Evidence of Financial Support
SISS strongly recommends that F/J non-immigrants carry proof of the financial support and resources reflected on their visa documents -- the Form I-20 or DS-2019.Additional Information for Students
SISS recommends traveling with proof of the current quarter's registration. F-1 students on OPT should carry the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and a letter from their current or anticipated employment. See a SISS advisor if you do not have it. Graduate students should consider bringing a brief description of your research or any recent research (chapter from your dissertation).
- State Department's information on student visas.
- USICE Frequently Asked Questions for F-1 and J-1 students and scholars
UC Davis H-1B, TN and O-1 travel documents: In order to receive the appropriate travel documents and instructions, contact SISS by email at siss@ucdavis.edu at least five working days before you travel.
Consult with a SISS Advisor
In the following cases, consult with a SISS advisor at least two weeks before departure:
- You will need to renew/apply for a new visa.
- You will be out of the U.S. for more than five months.
- You are planning to travel to Mexico or Canada to renew or change the U.S. entry visa.
- Your I-20 or DS-2019 has expired or will expire within 30 days of your expected return to the U.S.
- You are a citizen of Iran, Iraq, or Libya (Special procedures are required to re-enter the U.S.)
- You have ever applied for U.S. legal permanent resident status (green card).
Consular Post Processing Times
The Department of State is now providing consular post processing times on-line to assist visa applicants plan for visa processing delays abroad.
The Department of State website provides visa applicants with an average wait time to obtain a visa interview (which is now required for all H, O, J, F applicants) and the average wait time for a nonimmigrant visa to be processed at individual consular posts.
These are estimates only and government processing times are always subject to change. Planning ahead and applying as early as possible is always recommended.
In addition to checking processing times, all visa applicants should thoroughly review the visa instructions and procedures at the specific post where he or she will be applying.
We recommend that you contact SISS prior to any internationl travel.
