Thanksgiving/Winter Break Travel Reminders

The holiday season will be here soon, and the International Center hopes that the Thanksgiving holiday and the Term Break are relaxing and enjoyable for you. Since you may be planning either international or domestic travel during the holiday season, here are some considerations to keep in mind.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL

Now is a good time to make sure you have all the necessary information and immigration documents you need before finalizing your travel plans. Stricter immigration policies and a scarcity of visa appointments in some regions may decrease travel flexibility and increase the risk of travel and reentry delays.

As a reminder, U-M students, staff, and current faculty traveling abroad are encouraged to register their travel.

IF YOU DO PLAN TO TRAVEL INTERNATIONALLY:

• Remember that there are always some risks to international travel, since admission to the U.S. is at the discretion of Port of Entry officials.
  • If you have had any encounters with law enforcement (arrests, charges, convictions), international travel is not recommended since you might not be able to re-enter the U.S.
  • Travel restrictions (travel bans) are in effect for 39 designated countries and holders of Palestinian Authority travel documents. If you are from one of the designated countries, please consult with an International Center adviser before planning any international travel.
• Be sure you have all the re-entry documents listed at Re-entry to the U.S.
  • If you need a new travel signature:
    • Use the travel signature request in M-Passport as soon as possible. Please allow for 1-2 weeks processing time for all requests made in M-Passport, including travel signatures. If you request a new travel signature, remember that you do not need to download your signed I-20 or DS-2019 before you leave, but you must download, print and sign it before you re-enter the U.S. Please keep your printed document with you when you re-enter the U.S., not in checked luggage.
    • A travel signature is valid for one year, or up to the I-20/DS-2019 end date, whichever is sooner. (Exception: for F-1 students on OPT, I-20 travel signatures are valid for 6 months only.) The same travel signature may be used for multiple trips during its validity period.
  • If you have an unexpired F or J visa, it is a good idea to confirm that it is still valid.
    • Visit the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) website to use their visa status check functionality; remember that F and J visas are Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) types.
    • Check the email address you used for your student DS-160 visa application to confirm that you have not received any visa revocation letters from the Department of State.
  • If you need to apply for a new visa, be aware of current nonimmigrant visa application policies and restrictions.
    • In general, most nonimmigrant visa applicants will be required to appear for an in-person interview at a U.S. consulate or embassy in their country of residence or nationality.
    • Check the consulate or embassy website for specific information about appointments, application procedures, and processing times. Nonimmigrant visa appointments at U.S. consulates abroad are scarce in some regions, and even if appointments are available, holiday closures plus staffing shortages over the end-of-year period may lead to delays. 
    • Plan for possible security clearance delays during the visa application process.
      • Be prepared for the possibility of lengthy wait times or that your application may be flagged for enhanced security checks.
      • The U.S. consulate may require additional security screening based on your country of nationality, whether your name is similar to an individual listed in a U.S. government security database, prior interactions with law enforcement, or whether your job or degree is in a high-technology field, among other reasons.
• When you re-enter the United States, be prepared for enhanced security screening procedures at the U.S. port of entry
  • You will need to go through the Biometric Data Collection System, a check-in process where your fingerprints, photograph, and travel documents are scanned against U.S. national security and police databases.
  • You may also be subject to questioning about your immigration status, travel history, the purpose of your visit, background, history of arrests or convictions, employment, and other issues. 
• Check and save your I-94 after every entry:
  • All F and J students, scholars, and dependents should download and review their I-94 immediately after every entry into the U.S. for three main reasons:
    • Check for Errors: With the proper travel documents, your I-94 should list your Class of Admission as F-1, J-1, F-2, or J-2, and your Admit Until Date as D/S (Duration of Status). CBP officials sometimes make mistakes when creating the record. If you have questions or spot an error on your Most Recent I-94, contact an International Student and Scholar advisor as soon as possible for help in pursuing a correction.
    • Save Past Records: The CBP website only lets you print the I-94 from your most recent U.S. entry. Once you re-enter the country, you can no longer print the I-94 from your previous stay. Make a habit of printing and saving your I-94 after every trip.
    • Proof of Status (Legal Requirement): By law, foreign nationals aged 18 and older must carry proof of their immigration status ("registration") at all times. Your most recent I-94 serves as this registration. Either save a screenshot of your most recent I-94 (please note, this is a different document from the I-94 travel history) on your phone or carry a printout. We recommend carrying a printout if you do not wish to give your phone to law enforcement or immigration officials.

DOMESTIC TRAVEL

• In the Ann Arbor area: Printout or screenshot on your phone of your electronic most recent I-94.  As mentioned above, by law, foreign nationals 18 years and older are required to carry proof of their immigration status ("registration") with them. 
• Some distance from Ann Arbor: you should bring the following original documents on your trip:
  • Passport
  • I-20 or DS-2019 (printed and signed)
  • Printout or screenshot on your phone of your electronic most recent I-94. As mentioned above, by law, foreign nationals 18 years and older are required to carry proof of their immigration status ("registration") with them. 

INTERNATIONAL CENTER HOLIDAY SCHEDULE

THANKSGIVING: International Center staff members will work remotely from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 25, then the International Center will close for the Thanksgiving holiday and  will re-open at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, November 30.

TERM BREAK: International Center staff members will work remotely from 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 24, then the International Center will close for the Term Break and will re-open at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, January 4, 2027.

If you need assistance when the office is closed, (for example, you are being detained at the border), contact the University of Michigan Police Department at 734-763-1131.