Required Documents
To be re-admitted to the U.S. as an F-1/J-1 student or J-1 scholar (exchange visitor), you must present the following documents:
- Passport
- Your passport, which must be valid for at least six months on the day that you re-enter the U.S. If you recently renewed your passport, you may need to carry your old expired passport, too, if your F-1/J-1 visa is in your expired passport. An exception to this rule exists for certain countries having agreements with the U.S. to extend the validity of passports. People with passports issued by one of those countries can enter the U.S. until the date the passport expires.
- These requirements also apply to the passports of your dependents.
- As a reminder, you should always keep your passport valid while you are in the U.S. To extend, renew or replace your passport, please contact one of your embassies and consulates in the U.S.
- Visa Stamp
- A valid F-1/J-1 visa stamp in your passport (except Canadians). In most situations, the F-1/J-1 visa must be valid on the day you will enter the U.S. (see Visa Requirements; for exception, see Automatic Revalidation of Visa).
- These requirements also apply to the visa stamps of your dependents.
- I-20/DS-2019
- Your currently valid I-20/DS-2019 immigration document with a recent travel signature (on page 2 of your I-20 or the bottom right corner of your DS-2019). It should have been signed by the U-M International Center after you arrived to begin your program. The signature must be less than one year old on the day you will re-enter the U.S.
- If you have an electronic copy of your I-20, these requirements still apply to your electronic I-20. You should print your electronic I-20 before travel, and keep the hard copy with you when entering the U.S. (not in your checked luggage).
- These requirements also apply to the immigration documents of your dependents.
- If you need to request a new travel signature, go to the M-Passport portal and submit the request.
- Travel Signature Request for F-1 Students
To request official I-20 authorization to re-enter from a trip outside the U.S, please log in to the M-Passport portal, click on Requests > Travel Signature, and follow the instructions from there.
- Travel Signature Request for J-1 Students
To request official DS-2019 authorization to re-enter from a trip outside the U.S., please log in to the M-Passport portal, click on Requests > DS-2019 Reprint or Travel Signature, and follow the instructions from there.
- Travel Signature Request for J-1 Scholars
To request official DS-2019 authorization to re-enter from a trip outside the U.S., please log in to the M-Passport portal, click on Requests > DS-2019 Travel Signature Request, and follow the instructions from there.
Additional Recommended Documents
As an additional precaution when traveling, you may wish to bring copies of financial documentation and if you are a student, your transcript. If you feel you may come under increased scrutiny, you may want to get a letter from your department that says that you are a scholar, employee, or student in good standing with U-M.
If you are an F-1 student on post-completion OPT, you should also read the information on the Travel during Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) page. Your dependent should carry photocopies of the F-1 documents indicating authorization for work permission including I-20, EAD card, and evidence of job.
If you are a J-1 student on academic training, you should carry evidence of your academic training position and your academic training authorization letter. Your dependent should carry photocopies of the J-1 documents indicating authorization for work permission including DS-2019, Academic Training authorization letter, and evidence of job.
For more information, refer to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement SEVIS FAQs.