Travel Guidance for International Students

International Travel 

F-1 and J-1 students and visiting scholars and their dependents who have plans to leave the United States must have the following documents in order to reenter the United States in F or J status: 

• Valid passport (passport must be valid for at least 6 months from date of intended return).

• Valid (unexpired) U.S. visa stamp in your passport (except for citizens of Canada and Bermuda who do not require a visa stamp).  

• Valid I-20 form for F-1 or F-2 status, signed for travel on page 2 by an OISS advisor within the last year (six months for students on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training/STEM OPT). 

• Valid DS-2019 form for J-1 or J-2 status with a current travel signature on the lower right-hand side. 

• Highly recommended: Evidence of financial funding; bring a copy of the funding mentioned on your I-20/DS-2019. 

• Highly recommended for students: Proof of enrollment. You can obtain your unofficial transcript from Stellic.  

• OPT Students: Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card 

Traveling Within the United States 

The Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) recommends that you always have your valid immigration documents when traveling. For travel inside the United States, you should bring the following documents: 

• Valid, unexpired passport (expiration date at least six months into the future). 

• Valid, unexpired I-20 or DS-2019. 

• Valid, unexpired I-94 arrival record. 

• Your F-1/J-1 visa may be expired if traveling within the U.S.

• Highly recommended for students: Proof of enrollment. You can obtain your unofficial transcript from Stellic.  

Requesting a Travel Signature  

If you will be traveling outside of the U.S., you must have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 form to reenter the U.S.  A travel signature from the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) advisor is valid for 12 months, or six months if on post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM Extension OPT. 

If you need a travel signature: 

• Log in to the ISS Portal. 
  • If you are having trouble accessing the portal, please email oiss@qu.edu with a detailed description of the issue, including screenshots. 
• Go to the Control Center on the right side of the page. 
• Find the Travel Signature Request. 
• Complete the Form. 
• Submit Request. 

Within 1-3 business days you should receive an email that your travel signature request has been processed and a newly signed I-20 (F-1 Students) or your DS-2019 (J-1 Students) is available in the ISS portal. The I-20 or DS-2019 must be downloaded, printed, and signed by the student prior to entering the U.S.