Quinnipiac University
Quinnipiac University

Travel Guidance for International Students

Last updated October 16, 2026

International Students and Scholars | Policy or Regulation Information

Current travel information for F-1 and J-1 visa holders.

International students and scholars are welcome to travel both within the United States and internationally during their program. Before making travel plans, it is important to understand the documents and requirements that may apply to your specific immigration status. Whether you are traveling domestically or returning to the U.S. after international travel, carrying the appropriate immigration and identification documents can help ensure a smooth travel experience. We recommend keeping all important documents in your carry-on luggage and reviewing the guidance below before you depart.

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. 

Required Documents

  • Valid passport (must be valid for at least six months from date of intended return)
  • Valid, unexpired U.S. visa stamp in your passport
    • Exception: Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require a visa stamp. 
  • A valid, printed Form I-20 with a travel signature on page 2 signed by an OISS advisor
    • Signature must be issued within one year of your intended return date.
    • Review the instructions below if you required an updated travel signature.

Recommended Documents

  • Proof of financial funding; bring a copy of the funding mentioned on your I-20
  • Proof of enrollment, such as an unofficial transcript and/or your course schedule from Self-Service
  • Receipt of the SEVIS I-901 fee
  • Most recent I-94 Arrival Record 

Required Documents

  • Valid passport (must be valid for at least six months from date of intended return)
  • Valid, unexpired U.S. J-1 visa stamp in your passport
    • Exception: Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require a visa stamp. 
  • A valid, printed Form DS-2019 with a travel endorsement in the lower right-hand section issued within one year of your return date
    • Review the instructions below if you require a new travel signature

Recommended Documents

  • Proof of financial funding; bring a copy of the funding mentioned on your DS-2019
  • Proof of enrollment, such as an unofficial transcript and/or your course schedule from Self-Service
  • Receipt of the SEVIS I-901 fee
  • Most recent I-94 Arrival Record 

Required Documents 

To re-enter the U.S. on approved OPT or STEM OPT, you should carry:

  • A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date
  • Valid, unexpired U.S. F-1 visa in your passport
    • Exception: Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require a visa.
  • A valid, printed Form I-20 with a travel endorsement on page 2 signed by an OISS advisor
    • Signature must be issued within six months of your intended return date during the Post-Completion Optional Practical Training or STEM OPT period.
  • Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card issued by USCIS for OPT/STEM OPT 
    • The EAD card should be current and indicate your active OPT dates.

Recommended Documents 

  • Proof of employment (offer letter, pay stubs, or employment verification letter)
  • For unpaid roles: a letter describing your duties, hours, supervision, progress in the position or research, and approved leave period.
  • Most recent I-94 Arrival Record 
  • If traveling with F-2 dependents: copies of your EAD, I-20, and employment letter

Important Guidelines

  • OISS recommends that you avoid international travel if you are still waiting for your EAD card and/or are unemployed and still searching for OPT employment.
  • The new USCIS photo policy, effective December 12, 2025, may require OPT/STEM OPT applicants to attend a biometrics appointment for a USCIS-taken photo, which can complicate travel while the I-765 is pending. If you are outside the U.S. and miss the appointment, your case could be delayed or denied, so traveling during a pending OPT/STEM OPT application now carries additional risk. As such, we recommend that you not travel until you receive your OPT/STEM OPT EAD.
  • If you do not have qualifying OPT employment, international travel is strongly discouraged because you may encounter difficulties when seeking reentry to the United States.
  • Be prepared to explain your job and how it relates to your degree. 
  • Ensure you do not exceed your unemployment limit while outside the U.S. Time outside the U.S. counts as unemployment unless you remain actively employed during that time.
  • Do not re-enter the U.S. using a tourist visa or ESTA, as this will end your F-1 status and OPT eligibility.

Required Documents

  • Valid passport (must be valid for at least six months from date of intended return)
  • Valid, unexpired U.S. J-1 visa stamp in your passport
    • Exception: Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require a visa stamp. 
  • A valid, printed Form DS-2019 with a travel endorsement in the lower right-hand section issued within one year of your return date
    • Review the instructions below if you require a new travel signature. 

Recommended Documents

Domestic Travel 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, F-1 and J-1 students and visiting scholars and their dependents should bring the following documents. 

Required Documents

  • Valid passport (must be valid for at least six months from date of intended return)
  • F-1 U.S. visa stamp in your passport
    • Exception: Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require a visa stamp. 
    • Your F-1 visa may be expired if traveling within the U.S.
  • A valid, printed Form I-20 
    •  You are not required to have a valid travel signature when traveling within the United States, but we do recommend it.
  • Most recent I-94 Arrival Record

Recommended Documents

  • Proof of enrollment, such as your student ID (QCard) and an unofficial transcript or your course schedule from Self-Service

 

Required Documents

  • Valid passport (must be valid for at least six months from date of intended return)
  • J-1 U.S. visa stamp in your passport
    • Exception: Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require a visa stamp. 
    • Your J-1 visa may be expired if traveling within the U.S.
  • A valid, printed Form DS-2019 
    •  You are not required to have a valid travel signature when traveling within the United States, but we do recommend it.
  • Most recent I-94 Arrival Record 

Recommended Documents

  • Proof of enrollment, such as your student ID (QCard) and an unofficial transcript or your course schedule from Self-Service

Required Documents 

  • A passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date
  • F-1 U.S. visa in your passport
    • Exception: Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require a visa.
    • Your F-1 visa may be expired if traveling within the U.S.
  • Your most recent, valid, printed Form I-20
  • Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card issued by USCIS for OPT/STEM OPT 
    • The EAD card should be current and indicate your active OPT dates.
    • If your OPT/STEM OPT application is pending, you should carry your USCIS Receipt Notice. 
  • Most recent I-94 Arrival Record 

Recommended Documents 

  • Proof of employment (offer letter, pay stubs, or employment verification letter)
  • For unpaid roles: a letter describing your duties, hours, supervision, progress in the position or research, and approved leave period.
  • If traveling with F-2 dependents: copies of your EAD, I-20, and employment letter

Required Documents

  • Valid passport (must be valid for at least six months from date of intended return)
  • J-1 U.S. visa stamp in your passport
    • Exception: Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require a visa stamp. 
    • Your J-1 visa may be expired if traveling within the U.S.
  • A valid, printed Form DS-2019
  • Most recent I-94 Arrival Record 

Recommended Documents

  • Invitation letter
  • Receipt of the SEVIS I-901 fee

Requesting a Travel Signature  

If you will be traveling outside of the U.S., you must have a valid travel signature on your Form I-20 or DS-2019 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: 

  1. Log into 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. 
  2. Go to the Control Center on the right side of the page. 
  3. Find the Travel Signature Request. 
  4. Complete the Form. 
  5. Submit Request. 

Within one to three business days, you should receive an email that your travel signature request has been processed and a newly signed Form I-20 (F-1 Students) or Form 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. 

 

Obtaining your I-94 Arrival Record

The I-94 is the Arrival/Departure Record issued by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer to foreign visitors entering the United States.

Upon entry, a CBP officer will place an admission stamp on your passport and create an electronic I-94 record. The admission stamp will indicate your date of entry, class of admission (F-1 or J-1), and admitted-until date (D/S). Once you have entered the U.S., you will be able to access your I-94 admission record online by visiting the I-94 website. You will be required to enter your passport number and entry information in order to obtain your I-94 record.

The Office of International Students & Scholars recommends that you review and print your I-94 document from the CBP website after each entry into the U.S. and retain the I-94 document for your records. The printout will serve as your official record which can be used for I-9 compliance when applying for jobs on campus or for other government agencies such as the Social Security Administration, Connecticut, Department of Motor Vehicles and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

  1. Visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection I-94 website
  2. Select "Get Most Recent I-94/I-95" from the top toolbar. 
  3. Review the “Terms of Service” and select the “I Acknowledge and Agree” button.
  4. Complete the online form using the information exactly as it appears in the passport you used to enter the United States.
  5. Review the information entered into the form; if everything is correct, select “Continue”.
  6. Review the I-94 record for accuracy; if everything is correct, select the “Print” button on the webpage.

Visit the I-94 Arrival/Departure Record page to learn more about the I-94 record and reporting requirements for new and returning students upon reentry into the U.S. 

 

Additional I-94 Resources

Immigration regulations and individual circumstances can vary. If you have questions about your specific situation, please contact the Office of International Students and Scholars for guidance.  

Disclaimer: The information provided by OISS is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration laws, regulations, policies, and agency guidance are subject to change and may be interpreted differently based on individual circumstances. OISS cannot guarantee the accuracy or applicability of information in every situation. Individuals seeking advice regarding their specific immigration matters should consult a qualified immigration attorney.