International Student Services - University of La Verne

Welcome

Advisory and Information: Posted October 13, 2005

Barring an unforeseen catastrophe or circumstance, we do not anticipate any changes for international student travel outside the United States. Students who will need to renew their F-1 or J-1 visa abroad, will need to consider whether they will have sufficient time to do so and return to Binghamton in order to begin the Spring 2006 semester, given on-going security clearance requirements.

Any student who feels uncomfortable or concerned about their travel plans in a time of uncertainty may prefer to cancel those plans. This is a personal decision. No one is capable of predicting the future.

Travel Within the United States

If you are planning a trip over the Thanksgiving break or during between the Fall and Winter terms/semesters within the United States by car, bus, train or airplane, to U.S. cities near or far, it is essential that you have your passport, I-94 card and SEVIS I-20 (or DS-2019 if you are a J-1 student) with you. There is heightened security not only at all border crossings, but also at bus terminals, train terminals, and airports throughout the United States. Police from multiple agencies; federal, state and municipal, patrol these areas. People may be stopped and questioned randomly.

We urge you to be sure to have your passport, visa documents (I-94 card and I-20 or DS-2019), and ULV student ID card with you for ALL distance travel, even travel within California State. In addition, be sure that the third page of your SEVIS I-20 has an authorizing signature no older than January 2005. (If you are returning after January, the signature should be no older than March or April, 2005.). If you are applying for a change of non-immigrant status, visa petition or EAD card, be sure to carry your receipt notice as well, which proves that you have an application pending with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Processing Center.

Before You Leave the United States

US-VISIT Exit Procedure: If you have entered the United States within the past two years, you are probably familiar with US-VISIT, the system that records your digital photo and scanned index print. There is also an exit procedure that is currently being tested at a number of different U.S. airports. If you are departing from one of the following airports or sea port, you must go through the US-VISIT exit process: Long Beach and San Pedro seaports near Los Angeles, San Francisco International Airport and Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Visitors leaving from these locations must check out prior to exiting the United States. The exit program will be introduced at additional airports and seaports in the coming months.

"Special Registration (NSEERS)": Any student, scholar or spouse who was subject to "Special Registration" either at a U.S. port of entry or during the "call-in" registrations that required a trip to a USCIS (formerly INS) office must go through the special "exit procedure" at any U.S. landport, airport or seaport before departing the United States, even if the travel is only to Canada. Although certain aspects of "special registration" have been suspended, the exit procedure remains in effect. This includes males between the ages of 16 and 45 who were born in or are citizens of: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. Failure to go through the exit procedure can result in being barred from returning to the United States.

Travel to Canada or Mexico

For travel to Canada or Mexico, first check to see if a temporary resident visa (visitor's visa) will be required to enter either country. Be sure to have your passport, visa documents (I-94 card and SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019), and ULV student ID card with you, and be certain that the third page of your SEVIS I-20 (or page 1 of your DS-2019) has an authorizing signature no older than February 2005. (If you are returning after January, the signature should be no older than March or April, 2005.). If you will need a Canadian visa to visit Canada, you must also request a Letter of Certification from the ISSS. Please allow up to three business days for the letter to be prepared. You may request the letter on the ISAC web site at http://www.ulv.edu/is/immigration/ (Under "Forms).

In 2002, the U.S. Department of State announced new rules for non-immigrants who use the "automatic revalidation of visa" benefit [22 CFR 41.112(d)] to re-enter the United States after a 30-day or less visit to a "contiguous territory" (Canada, Mexico, and, in the case of F and J non-immigrants, the "adjacent islands other than Cuba") without having to obtain a new visa prior to re-entry.

Non-immigrants traveling to Canada or Mexico for less than thirty days and returning to the United States (other than citizens of Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba) who do not intend to apply for a new U.S. visa can make use of the automatic revalidation benefit, and re-enter on their expired U.S. visas, as long as they have a valid, unexpired passport, their I-94 card, and a valid and signed SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019.

Special Note About I-94 Departure Cards: F-1 and J-1 students with expired U.S. visas who are traveling to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands for up to 30 days, who will not be applying for a new U.S. visa while there, AND who will be resuming their studies upon their return should NEVER surrender their I-94 card. Canadian or Mexican nationals returning to their home country should surrender their I-94 card as they enter their country, and obtain a new I-94 card the next time they enter the United States. Canadian nationals should be sure to carry with them their financial documentation that verifies the information on their SEVIS I-20 when getting ready to return to the United States.

Travel Abroad

Hundreds of new and current students traveled abroad this summer and entered the United States in time for their studies at ULV without untimely delays. But students who travel abroad should expect closer scrutiny of their documents upon their return to the United States. Students with valid U.S. visas should not anticipate too many difficulties in their travels. Be sure that your passport is valid for at least six months into the future, and that the third page of your SEVIS I-20 (or Page 1 of your SEVIS DS-2019) has an authorizing signature no older than February 2005. (If you are returning after January, the signature should be no older than March or April, 2005.)

However, students who will need to apply for a new visa while abroad may not have sufficient time to obtain their visa and return to ULV to resume their studies in January. Students who will need a new F-1 or J-1 visa should take note of the following matters:

More and more visa applicants are being subject to security clearances, regardless of gender, field of study or country of nationality
If you are a graduate student, faculty member or research scholar and the State Department decides to require a security clearance based on field of study, it could take two to three weeks. If you have previously had a similar security clearance, that earlier clearance is valid for your period of stay on the I-20 or DS-2019, or up to four years (whichever is shorter) if annotated on your visa stamp.
If the State Department decides to require a security clearance based on your name being similar to or the same as an individual with a criminal record, or if you have an arrest record that will require a clearance, it could take eight weeks or longer
Appointments are now required for virtually all non-immigrant visa applications, even at U.S. embassies and consulates located in countries that didn't previously require appointments.
Many U.S. embassies and consulates may temporarily close or alter their hours if there are any threats of terrorist attacks or protests
Holiday periods can be very busy times at U.S. embassies and consulates
Males older than sixteen from certain countries continue to be subject to security checks. The current list of affected countries include: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

If you plan to travel abroad during inter term and will need to apply for a new F-1 or J-1 visa, read the ISSS information on applying for a US visa, available at the following link: http://isss.binghamton.edu/travel/app_new_J1_F1_visa.htm

Also, check the web site of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate where you plan to apply to obtain the latest information on non-immigrant visa processing and delays by visiting: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/embassies/embassies_1214.html

A new feature of the U.S. State Department's web site is the ability to check on the waiting periods for visas at U.S. consulates and embassies world-wide. To obtain this important information, visit: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php

You should do this while you are still in the United States! If visa delays will prevent you from returning to the United States in time to resume your studies in January, better to know this while you are still here so that you have time to cancel your trip!

Be sure to visit the ISAC with your passport and I-20 well before you travel. The ISAC will want to be sure that your SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 is up-to-date. Visa applicants will also want to request a letter of certification from the ISSS, and obtain an official transcript and, if possible, proof of registration for the coming semester/term.

Returning to the United States From a Trip Abroad

Procedures at the U.S. ports of entry now accommodate SEVIS requirements as well as US-VISIT requirements. Immigration and customs at ports of entry are managed by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. You will see CBP officers at all U.S. ports of entry. You may also be required to go through a pre-inspection procedure at certain airports abroad.

SEVIS: CBP officials are required to record your arrival data into SEVIS at the time you enter, and return your SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 to you, after they have stamped it. However, not all CBP officials will have access to SEVIS at their booths in the "primary lanes." Depending upon the port of entry, some students may be directed to a secondary inspection area or "student lanes" so that their data can be entered into SEVIS. CBP is advising that processing at land, sea, and airports may take more time, so travel and connecting flight plans should take this into account.

Special Registration: Individuals subject to "special registration" will be directed to a separate area following their initial immigration inspection where they will be fingerprinted, photographed and questioned under oath. This may add significant delays to the amount of time spent at the airport. If traveling on a connecting flight, allow plenty of time.

US-VISIT: U.S. Visitor and Immigration Status Indicator Technology, or US-VISIT, is the entry/exit record keeping system for all non-immigrants traveling to and from the United States at airports, sea ports and land ports, including the border between the United States and Canada. In addition to the usual inspection procedure conducted by CBP officers, each non-immigrant will have their fingerprints taken by placing their index fingers on an inkless fingerprint scanner. A digital photograph will also be taken.

Philip Hofer adapted the above advisory from a publication of the International Student and Scholars Services at the University of Binghamton, New York.