Travel and Re-Entry
Preparing for Travel Outside the US
International students may leave the US for a short time period (5 months or less) and re-enter to continue their program if they hold the appropriate immigration and travel documents. These travel documents include:
- An unexpired Form I-20 (F-1 students only), endorsed for travel on page 2;
- To request a Travel Signature, log onto to IntlHokies. Under F-1 Students Services, select F-1 Travel Signature request. Signed I-20 will be sent by email.
- The travel signature must be less than one year old at the time of re-entry to the US.
- Students on OPT/ STEM OPT must have a travel signature that is less than six months old at the time of re-entry to the US.
- PLEASE NOTE: Travel signatures are NOT required on "Initial", "Transfer Pending", or "Change of Status" Form I-20s.
- An unexpired Form DS-2019 (J-1 students only), endorsed for travel on page 1;
- To request a Travel Signature, log onto to IntlHokies. Under J-1 Student Services, select J-1 Travel Signature Request. You will need to upload proof of Health Insurance and bring original DS-2019 to the office.
- The travel signature must be less than one year old at the time of re-entry to the US.
- A valid passport;
- A valid US visa;
- A visa to the country you plan to visit.
In addition to the above-mentioned documents, we also recommend the following:
- A copy of your unofficial university transcripts from Hokie SPA, in case the Customs and Border Protection Officer wants proof of your current enrollment.
- Proof of funding (assistantship letter, bank statements, sponsor support letter, etc.)
IMPORTANT: If you arrive at a US Port of Entry without all of your required documents or are missing other information, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer may deny you entry into the US. As an alternative, the officer has discretion to issue you a Form I-515A, which allows you temporary entry into the US for 30 days, with the requirement to complete all documentation before the 30 days run out. You can read more about this process at https://studyinthestates.dhs.gov/. Please be sure to contact our Cranwell International Center as soon as possible if you are issued a Form I-515A.
COVID-19 Travel Information:
In addition to having the required and recommended documents, it is important that you carefully review US government regulations and restrictions for travel back into the US. To remain informed regarding changes to travel, health and immigration regulations and restrictions, we recommend checking your VT email regularly for updates, as well as the following resources:
- Virginia Tech’s Public Health Information
- US Department of State:
- Frequently Asked Questions on COVID-19 Vaccinations and Testing for International Travel
- US Centers for Disease Control (CDC):
- US Department of Homeland Security’s Coronavirus (COVID-19) website
- Your home country's US Consulate/Embassy
- Any airline(s) and/or airport(s) you plan to travel through
- Your home country's government website