Travel Information and Visa Renewal

General Information

  • Travel with a valid passport at all times.  
  • Have your Form I-20 recertified as needed.
    Recertification is a Designated School Official (DSO) signature from the visa supervisor. FDU's Designated School Officials are staff at the Office of International Students Services (OISS).
    For your I-20 to be recertified, you must have maintained full-time student status and should have paid all your tuition fee in full. Request recertification of your I-20 from the OISS at least five business days before you plan to leave.  Each travel signature on page 3 of your I-20 is valid for up to twelve months. 
  • Have an unexpired F-1 entry visa valid for further entries in your passport.
    At the U.S. port of entry, an Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service (BCIS) inspector will review your form I-20 and return it to you. You will be issued an I-94 card, which will indicate your entry as F-1and your expiration of stay. Expiration of stay for those in F-1 status is noted as "D/S" (duration of status) I-94 card and refers to the completion date on your I-20.

Travel after completion of studies for F-1 Students on Practical Training
Because your recommendation for OPT will be clearly stated on page 3 of your I-20, you will be asked by an Immigration Official to produce your Employment Card upon entry of the United States.  You may also be asked to show a letter stating that you have secured employment in the USA.   We strongly recommend that you travel outside of the US only if you have a job in the US to return to.  Travel with your OPT card, as well as all other immigration documents.  (Your OPT card states that it is not valid for entry to the US.  Don’t panic! This means that the OPT card alone is not enough to enter the country, you need all immigration documents. You may wish to bring copies of a pay check from your employer as evidence that you are engaging in practical training.

If you chose to travel, you are still required to obtain a travel signature on page 3 of your SEVIS I-20.

Travel within the U.S.

In general, special permission is not needed to travel within the continental U.S.. However, we recommend that you carry with you your passport, I-94, and I-20 when you travel any distance from home.


Obtaining/Renewing an F-1 Visa

Many students have F-1 visas that will expire prior to the completion of their studies. Other students may have entered the country on a different visa and completed a change of status in the US.  This information is to assist F-1 students who need to obtain or renew an F-1 visa during their time at FDU.

The most important part of the F-1 visa application is the applicant’s:

1.      demonstration of ties to the home country and intent to return to the home country, such as:

  • copies of deeds to property (land, house, apartment) they own in their home country
  • bank statements of accounts they maintain at home
  • a letter from an employer stating they will return to their job after the U.S. visit
  • discussion with the officer about how the academic program will assist with employment opportunities in the home country

2.      ability to cover expenses such as:

  • personal bank statements, showing ability to pay for 1 year of tuition and expenses
  • affidavit of support and bank statement from sponsor, showing ability to pay for 1 year of tuition and expenses
  • scholarship letter (if any) provided by FDU

3.      ability to discuss the academic program and match the academic program with future goals; documents to supplement the conversation with the Consular Officer include:

4.      ability to prove English proficiency (if required on I-20)

Students will be asked to provide the following documents*:

1.      current passport
2.      most recent I-20 (with a travel signature less than 6 months old, for visa renewals only)
3.      financial documents including bank statements and affidavit of support
4.      proof of SEVIS fee payment (first time visa applicants only)
5.      passport sized photos
6.      I-160 form, proof of payment for visa and other consular forms as required
7.      previous I-20s
8.      expired F-1 visa (if any)
9.      I-797 change of status approval notice (if any)
10.  new students may be asked for TOEFL or GRE/GMAT scores or an admission letter

*This is not a comprehensive list of all documents required for the F-1 visa. Comprehensive information can be found on the website of the U.S. Embassy/Consulate where the visa application will be made.


Additional Information about F-1 Visa Renewal

  •  F-1 students are only required to get a new visa if they leave the US on an expired F-1 visa and wish to reenter.
  • F-1 visas cannot be renewed in the US.
  • F-1 visas should be renewed in the home country whenever possible.  Students renewing a visa in a third country must ensure in advance that Consulate/Embassy will accept the application.
    Prior granting of an F-1 visa does not guarantee that a new visa/renewal will be granted.
  • Granting of an F-1 visa/renewal does not guarantee entry to the US or status within the US.
    The Office of International Student Services has limited ability to assist students whose visas are denied or delayed.  Students in that situation should, however, inform ISS.

  • Student who cannot attend a required term due to a visa delay or denial or whose visa is approved too late into the semester will have to wait until the following term. SEVIS records will be affected by this absence, so please contact ISS for instructions.

For detailed information about the F-1 nonimmigrant visa, go to:http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html#12


Automatic Revalidation

This process allows most students to travel:

  • For less than 30 days
  • To Adjacent Countries (i.e. Canada, Mexico, Caribbean Islands, Bahamas)
  • And reenter on an expired F-1 visa if they have proper documentation and have not applied for a new visa during the trip
  • This process revalidates the visa (making it eligible for the single trip), but does not renew it.

Note: Automatic Revalidation is not available for students from Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan or Syria

For detailed information about Automatic Revalidation, go to: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1299.html