Travel Instructions for J-1 Students
This section will provide you with information regarding reentering the U.S. after a temporary absence. If you plan to leave the U.S. and return to the University of Miami, you must have the necessary documents to permit entry to another country and reentry to the U.S.
Entry to another country
If you wish to temporarily visit your country of citizenship or permanent residency, you will be allowed to enter that country if you hold a valid passport. Before temporarily visiting a country other than your country of citizenship or permanent residency, you must check on entry visa requirements for said country. Go to http://www.embassy.org for the contact information of all foreign embassies located in Washington D.C.
Reentry to the U.S.
To reenter the U.S. after a temporary absence (i.e., an absence of five months of less), you must have a properly endorsed Form DS-2019, a valid passport, and a valid J-1 visa (not required for citizens of Canada).
Properly endorsed Form DS-2019: If you have already used your Form DS-2019 to enter the U.S. once, then you must have page 1 of your Form DS-2019 endorsed by the J-1 Responsible Officer (your ISSS Advisor if you are sponsored by UM). Email ISSS at isss@miami.edu and request a Form DS-2019 with an updated travel certification signature. ISSS will issue a DS-2019 with an updated travel certification signature and send it to the e-mail address listed on your SEVIS record. This page, when properly endorsed, may be used for reentry to attend the same school for studies or research/teaching after a temporary absence from the U.S. Each certification signature is valid for only one year from date of signature, or until the Form DS-2019 expiration date, whichever comes first. For J-1 exchange visitors in the short-term scholar category, each certification signature is valid for only six months from date of signature, or until the Form DS-2019 expiration date, whichever comes first.
In the case that you have left the U.S. without a valid DS-2019, e-mail isss@miami.edu to request a replacement Form DS-2019. ISSS will issue a DS-2019 with an updated travel certification signature and send it to the e-mail address listed on your SEVIS record.
Valid Passport: You must have a passport that is kept valid at all times while you are in the U.S. If your passport will expire within six months, contact your embassy in the U.S. and make arrangements to renew as soon as possible.
Valid J-1 visa: The U.S. visa tells you by which date you may enter the U.S. The expiration date of the visa has nothing to do with how long you may remain in the U.S. – that is determined by your DS-2019 and I-94. However, if you are traveling abroad and wish to reenter the U.S., then you must have a valid J-1 visa in your passport.
Documents you will need for visa issuance: You will need a valid passport, a current photograph, a properly endorsed Form DS-2019, proof of financial capability for continuing studies or research/teaching, and continued nonimmigrant intent. Go to the Department of State website for other documents you may need.
Where to apply: Although you may be able to secure an original or renewal of a J-1 visa in a foreign country other than your own, your chances of being issued a J-1 visa are greatest when you apply at a U.S. consular office in your country of citizenship or permanent residency. You may face more stringent requirements in a third country and should allow more time in case of delays. It is not possible to obtain a J-1 visa in the U.S.
When to apply: You usually cannot apply for a new visa until 90 days before the expiration of the old one.
Visa voidance: If you have overstayed or been unlawfully present during your studies or research/teaching immediately prior to leaving the U.S., you might be subject to visa voidance. Such overstayer exchange visitors would be subject to payment of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee and would need to obtain a new J-1 visa stamp in the home country in order to reenter the U.S. The SEVIS fee must be paid online through use of a credit card, locally using the Western Union Quick Pay service, or by mail through use of a check or money order at least three days prior to the date SEVIS fee payment verification is required by the U.S. Consular Office. ISSS highly recommends that you file and pay the required SEVIS fee online with a credit card or in person through the Western Union Quick Pay service instead of by mail with a check or money order since the online option and the Western Union Quick Pay option result in speedier processing of your required fee payment. Please ask your ISSS Advisor for detailed information on options for payment of the SEVIS fee.
Visa revocation following a DUI: The U.S. Department of State is revoking visa foils ("stamps") of foreign nationals following a conviction or an arrest for driving under the influence (DUI), driving while intoxicated (DWI), or a related criminal charge. Individuals are notified of their visa cancellation by email (address used on the visa application). An individual in nonimmigrant status whose visa has been prudentially revoked will have to obtain a new visa in order to be readmitted to the United States after temporary travel abroad. In order for the visa to be issued, the foreign national will first need to be cleared by a panel physician following a medical screening, which may result in a visa denial or delay. A student who has their visa revoked should talk to an immigration attorney.
"Automatic revalidation of visa" benefit: Under certain circumstances, you may reenter the U.S. with an expired visa as though the visa were still valid. An expired J-1 visa may be considered to be automatically extended to the date of application for readmission to the U.S. (and therefore the visa in the passport need not have an expiration date that is in the future), provided you do the following:
- Apply for readmission to U.S. after an absence not exceeding 30 days in contiguous territory (Canada or Mexico) or adjacent islands (Saint Pierre, Miquelon, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, the Windward and Leeward Islands, Trinidad, Martinique, and other British, French, and Netherlands territories or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea other than Cuba);
- Maintain lawful J-1 status and intend to continue doing so;<
- Present a valid passport containing Form I-94 which authorizes a stay beyond the date of entry (e.g., D/S);
- Present a properly endorsed Form DS-2019.
Under these circumstances, you may be saved the necessity of applying for a new J-1 visa even if your visa has expired. An exchange visitor whose visa has been canceled or voided is not eligible for automatic revalidation of visa benefit. Citizens of “state sponsors of terrorism” cannot take advantage of the automatic revalidation benefit. Any non-immigrant who chooses to apply for a new visa while in contiguous territory is not eligible for the automatic revalidation benefit during the course of that trip, but has to wait until the visa is granted in order to enter the U.S.
Transfers: If you have lawfully transferred schools while in the U.S., your J-1 visa will include the name of the school for which it was initially issued. Following a transfer, even though the J-1 visa in your passport may appear to be unexpired, it is no longer considered to be valid. If you exit the U.S., you must apply for and obtain a new J-1 visa from a U.S. consular office before you can seek reentry to the U.S. with Form DS-2019 from the new school. The new J-1 visa will show the name and/or program number of the school to which you transferred.
Status Violation and Travel: If you have violated your J-1 immigration status prior to traveling abroad and wish to seek reentry to the U.S. with a new Form DS-2019 to resume your J-1 status, you must pay the SEVIS fee and apply for a new visa prior to being able to seek reentry to the U.S. with proper documentation. Read the ISSS handout titled “J-1 SEVIS Fee Payment Options” for information on procedures regarding payment of SEVIS fee.
Travel Warnings and Travel Alerts: Ensure that you are traveling safely by reviewing the Department of State (DoS) International Travel Information web page. On the DoS website, you will find travel warnings, travel alerts, country specific information, and country background notes. There is also a section titled “Tips for Traveling Abroad” for other important health and safety information. Go to http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html to access this information.
Safeguard and Retain Your Documents: It is your responsibility to retain copies of all your immigration documents and all immigration applications (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, employment, change of status, program extension, etc.) for your records/future use.
Form DS-2019 Travel Application
Email ISSS at isss@miami.edu and request a Form DS-2019 with an updated travel certification signature. ISSS will issue a DS-2019 with an updated travel certification signature and send it to the e-mail address listed on your SEVIS record. If your J-1 program sponsor is an entity other than the University of Miami, your DS-2019 cannot be validated for travel by ISSS. In that case, you need to request a travel validation from your J-1 program sponsor.
Travel Tips
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued important reminders to assist international students and exchange visitors expected to arrive in the United States.
These reminders for international students and exchange visitors registered in the Student Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS) are intended to ensure that legitimate students and exchange visitors are quickly processed at ports of entry. A comprehensive list of answers to frequently asked SEVIS questions has also been posted online at www.ice.gov and www.cbp.gov.
DHS offers the following recommendations for international students and exchange visitors:
1. Hand carry (do not check with your baggage) the following documents:
- Your passport;
- Your SEVIS DS-2019;
- Evidence of financial resources;
- Evidence of student or exchange visitor status, such as tuition receipts, transcripts or letter of acceptance;
- Paper receipt for the SEVIS fee; and
- The name and contact information of your program sponsor.
Important Note: If you are a new international student or a new exchange visitor program participant, remember to carry with you the sealed envelope given to you by the U.S. Department of State's Consular Officer and attached to your passport. It is important that you do not open this envelope.
2. Inform the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer at the port of entry as soon as possible that you will be a new or returning (in case you previously attended school in the U.S. and are transferring to the University of Miami) international student or exchange visitor in the United States.
3. Report to your school or program upon arrival so that your school official can validate your participation in SEVIS.
4. Maintain contact with your sponsor official throughout your stay to ensure your SEVIS data is updated and accurate.
Traveling without a valid Form DS-2019
Failure to have all proper documentation upon re-entry to the U.S. may be a cause for delay when going through the U.S. port-of-entry, and may be reason for the officer to send you to Secondary Inspections. Please click here for information on what to do if you do not have a valid Form DS-2019 upon reentering the U.S.
