Travel outside the U.S. for F-1 and J-1 Students
List of documents needed to travel
Instructions on requesting a Travel Signature
Automatic Revalidation (for students taking short trips to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands)
Planning a short trip abroad? Below is a list of documents you need to carry with you and present to the Immigration Officer when you return to the U.S. and information on how to request a Travel Signature from OIP:
- Valid passport – must be valid for at least 6 months after your return date.
- Valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp (citizens of Canada and citizens of Bermuda do not need a visa stamp).
- EAD (OPT card) and proof of employment if a former student on OPT.
- Most recently issued I-20 or DS-2019 (check issue date on page 1) with a valid travel signature. A travel signature is valid for 12 months if you are a current student but only 6 months if a former student on AT or OPT.
To request a travel signature:
- Login into the e-OIP portal with your Maine.edu credentials
- Select the F-1 and J-1 Student Services link on the menu
- This will lead you to a list of forms including the TRAVEL SIGNATURE REQUEST form
- Complete the form and then wait for OIP to contact you
- We recommend you also carry the following documents with you, especially if you need to apply for a new visa stamp:
- Updated UMaine transcript (unofficial is fine)
- Updated financial documentation
- Automatic Revalidation
- Students who travel to Canada, Mexico and Adjacent Islands (Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Miquelon, Saint-Pierre, Trinidad, Windward and Leeward Islands, and other British, French, and Netherlands territory or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea) for less than 30 days may be able to return with an expired F-1 or J-1 visa, under the “Automatic Revalidation” provision. Please consult with your International Student Advisor for clarification.
Automatic Revalidation is not available to:
– Students who are citizens of Cuba, Iran, Syria, and Sudan
– Students who apply for a new F-1 or J-1 visa while abroad
- Students who travel to Canada, Mexico and Adjacent Islands (Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Miquelon, Saint-Pierre, Trinidad, Windward and Leeward Islands, and other British, French, and Netherlands territory or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea) for less than 30 days may be able to return with an expired F-1 or J-1 visa, under the “Automatic Revalidation” provision. Please consult with your International Student Advisor for clarification.
Additional information on travel abroad and FAQs are available on the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) website.