Travel Information

TRAVEL SIGNATURE

J-1 students are required to have a travel signature on DS-2019 in order to re-enter to the United States. Only an Alternate/Responsible Officer at the Office of International Students and Scholars are permitted to sign for travel.

To obtain a travel signature, bring the original DS-2019 Form to OISS during business hours.

Travel signature is valid for 12 months from the signing date except Academic Training.

J-1 students on Academic Training: Travel Signatures are valid for 6 months or until the end of the program, whichever is sooner.

VALID J-1 VISA STAMP

If the J-1 visa in your passport has expired and you plan to travel outside the United States, you must return to a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad to obtain a new J-1 visa. J-1 visas may never be renewed inside the United States. Students on post-completion AT should be aware that it can be difficult to renew a J-1 visa during AT.

Please note: Some students will need to renew their passports during the course of their studies or post-completion academic training period. If the visa is still valid at this time, there is no need to apply for a visa renewal. Students in this circumstance should travel with both passports: the expired passport containing the valid U.S. visa and the valid passport, which does not contain a visa stamp.

RE-ENTRY DOCUMENTS

In order to return to the United States after a visit abroad, J-1 students and scholars must present:

  • Valid passport (valid six months into the future);
  • Valid J-1 entry visa stamped in the passport (certain exceptions apply);
  • Original DS-2019 Form with a travel signature from OISS

PORT OF ENTRY

If the J-1 visa in your passport has expired and you plan to travel outside the United States, you must return to a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad to obtain a new J-1 visa. J-1 visas may never be renewed inside the United States. Students on post-completion AT should be aware that it can be difficult to renew a J-1 visa during AT.

Please note: Some students will need to renew their passports during the course of their studies or post-completion academic training period. If the visa is still valid at this time, there is no need to apply for a visa renewal. Students in this circumstance should travel with both passports: the expired passport containing the valid U.S. visa and the valid passport, which does not contain a visa stamp.