Travel Information

This section is meant for current students and scholars whose immigration status has been sponsored by Penn. If your immigration status is sponsored by another institution, contact them for travel advice and requisite signatures.

If you are a new student arriving to Penn for the first time, please visit our Prepare for Penn and New Student Immigration sections.

International Travel Outside the US

Before You Leave

Ensure you have the required Documentation & Signatures

While You Are Away

Ensure you have a valid US Entry Visa

Upon Your Return

Ensure you have received an I-94 record reflecting the correct non-immigrant status and duration

Travel Documents & Signatures

General Reminders

Make sure all travel and immigration documents are valid. Passport must be valid at least six months into the future. 
Hand-carry all travel and immigration documents with you. Do not place any of them in a check-in luggage. 
Your I-20/DS-2019 must contain a valid travel signature and be printed out for immigration inspection. Digital copies will not be accepted. 
Make sure you have ISSS (215-898-4661, during normal business hours) and Penn emergency phone number (215-573-3333, after normal business hours).

F-1 Students & Dependents

F-1 Students

Valid Form I-20 with a valid travel signature on page 2. The signature is valid for a year from the issuance. For students on post-completion OPT, however, it is valid for 6 months from the issuance. If the signature is missing or expired, submit the Travel Signature Request on iPenn.
Valid passport (for more than six months from date of intended return).
Valid F-1 US Entry Visa.
SEVIS Fee Payment Receipt.
If on post-completion OPT, valid EAD card and either job offer letter or recent pay stub from the employer (strongly recommended).
Transcripts (strongly recommended)
Proof of funds as listed on form I-20 (strongly recommended)

F-2 Dependents

Valid Form I-20 with a valid travel signature on page 2.
Valid passport (for more than six months from date of intended return).
Valid F-2 US Entry Visa
If traveling alone, copies of the F-1 student’s immigration documentation, including I-94. If the F-1 student is on post-completion OPT, also carry copies of the F-1 student’s OPT I-20, EAD card, and job offer letter or recent pay stub from the employer.

NOTE: Citizens of Canada are exempt from the US Entry Visa requirement. However, Canadian F-1 and J-1 students and scholars must present the SEVIS fee payment confirmation (that can be printed from the fee website) for their initial entries to the U.S.

J-1 Exchange Visitors & Dependents

J-1 Exchange Visitors

Valid Form DS-2019 with a valid travel signature. If the signature is missing or expired, submit the travel signature request on iPenn.
Valid passport (for more than six months from date of intended return)
Valid J-1 US Entry Visa
Proof of initial SEVIS Fee Payment
Letter from supervisor verifying continued employment/sponsorship if J-1 Professor/Research Scholar or Short Term Scholar

J-2 Dependents

Valid Form DS-2019 with a valid travel signature.
Valid passport (for more than six months from date of intended return)
Valid J-2 US Entry Visa
If traveling alone, copies of the J-1 student or scholar’s immigration documentation, including I-94

NOTE: Citizens of Canada are exempt from the US Entry Visa requirement. However, Canadian F-1 and J-1 students and scholars must present the SEVIS fee payment receipt for their initial entries to the U.S.

J-1 Professors/Research Scholars: scroll down to the section below under “Travel Difficulties and Resources” for information on the Notice of Absence form. 

H-1B or O-1 Employees & Dependents

H-1B or O-1 Employees

Valid passport (for more than six months from date of intended return)
Valid H-1B or O-1 visa stamp
Original valid Form I-797 H-1B or O-1 Notice of Approval
2-3 most recent pay stubs or letter from supervisor confirming continued employment
Copy of I-129 petition

Note: Scholars for whom the University is filing a petition for H-1B extension or those changing from one H-1B employer to another should contact an ISSS advisor regarding their travel options.

H-4 or O-3 Dependents

Valid passport (for more than six months from date of intended return)
Valid H-4 or O-3 visa stamp
Copy of primary’s Form I-797 H-1B or O-1 Notice of Approval
Original Form I-797 H-4 or O-3 Notice of Approval if changed to or extended H-4 or O-3 status in the United State

E-3 Employees & Dependents

E-3 Employees

Valid Australian passport (for more than 6 months from date of intended return)
Valid E-3 visa stamp
2-3 most recent pay stubs or letter from supervisor confirming continued employment
Copy of valid LCA
Original valid Form I-797 E-3 Notice of Approval if changed to or extended E-3 status in the United States
Copy of I-129 petition if changed to or extended E-3 status in the United States

E-3D Dependents

Valid passport (for more than six months from date of intended return)
Valid E-3D visa stamp
Copy of primary’s Form I-797 E-3 Notice of Approval if changed to or extended E-3 status in the United States
Original valid Form I-797 E-3D Notice of Approval if changed to or extended E-3D status in the United States

TN Employees & Dependents

TN Employees

Valid Canadian or Mexican passport (for more than 6 months from date of intended return)
Valid TN visa stamp if Mexican national
Job offer letter specifying the Trade NAFTA profession and duration of employment
Requisite educational or occupational credentials such as diploma, license, etc.

TN Dependents

Valid passport (for more than 6 months from date of intended return)
Valid TD visa stamp if non-Canadian dependent
Marriage or birth certificate showing relationship to TN primary
Copy of spouse/ parent’s job offer letter specifying the Trade NAFTA profession and duration of employment
If traveling alone, copies of the primary’s (TN) immigration documentation, including I-94

Travel Difficulties

Lost/Stolen Documents While Overseas

Passport

Report the incident to the appropriate authorities and request a replacement before you return. You will be denied boarding without a valid passport.

Visa

Report the incident to the US Embassy or Consulate that issued the visa and apply for a replacement before you return. You will be denied boarding without a valid US visa. Find more information on the Department of State website.

I-20/DS-2019

Report the incident to ISSS immediately and request a replacement before you return. You may be denied boarding without a valid I-20.

Photocopies/digital copies of lost or stolen documents are not sufficient for reentry. An individual whose passport is missing will have to postpone travel until a new passport can be obtained from the home country government. It will also be necessary to obtain a new U.S. visa stamp from a US Embassy or Consulate. Please see the Obtaining an Entry Visa section.

I-20/DS-2019 Missing or Not Properly Signed [Possible I-515A]

If you try to enter the US without a physical copy of valid I-20 or DS-2019 or with an outdated travel signature, you may be subject to secondary inspection where a CBP officer could issue a Form I-515A and admit you for only 30 days or, in the worst case, deny your entry.

If you received a Form I-515A, contact your assigned ISSS advisor immediately and provide a copy of your I-515A.

Form I-515A includes instructions on how to correct your status. Work with your assigned ISSS Advisor to take necessary steps and email the requisite documentation to the SEVP I-515A Processing Team at SEVIS.I-515@ice.dhs.gov. 

Once your case is resolved, your I-94 record will be updated and show “D/S” as your Admit Until Date.

Per DHS, your SEVIS record status will terminate if DHS does not receive the requisite documentation by the (I-515A) I-94 expiration date. As a result, your legal status in the U.S. will end.

Find more information on the Homeland Security website. 

Repeated Questioning at the Port of Entry/Border

Some individuals may encounter lengthy questioning or visits to secondary inspection every time they enter the U.S.

In some cases, this may be caused by a problem with an immigration record, which can sometimes be corrected with the help of an ISSS Advisor. However, not all border issues are within the purview of ISSS.

Individuals can make their own requests to correct their records and facilitate travel through the Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP). For more information, please refer to the CBP website here.