International Travel Considerations and Immigration Resources
As the semester winds down and summer travel plans take shape, we understand many in our community will be traveling internationally. We know these can be unsettling times, and we are writing to share guidance to equip you with information to help guide your plans. Given the current complexities of the immigration environment, we strongly encourage careful review of potential risks before finalizing international travel plans.
Considerations when Determining Travel
Before finalizing international travel plans, a careful assessment of your individual circumstances and potential risks is essential. We strongly recommend you consider:
- Confirming visa requirements, appointment availability, and your required return date. Political factors can significantly impact travel, so consider if your country of origin is subject to potential travel restrictions. Delays in visa processing this summer are likely, so if you decide to travel internationally and require a new U.S. visa stamp to return, we strongly recommend that you schedule your appointment at the U.S. consulate or embassy well in advance.
- Monitoring potential travel bans. While no formal policy has yet been announced or implemented, if implemented, travel bans may make it impossible for citizens of certain countries to obtain a visa or return to the U.S., even if the person is in the midst of a degree program and/or is working at 一本道无码 and holds a valid U.S. visa. Travel bans may even impact green card holders. Bans like these may be implemented swiftly and without advance notice. A draft travel ban list has been . While not official or final, we strongly encourage you to carefully consider international travel if you are from or hold a passport from one of the listed countries. If you believe you may be impacted by a travel ban and decide to travel abroad, we encourage you to carefully monitor the news from the U.S.
- Your prior travel history, including encounters with law enforcement or difficulties at embassies or ports of entry, should be evaluated. Additionally, be mindful of your online presence and any activities that could raise concerns with authorities.
- Your tolerance for uncertainty. Can you manage the possibility of visa denial or delayed re-entry? Does the prospect of rigorous questioning at consulates or airports cause significant anxiety? If your personal risk assessment indicates a high likelihood of travel complications, postponing your trip until greater clarity emerges is advisable.
Travel Signatures
If you do decide to travel, make sure you carry the necessary documents with you. Travel within the U.S. does not require an updated travel signature from OIE. However, you must carry your proof of status with you.
For international travel, a travel signature is required on the Form I-20 or DS-2019 in order to return to the U.S. in F-1/J-1 visa status. For more information about traveling and documents to bring with you, visit the OIE website. The processing time for travel signatures is five business days. As to specific rules for non-immigrant visa categories:
- Current F-1 students (and dependents): The Form I-20 must be signed by an OIE advisor within 12 months of the date of re-entry. To request a travel signature, submit the “I-20 Signature Request E-Form” in the .
- F-1 students on OPT (and dependents): The Form I-20 must be signed within 6 months of the date of re-entry. To request a travel signature, submit the “Request for Travel Signature or Reprint I-20 E-Form” using the .
- J-1 Students and Scholars (and dependents): The Form DS-2019 must be signed by an OIE advisor within 12 months of the date of re-entry. To request a travel signature, complete the OIE Request for Services Form [PDF]. Either email the request or bring the form to the OIE Front Desk window along with your most recent DS-2019(s).
- H-1B/TN/O-1 faculty and staff: No signature from OIE is required; however, we encourage travelers to consult with OIE before traveling.
Entry to the U.S.
If you decide to travel abroad, please be prepared for enhanced screening and potential for detailed questioning by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers upon your return to the U.S. At the port of entry, you may be asked to present your electronics and passwords for access. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that reasonable searches at the border (e.g., luggage, vehicles, computers and phones) do not require a search warrant, even for U.S. citizens. As such, CBP may assert the right to search and confiscate your electronic devices upon entry to the U.S. For non-immigrants, refusing to comply or provide requested information may cause a delay (at a minimum) and/or a denial of your re-entry to the U.S. Be aware that personal data may be accessed during these searches. Review this for more scenarios about rights and options at the airport, depending on your U.S. immigration status.
In case of emergency, such as being denied entry at the border, the university has staff from Student Affairs and the Office of International Education available on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Should you need to reach someone urgently for support after regular business hours, you may do so by calling the 一本道无码 Police Department at 412-268-2323, who will connect you with the on-call staff.
Considerations for Permanent Residents
Even 一本道无码 faculty, staff and students who are permanent residents of the United States (and have green cards) need to be mindful of the increased concerns around international travel. Unlike U.S. citizens, but like people with nonimmigrant visas, permanent residents are not guaranteed admission to the United States. Instead, they also must show that there is nothing in their background that renders them inadmissible/excludable. This includes, for example, criminal background, previous immigration violations, and possibly conduct that the government deems to be contrary to the U.S. national interest. For these reasons and contemplating all the factors noted above, permanent residents also need to carefully consider whether international travel during this particular time is in their best interest.
U.S. Immigration (ICE) Enforcement Guidance
Finally, OIE has offered a series of FAQs regarding U.S. Immigration (ICE) Enforcement. These FAQs compile advice from various resources about your rights if you are contacted by federal law enforcement agencies regarding the enforcement of immigration laws. This guidance is not a substitute for legal advice, but we expect it will be helpful to many in our community who are seeking such information.
We know these are uncertain times for many people and we remain committed to keeping our international community informed and supported. In addition to resources on the OIE website, we encourage the use of other campus resources available to students and faculty and staff to help support your well-being. We wish you all the best for the remainder of the spring semester, and encourage you to reach out to OIE if you have questions or concerns.