Travel Tips

Documents Needed to Enter the United States Passport You will need a valid passport or other travel document. If you are a citizen of Canada entering the U.S. from North America , you may prove your nationality with a document other than a passport. I-20 or DS-2019 F visa holders must have a Form I-20 with item five showing a completion date that is in the future. The document should have a travel endorsement no more than a year old on the bottom of page three. ISS recommends more frequent travel endorsementsøevery six months. If you have been out of the United States for more than five months, contact ISS to see if you need a new Form I-20. J visa holders must have a Form DS-2019 with item three showing a completion date that is in the future, and with a travel endorsement no more than a year old in the bottom right corner. ISS recommends more frequent travel endorsementsøevery six months. Travel endorsements can be obtained by brining your current I-20 or DS-2019 and passport to ISS several business days before you plan to travel. Visa Stamp You must possess a U.S. entry visa that is valid in each of the following four respects (unless you are Canadian; if so, see notes on page 4):

Automatic Extension of Validity: If you go from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, or any island in the Caribbean (except Cuba) for 30 days or less, when you reenter the U.S. your visa will be considered valid in each of the previously mentioned respects, provided that: You keep your current I-94 card upon departure from the U.S. ; When you return, you present that I-94 card, which must remain valid after your return to the U.S. (meaning it must be marked øD/Sø); and Your purpose in reentering is resumption of the status that you held when you left. Exceptions to Automatic Extension of Validity: Automatic Extension does not apply to the following: Those who have applied for an entry visa at the U.S. consulate in that country. Citizens of Iraq , Iran , Libya , Cuba , North Korea , Sudan , or Syria . Anyone whose passport has no visa. (For example, the passport was replaced by the issuing governmentøs consulate and you were not allowed tokeep your old expired passport with the visa in it.) Anyone whose visa has been cancelled. Anyone subject to Special Registration, as you must officially øcheck outø of the U.S. whenever you depart and turn in your I-94 card. Note: If you are a citizen of Mexico or an island in the Caribbean except Cuba , and are returning to the U.S. from your country of citizenship, we do not advise you to use automatic extension. Additional Notes About Visas: If you apply for an F or J visa at a U.S. consulate in North America , you may reenter only after you receive the visa. If your application is delayed or denied, you will have to return directly from the country you are in to your country of citizenship and apply there for your new U.S. visa. Remember that visa stamps are available only outside the U.S. and their sole purpose is entry; once you are in the country, you only need to renew an expired visa if you leave North America (or the U.S. for more than 30 days, even if within North America ) and want to return in the same status. A citizen of Canada does not need a visa stamp to enter the U.S. in F or J status, and needs a passport (rather than some other proof of nationality) only when entering directly from a country outside of North America . A permanent resident/landed immigrant of Canada , however, is subject to the visa requirements as discussed above. If you are outside the United States for more than five months and have not been enrolled at the UW-Madison during this time, you may need a new visa to re-enter the U.S. Please consult with an ISS advisor. Other Documents If you are a currently enrolled student, you should carry a transcript or a Certificate of Enrollment with you. These can be obtained from the Registrarøs office. If you are on post-completion OPT: You must present a valid Form I-766 Employment Authorization Document (the EAD card) in addition to the Form I-20 with a travel endorsement less than six months old. ISS also recommends that you have documented proof of employment in your possession (such as a job offer letter). It can be risky to the leave the U.S. without such documentation. ISS recommends that all students carry proof of financial ability to study in the U.S. Other Travel Information US-VISIT On December 31, 2003 , the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented the United States Visitor and Immigration Status Indication Technology (US-VISIT) system. Under US-VISIT, DHS takes a digital photograph and fingerprints of each arriving international visitor, scans his or her travel documents, and collects other information. Additionally, US-VISIT exit procedures are in effect at many ports, including Chicago O'Hare. This involves a similar procedure as with arrival, and international visitors have to check out either at an automated exit kiosk or with a US-VISIT exit attendant at the departure gate. More information about US-VISIT is available at the following website: www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Pamphlet_BW_Web.pdf . Third Country Visits If you intend to visit a country other than your own, you may need an entry visa for that country. ISS recommends that you contact that countryøs consulate or embassy well in advance for assistance in determining whether you need a visa to enter that country. For a list of foreign consulates located in the U.S. , go to the following website: www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/index.cfm?id=4194 . Special Registration If you are subject to National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) Registration, you must comply with check-out procedures at designated ports of departure. For information, refer to: www.ice.gov/graphics/specialregistration/index.htm . Applying for a U.S. Visa CAUTION! If you have to apply at a consulate for a new entry visa, think carefully about the risk of delays before you decide to travel. Consulates frequently initiate security checks for many different reasons. These range from the applicant having a common name to the applicantøs field of study or research, etc. These checks usually take six to eight weeks, although occasionally they can take six months to a year. Once the Visa Officer initiates a security check, the consulate must wait for an answer from Washington , DC to issue an entry visa. No matter how long the delay lasts, neither the consulates nor the Department of State in Washington, DC respond to pleas by universities or applicants, even if the delays are causing inconvenience or hardship, or threatening research funded by the U.S. government itself. Security checks are repeated! Even after you have undergone one security check, another will probably be made each subsequent time that you apply for a visa, even after a short visit abroad, and even if you will be returning to continue your study or employment at the same institution in the U.S. Making an Appointment If you will be applying for a visa during your trip abroad, try to make an appointment at a U.S. consulate and read the application forms carefully before you leave. See the State Department site at www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/index.html for general information, and for links to consulates and the application forms. Check with the U.S. Embassy where you will apply for a nonimmigrant visa, since additional or different documents might be required and the application submission method might differ depending upon which U.S. Embassy you will go to. Documents to Prepare Prepare the following documents for visa renewals. Be aware that you might need to prepare some of the documents before departing the U.S. for your home country: An application Form DS-156, completed and signed. Blank forms are available without charge at all U.S. consular offices and online at evisaforms.state.gov. A passport valid for at least six months. One photograph showing full face, without head covering, against a light background. See detailed photo requirements online at travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1287.html. A receipt for visa processing fee. An I-20 or DS-2019 that has been endorsed on the back by a school official (from International Students Services) within the past 12 months. ISS recommends traveling with an endorsement less than 6 months old. Financial evidence that shows you or your financial sponsors have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses, such as bank statement, scholarship letter, or graduate assistantship appointment letter. A certified copy of your grades from the school in which you are enrolled (i.e. transcript or Certificate of Enrollment, both available from the Registrar). Proof of your binding ties to a residence in your home country which you have no intention of abandoning. Applicants with dependents: Proof of your relationships to your spouse and/or children (i.e. marriage and birth certificates). It is preferred that families apply for F-2 and J-2 visas at the same time as the F-1 or J-1, but if the spouse and children must apply separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of the student visa holderøs passport and visa, along with all other required documents. Things to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa Ties to your home country. Under U.S. law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas, such as student visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the U.S. øTiesø to your home country are the things that bind you to your home town, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans and career prospects in your home country. Each personøs situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter, which can guarantee visa issuance. English. Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview. If you are coming to the U.S. solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful in your home country. Speak for yourself. Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview (unless applying for dependent visas). The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf. Know the program and how it fits your career plans. If you are not able to explain the reasons you will study in a particular program in the U.S. , you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the U.S. relates to your future professional career when you return home. Be Brief. Because of the volumes of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute or two of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officerøs questions short and to the point. Supplemental documentation. It should be clear at a glance to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have two or three minutes of interview time, if youøre lucky. Not all countries are equal. Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the U.S. as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the U.S. Employment. Your main purpose in coming to the U.S. should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the U.S. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the U.S. Volunteer work and attending school (for school-age dependent children) are permitted activities for F-2s. J-2 dependents, once in the U.S. , may apply for work permission and/or study; however, if a consular officer believes a J-1 student may become financially dependent on a J-2øs employment, the visa application may be denied. Dependents remaining at home. If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gets the impression that your family members will need you to remit money from the U.S. in order to support them, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa. Maintain a positive attitude. Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.

Travel Tips

Documents Needed to Enter the United States

Passport
You will need a valid passport or other travel document. If you are a citizen of Canada entering the U.S. from North America , you may prove your nationality with a document other than a passport.

I-20 or DS-2019
F visa holders must have a Form I-20 with item five showing a completion date that is in the future. The document should have a travel endorsement no more than a year old on the bottom of page three. ISS recommends more frequent travel endorsementsøevery six months. If you have been out of the United States for more than five months, contact ISS to see if you need a new Form I-20.

J visa holders must have a Form DS-2019 with item three showing a completion date that is in the future, and with a travel endorsement no more than a year old in the bottom right corner. ISS recommends more frequent travel endorsementsøevery six months.

Travel endorsements can be obtained by brining your current I-20 or DS-2019 and passport to ISS several business days before you plan to travel.

Visa Stamp
You must possess a U.S. entry visa that is valid in each of the following four respects (unless you are Canadian; if so, see notes on page 4):

Automatic Extension of Validity: If you go from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, or any island in the Caribbean (except Cuba) for 30 days or less, when you reenter the U.S. your visa will be considered valid in each of the previously mentioned respects, provided that:

You keep your current I-94 card upon departure from the U.S. ;
When you return, you present that I-94 card, which must remain valid after your return to the U.S. (meaning it must be marked øD/Sø); and
Your purpose in reentering is resumption of the status that you held when you left.

Exceptions to Automatic Extension of Validity: Automatic Extension does not apply to the following:

Those who have applied for an entry visa at the U.S. consulate in that country.
Citizens of Iraq , Iran , Libya , Cuba , North Korea , Sudan , or Syria .
Anyone whose passport has no visa. (For example, the passport was replaced by the issuing governmentøs consulate and you were not allowed tokeep your old expired passport with the visa in it.)
Anyone whose visa has been cancelled.
Anyone subject to Special Registration, as you must officially øcheck outø of the U.S. whenever you depart and turn in your I-94 card.
Note: If you are a citizen of Mexico or an island in the Caribbean except Cuba , and are returning to the U.S. from your country of citizenship, we do not advise you to use automatic extension.

Additional Notes About Visas:
If you apply for an F or J visa at a U.S. consulate in North America , you may reenter only after you receive the visa. If your application is delayed or denied, you will have to return directly from the country you are in to your country of citizenship and apply there for your new U.S. visa.

Remember that visa stamps are available only outside the U.S. and their sole purpose is entry; once you are in the country, you only need to renew an expired visa if you leave North America (or the U.S. for more than 30 days, even if within North America ) and want to return in the same status.

A citizen of Canada does not need a visa stamp to enter the U.S. in F or J status, and needs a passport (rather than some other proof of nationality) only when entering directly from a country outside of North America . A permanent resident/landed immigrant of Canada , however, is subject to the visa requirements as discussed above.

If you are outside the United States for more than five months and have not been enrolled at the UW-Madison during this time, you may need a new visa to re-enter the U.S. Please consult with an ISS advisor.

Other Documents

If you are a currently enrolled student, you should carry a transcript or a Certificate of Enrollment with you. These can be obtained from the Registrarøs office.
If you are on post-completion OPT: You must present a valid Form I-766 Employment Authorization Document (the EAD card) in addition to the Form I-20 with a travel endorsement less than six months old. ISS also recommends that you have documented proof of employment in your possession (such as a job offer letter). It can be risky to the leave the U.S. without such documentation.
ISS recommends that all students carry proof of financial ability to study in the U.S.

Other Travel Information

US-VISIT
On December 31, 2003 , the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented the United States Visitor and Immigration Status Indication Technology (US-VISIT) system. Under US-VISIT, DHS takes a digital photograph and fingerprints of each arriving international visitor, scans his or her travel documents, and collects other information. Additionally, US-VISIT exit procedures are in effect at many ports, including Chicago O'Hare. This involves a similar procedure as with arrival, and international visitors have to check out either at an automated exit kiosk or with a US-VISIT exit attendant at the departure gate. More information about US-VISIT is available at the following website:
www.dhs.gov/interweb/assetlibrary/Pamphlet_BW_Web.pdf .

Third Country Visits
If you intend to visit a country other than your own, you may need an entry visa for that country. ISS recommends that you contact that countryøs consulate or embassy well in advance for assistance in determining whether you need a visa to enter that country. For a list of foreign consulates located in the U.S. , go to the following website:
www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/index.cfm?id=4194 .

Special Registration
If you are subject to National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) Registration, you must comply with check-out procedures at designated ports of departure.
For information, refer to: www.ice.gov/graphics/specialregistration/index.htm .

Applying for a U.S. Visa

CAUTION! If you have to apply at a consulate for a new entry visa, think carefully about the risk of delays before you decide to travel. Consulates frequently initiate security checks for many different reasons. These range from the applicant having a common name to the applicantøs field of study or research, etc. These checks usually take six to eight weeks, although occasionally they can take six months to a year. Once the Visa Officer initiates a security check, the consulate must wait for an answer from Washington , DC to issue an entry visa. No matter how long the delay lasts, neither the consulates nor the Department of State in Washington, DC respond to pleas by universities or applicants, even if the delays are causing inconvenience or hardship, or threatening research funded by the U.S. government itself.

Security checks are repeated! Even after you have undergone one security check, another will probably be made each subsequent time that you apply for a visa, even after a short visit abroad, and even if you will be returning to continue your study or employment at the same institution in the U.S.

Making an Appointment
If you will be applying for a visa during your trip abroad, try to make an appointment at a U.S. consulate and read the application forms carefully before you leave. See the State Department site at www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/index.html for general information, and for links to consulates and the application forms. Check with the U.S. Embassy where you will apply for a nonimmigrant visa, since additional or different documents might be required and the application submission method might differ depending upon which U.S. Embassy you will go to.

Documents to Prepare
Prepare the following documents for visa renewals. Be aware that you might need to prepare some of the documents before departing the U.S. for your home country:

An application Form DS-156, completed and signed. Blank forms are available without charge at all U.S. consular offices and online at evisaforms.state.gov.
A passport valid for at least six months.
One photograph showing full face, without head covering, against a light background. See detailed photo requirements online at travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1287.html.
A receipt for visa processing fee.
An I-20 or DS-2019 that has been endorsed on the back by a school official (from International Students Services) within the past 12 months. ISS recommends traveling with an endorsement less than 6 months old.
Financial evidence that shows you or your financial sponsors have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses, such as bank statement, scholarship letter, or graduate assistantship appointment letter.
A certified copy of your grades from the school in which you are enrolled (i.e. transcript or Certificate of Enrollment, both available from the Registrar).
Proof of your binding ties to a residence in your home country which you have no intention of abandoning.
Applicants with dependents: Proof of your relationships to your spouse and/or children (i.e. marriage and birth certificates). It is preferred that families apply for F-2 and J-2 visas at the same time as the F-1 or J-1, but if the spouse and children must apply separately at a later time, they should bring a copy of the student visa holderøs passport and visa, along with all other required documents.

Things to Remember When Applying for a Nonimmigrant Visa

Ties to your home country. Under U.S. law, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas, such as student visas, are viewed as intending immigrants until they can convince the consular officer that they are not. You must therefore be able to show that you have reasons for returning to your home country that are stronger than those for remaining in the U.S. øTiesø to your home country are the things that bind you to your home town, homeland, or current place of residence: job, family, financial prospects that you own or will inherit, investments, etc. If you are a prospective undergraduate, the interviewing officer may ask about your specific intentions or promise of future employment, family or other relationships, educational objectives, grades, long-range plans and career prospects in your home country. Each personøs situation is different, of course, and there is no magic explanation or single document, certificate, or letter, which can guarantee visa issuance.
English. Anticipate that the interview will be conducted in English and not in your native language. One suggestion is to practice English conversation with a native speaker before the interview. If you are coming to the U.S. solely to study intensive English, be prepared to explain how English will be useful in your home country.
Speak for yourself. Do not bring parents or family members with you to the interview (unless applying for dependent visas). The consular officer wants to interview you, not your family. A negative impression is created if you are not prepared to speak on your own behalf.
Know the program and how it fits your career plans. If you are not able to explain the reasons you will study in a particular program in the U.S. , you may not succeed in convincing the consular officer that you are indeed planning to study, rather than to immigrate. You should also be able to explain how studying in the U.S. relates to your future professional career when you return home.
Be Brief. Because of the volumes of applications received, all consular officers are under considerable time pressure to conduct a quick and efficient interview. They must make a decision, for the most part, on the impressions they form during the first minute or two of the interview. Consequently, what you say first and the initial impression you create are critical to your success. Keep your answers to the officerøs questions short and to the point.
Supplemental documentation. It should be clear at a glance to the consular officer what written documents you are presenting and what they signify. Lengthy written explanations cannot be quickly read or evaluated. Remember that you will have two or three minutes of interview time, if youøre lucky.
Not all countries are equal. Applicants from countries suffering economic problems or from countries where many students have remained in the U.S. as immigrants will have more difficulty getting visas. Statistically, applicants from those countries are more likely to be intending immigrants. They are also more likely to be asked about job opportunities at home after their study in the U.S.
Employment. Your main purpose in coming to the U.S. should be to study, not for the chance to work before or after graduation. While many students do work during their studies, such employment is incidental to their main purpose of completing their U.S. education. You must be able to clearly articulate your plan to return home at the end of your program. If your spouse is also applying for an accompanying F-2 visa, be aware that F-2 dependents cannot, under any circumstances, be employed in the U.S. If asked, be prepared to address what your spouse intends to do with his or her time while in the U.S. Volunteer work and attending school (for school-age dependent children) are permitted activities for F-2s. J-2 dependents, once in the U.S. , may apply for work permission and/or study; however, if a consular officer believes a J-1 student may become financially dependent on a J-2øs employment, the visa application may be denied.
Dependents remaining at home. If your spouse and children are remaining behind in your country, be prepared to address how they will support themselves in your absence. This can be an especially tricky area if you are the primary source of income for your family. If the consular officer gets the impression that your family members will need you to remit money from the U.S. in order to support them, your student visa application will almost certainly be denied. If your family does decide to join you at a later time, it is helpful to have them apply at the same post where you applied for your visa.
Maintain a positive attitude. Do not engage the consular officer in an argument. If you are denied a student visa, ask the officer for a list of documents he or she would suggest you bring in order to overcome the refusal, and try to get the reason you were denied in writing.