Immigration

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• Traveling
• Visa Stamp & Status
• Employment Authorization
• Common Visas
  • F-1 versus J-1
  • F-1 Students
  • J-1 Students
  • J-1 Scholars
  • H-1B Temporary
    Worker
• Other Visa Options
• U.S. Permanent Residence

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• Immigration
• Traveling
• Traveling Outside the U.S.

F-1 Student

Please check your documents well in advance of your trip. (If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico or the contiguous islands for less than 30 days you may be eligible for a visa renewal exemption.)

Travel Requirements

• Valid I-20 with OISS signature on page 3
• OISS signature should be within 12 months of return date
• Valid F-1 visa
• Valid passport
• If graduated and on F-1 OPT, your EAD card and a letter from your employer re your OPT position
• F-2 dependents must have their own valid I-20 forms

If you are traveling outside of the U.S. during spring or summer break, make sure that your I-20 (and those of any dependents) has been recently been signed by OISS. If the form has not been signed since spring 2010, you should bring the form to OISS for a new signature before you depart. If you attempt to enter the U.S. with a signature that is over 12 months old, you may encounter difficulties.

F-1 Students on Optional Practical Training (OPT) after Graduation

Please check your documents well in advance of your trip. (If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico or the contiguous islands for less than 30 days you may be eligible for a visa renewal exemption.)

Travel Requirements

• Evidence of a job offer or evidence of resumption of employment (including self-employment and unpaid research)
• The Form I-20 should be signed by an advisor on page 3, and the signature must not be more than six months old at the time of reentry to the U.S.
• Valid F-1 visa in the passport
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD, the plastic card)issued by USCIS
• Valid F-1 visa in the passport

J-1 Student

Please check your documents well in advance of your trip. (If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico or the contiguous islands for less than 30 days you may be eligible for a visa renewal exemption.)

Travel Requirements

• Valid DS-2019 with OISS signature at bottom of page one
• OISS signature should be within 12 months of return date
• Valid J-1 visa
• Valid passport
• If graduated and authorized for academic training, a copy of the Academic Training authorization letter
• J-2 dependents must have their own valid DS-2019 forms
• If Yale University is not your J-1 program sponsor, the signature must be from your J-1 program sponsor

If you are traveling outside of the U.S. during spring or summer break, make sure that your DS-2019 (and those of any dependents) has been recently been signed by OISS. If the form has not been signed since spring 2010, you should bring the form to OISS for a new signature before you depart. If you attempt to enter the U.S. with a signature that is over 12 months old, you may encounter difficulties.

J-1 Post Graduation Academic Training

Please check your documents well in advance of your trip. (If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico or the contiguous islands for less than 30 days you may be eligible for a visa renewal exemption.)

Travel Requirements

• Valid DS-2019 with dates of Academic Training in section #5 (on the right)
• The DS-2019 should be signed by an advisor in the Travel Validation box (lower right) and the signature must not be more than 12 months old at the time of reentry to the U.S.
• An Academic Training Authorization Letter issued by the OISS
• Evidence of the Academic Training job including self-employment and unpaid research
• Valid J-1 visa in the passport
• J-2 dependents need to travel with their own Form DS-2019 and valid J-2 stamp

J-1 Scholar

Please check your documents well in advance of your trip. (If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico or the contiguous islands for less than 30 days you may be eligible for a visa renewal exemption.)

Travel Requirements

• Valid DS-2019 with OISS signature at bottom of page one
• OISS signature should be within 12 months of return date
• Valid J-1 visa
• Valid passport
• J-2 dependents must have their own valid DS-2019 forms
• If Yale University is not your program sponsor, the signature must be from your J-1 program sponsor

If you are traveling outside of the U.S. during spring or summer break, make sure that your DS-2019 (and those of any dependents) has been recently been signed by OISS. If the form has not been signed since spring 2010, you should bring the form to OISS for a new signature before you depart. If you attempt to enter the U.S. with a signature that is over 12 months old, you may encounter difficulties.

H-1B or O-1 Status

Please check your documents well in advance of your trip. (If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico or the contiguous islands for less than 30 days you may be eligible for a visa renewal exemption.)

Travel Requirements

• Valid U.S. visa
• Valid passport (Note: scholars with passports that will expire before the end of the approved H-1B or O-1 period of stay (see form I-797) will be given an expiration date, on re-entry, up to the expiration of the passport only.) Additional information can be found below.
• Valid I-797 Approval Notice
• Copy of all supporting documents issued to you in the OISS approval package (Form 1-797A H-1B approval notice, I-129, and the Labor Condition application)

Passport Requirement

Please note: When traveling, be aware of your passport expiration date because it may shorten your approved H-1B or O-1 time.

Your passport must be valid beyond the approved end date on your H-1B or O-1 I-797. For example, if your passport expires on 1/1/2013 and your I-797 approved end date is 1/1/2014 when your seek re-entry to the U.S., you will only be admitted to the U.S. until 1/1/2013. You would then be required to complete a new H-1B or O-1 extension, even though your I-797 expires in 2014.

This passport expiration issue affects dependent status as well.

Travel During Extension Process or Change of Employers

If you have any plans to travel outside the U.S. during the H-1B extension process you must speak to your OISS advisor as soon as possible. If you plan to return to the U.S. before the expiration of your current approved H-1B status and with a valid H-1B visa stamp there may not be any difficulty. However, in many cases the action of departing from the U.S. during the extension process can make the new H-1B extension inactive, or void.

If you plan to leave the U.S. and your current H-1B status is expired, you cannot return to the U.S. until the extension application is approved, and the approval notice is sent to you. Finally you would have to apply for a new H-1B visa stamp with a consulate or embassy before you can return to the U.S. After you have received the new, extended H-1B approval notice you may travel outside the U.S. once again. However, while outside the U.S. you will have to obtain a new H-1B visa stamp at a U.S. embassy or consulate. It is not possible to obtain visa stamps inside the U.S.

Travel During Change of Immigration Status

Scholars may not travel outside the U.S. during a pending change of status petition (e.g., those who are changing from an F-1/J-1/Other to H-1B or O-1). Please contact your OISS H-1B or O-1 adviser for further details.

TN Status (Canadian Citizen)

Refer to the U.S. Department of State Web site for requirements.

TN Status (Mexican Citizen)

Refer to the U.S. Department of State Web site for requirements.

Canadian Citizens

Canadian citizens are not required to have U.S. visas, but depending on their visa category, must have all the other documentation listed under the pertaining visa status. Without the proper documentation, Canadian citizens risk entering the U.S. as tourists and will therefore be prevented from work or study until they leave the U.S. and re-enter in the proper visa category. Please ensure that you receive an I-94 card upon admission into the U.S.

• Overview
• Traveling Outside the U.S.
• Travel to Canada, Mexico, & Islands
• Travel in the U.S.
• Study/Research Abroad