Travel - Center for Global Engagement

Students are not required to obtain a travel signature on their immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019) or have a valid F-1 or J-1 visa if they plan to travel within the United States, including Hawaii and Alaska. However, CGE recommends that students carry a valid passport, photo ID (SF State ID or Driver’s License), and Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 while traveling within the U.S.

Students who plan to travel outside the United States must obtain a Travel Signature on their Form I-20 (F-1 International Students) or Form DS-2019 (J-1 Exchange Students). 

Only a CGE advisor who is authorized by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security may provide a Travel Signature on a Form I-20. Form DS-2019: please visit the Division of International Education (DoIE). Failure to obtain a valid travel signature may result in the student being denied entry when trying to re-enter the United States.

A Travel Signature on the Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 is valid for one year or until the program end date (whichever comes first) and may be used for multiple re-entries.

Travel to Mexico, Canada and Adjacent Islands

Depending on their country of citizenship, some students may need to apply for a visa to visit Mexico or Canada before making travel plans.

• See entry requirements for Mexico at Visit Mexico.
• See entry requirements for Canada at Visit Canada.

Students who must travel outside the United States due to a personal, family, and/or medical emergency during university closures should email globaled@sfsu.edu (F-1 international students) or exchange@sfsu.edu (Semester @ SF State students).

The email should include the student’s name, SF State ID, departure and return dates from and to the United States, and the best way to contact the student. Students do not need a Travel Signature in order to leave the United States (it is only required for re-entry). For students who leave the United States due to an emergency without a valid Travel Signature, CGE will take measures to support their re-entry process.

To request a travel signature, please email globaled@sfsu.edu. CGE will review their I-20 request and provide an updated I-20 within five business days. Students will need to present the paper I-20 at the port of entry when they return to the U.S.

Attention

• Students must check their SF State email account regularly for updates from the university and CGE. Travel signatures can be canceled if a student falls out of status while outside the U.S.

Continuing international students must request a new initial I-20 if they have departed the U.S. and their I-20 is not longer active.

When to Request

• Email globaled@sfsu.edu as soon as you are sure that you will be returning to the U.S.
• Make sure that you have no registration holds such as “International Health Insurance Hold” and “Campus Financial Obligation Hold” that prevent you from enrolling in the upcoming semester.

When to Arrive

• You must enter the U.S. before the program start date.
• The earliest you may enter the U.S. with an initial I-20 is no more than 30 days before the program start date.

How to Request

To request an initial I-20, email globaled@sfsu.edu from the students' SF State email account. Include their full name and SF State ID in their email to CGE. Upload the following documents to the Box folder. We accept digital signatures, scanned copies, and high-resolution/clear pictures of the completed form and documents.

A CGE advisor will review their request and issue an initial I-20 within five business days. Students must clear any tuition due in order to receive I-20s.

• A signed Financial Affidavit Form. Choose the appropriate form depending on your program:
  • ALI/EAP Financial Affidavit Form
  • Certificate Programs Financial Affidavit Form
  • This form will allow students' sponsor(s) to verify the specific amount they will sponsor for their studies at SF State.
• Proof of Finances dated within the past six months
  • The bank/financial documents must be dated within the past six months from the date you email the complete documents to CGE. For example, if you submit your paperwork on August 15, 2023, the documents must be issued after February 15, 2023.
  • You and/or your sponsor(s) must prove that you can pay for school costs plus living expenses for one academic year.
  • Acceptable types of proof: A balance verification issued by the bank or Financial Guarantee/award letters issued by the scholarship organization.

Processing time

• CGE will review their I-20 request and email them an updated I-20 within five business days.  
• All students will receive an I-20 at their SF State email account. The I-20 will be in PDF format with a certified digital signature from a school official.
• Students must PRINT the I-20, SIGN it in blue ink, and PRESENT the paper I-20 at the U.S. port of entry. 

Attention

SEVIS fee

• The regulation requires all F-1 to pay the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) Fee after receiving an initial I-20 with a new SEVIS ID. Students who have already paid the SEVIS fee to the same SEVIS ID do not need to pay again. Students can enter the SEVIS ID at the check I-901 status page to find out if a SEVIS has been paid.

Enroll in a full-time course load

• No 100% online study allowed
• No more than three units of online classes can be used to satisfy full-time requirements.

Arrive in the U.S.

• Check the program start date on the I-20. You must enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days before the I-20 program start date.
• No late arrival nor extension will be allowed.

Passport

Students' passport must be valid for at least six months into the future at the time they return to the United States. However, some countries have an agreement with the United States that allows them to enter on a current passport up to the actual date of expiration.

F-1 Visa

If students' F-1 visa will expire on or before the date they return to the United States, they must prepare to apply for an F-1 visa in their home country. Students are not eligible to apply for F-1 visas (or any extension/renewals) while physically in the U.S.

Automatic Visa Revalidation: Students are often able to revalidate an expired F-1 visa automatically when returning from a visit of fewer than thirty days to Mexico, Canada, or one of the islands adjacent to the United States (excluding Cuba), provided they have a valid I-20 (with valid Travel Signature on the 2nd page) and passport. This process is known as automatic visa revalidation. Please note that students who have a terminated SEVIS record indicating that they are out of status or have been outside the United States for more than 30 days will not be able to automatically re-validate their F-1 visa. For additional information, see automatic visa revalidation on the U.S. Department of State website. See U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)'s information about traveling to Adjacent Islands as F-1 students.

I-20

If students are traveling outside the United States, they must have a travel signature, dated within 1 year of their return date, under the "Travel Endorsement" section of the Form I-20. See image below:

For example, if the student’s I-20 was signed on November 15, 2022, it is valid until November 15, 2023. Students whose Travel Signature has expired or will expire prior to their planned re-entry date should request a new Travel Signature.

Do not travel with a terminated I-20 even if the signature appears to be valid. Students are not able to re-enter the United States with a terminated I-20. Students should check their SF State email account regularly for updates from the university and CGE. Travel signatures can be canceled if a student falls out of status while outside the U.S.

Students should carry a valid passport, valid F-1 visa, and I-20 with Travel Signature when seeking entry into the United States. CGE also recommends that students carry any previous I-20s from SF State that they may have, as well as a copy of their official or unofficial transcript.

Students on approved Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) must also carry their EAD and a job offer/employment verification letter.

Students who have graduated and are on their 60-day grace periods after their program completion date will not be eligible to re-enter the U.S. (if they leave the U.S. during their grace period). Students who have submitted a Form I-765 to apply for OPT are not on their grace period but in pending/approved OPT status. See "travel while on OPT or STEM OPT" information below.

Take a look at “Form Issue Reason” under “Date of Birth.” The issue reason should show “Continued Attendance,” not “Initial Attendance” nor “Transfer Pending.”  

If the student’s I-20 does not show “Continued Attendance” (i.e., if the I-20 shows "Initial Attendance" or "Transfer Pending"), the student should contact an F-1 international student advisor to request a Travel Signature.  This is true even if the I-20 already has a Travel Signature on the 2nd page. CGE will print a new "Continued Attendance" I-20 for the student and sign it for travel.

Students who have a “Continued Attendance” I-20 and have previously obtained a Travel Signature on that document should check the “Date Issued” in the “Travel Endorsement” section.

The "Current Session Dates" above the "Travel Endorsement" section has no impact on a students' travel eligibility. The "Current Session Start Date" and "Current Session End Date" indicates the semester the travel signature was signed. It does not necessarily reflect the semester a student will use the I-20 to travel.

Students on the 12-month post-completion OPT

• Must enter the U.S. with “APPROVED” remark for OPT
• Must carry a valid EAD
• Must carry a job offer/job verification letter
• Travel signature is valid for 6 months only (NOT one year)
• Must carry valid passport and F-1 visa

Students who have pending I-765

• Must enter the U.S. with “PENDING” remark for OPT
• Pending OPT: job offer/verification is not required
• Travel signature is valid for 6 months only (NOT one year)
• Must carry valid passport and F-1 visa

Do not attempt to enter the U.S. with “REQUESTED” remark for OPT.

To obtain a Travel Signature, students can either submit their DS-2019 at the DoIE front desk or email it to exchange@sfsu.edu.

Processing time

• DoIE will review their DS-2019 request and email them an updated DS-2019 within five business days.  
• DoIE no longer issues paper DS-2019. All students will receive a DS-2019 at their SF State email account. The DS-2019 will be in PDF format with a certified digital signature from a school official.
• Students must PRINT the DS-2019, SIGN it in blue ink, and PRESENT the paper DS-2019 at the U.S. port of entry.

Important: Failure to obtain a Travel Signature before traveling outside the United States may result in denial of re-entry at a U.S. port of entry.

Passport

Students' passport must be valid for at least six months into the future at the time they return to the United States. However, some countries have an agreement with the United States that allows them to enter on a current passport up to the actual date of expiration.

J-1 Visa

If students' J-1 visa will expire on or before the date they return to the United States, they must prepare to apply for a new J-1 visa in their home country. Students are not eligible to apply for J-1 visas (or any extension/renewals) while physically in the U.S.

Automatic Visa Revalidation: Students are often able to revalidate an expired J-1 visa automatically when returning from a visit of fewer than thirty days to Mexico, Canada, or one of the islands adjacent to the United States (excluding Cuba), provided they have a valid DS-2019 (with valid Travel Signature) and passport. This process is known as automatic visa revalidation. Please note that students who have a terminated SEVIS record indicating that they are out of status or have been outside the United States for more than 30 days will not be able to automatically re-validate their J-1 visa.  For additional information, see automatic visa revalidation on the U.S. Department of State website.

DS-2019

If students are travelling outside the United States, they must obtain a travel signature under the "Travel Endorsement" section of the Form DS-2019. 

When traveling internationally, students should carry all of these documents in their hand luggage.