Travel and Re-Entry

To re-enter the U.S. to continue your program/employment after a short break outside of the country, it is necessary to have proper documentation. Prepare these documents in the U.S. before leaving and keep all documents handy during your travels.

Visitors traveling to the U.S. are required to be in possession of passports that are valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the U.S.  For a list of countries exempt from the six month rule, see Six Month Club. (Six Month Club validity on your passport does not apply to U.S. Citizens returning to the United States.)

F-1 OPT

1. Valid passport (minimum of 6 months into the future)
2. Valid, unexpired F-1 visa stamp in your passport
3. Current Form I-20 with valid travel signature (page 3) from the International Office that issued the document
4. Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
5. Letter from your employer certifying continuing employment at UC San Diego

J-1

1. Valid passport (minimum of 6 months into the future)
2. Valid, unexpired J-1 visa stamp in your passport
3. Valid Form DS-2019 with valid travel signature from the International Services and Engagement Office*
   *If your Form DS-2019 requires a valid travel signature, complete the online request; please allow 5 business days for processing.
4. Appointment letter (optional)

H-1B

1. Valid passport* 
   *Please note: If your passport expires before the H-1B approval date on your I-797 approval notice, your status end date will be reduced accordingly on your physical or electronic I-94 Arrival/Departure record. 
2. Valid, unexpired H-1B visa stamp in your passport
3. Current I-797 form (H-1B Approval Notice)
4. Copy of (I-129 and ETA9035) petition
5. Letter from your employer certifying continuing employment at UC San Diego 
6. Earning Statements for previous two months 

O-1

1. Valid passport*
   *Please note: If your passport expires before the H-1B approval date on your I-797 approval notice, your status end date will be reduced accordingly on your physical or electronic I-94 Arrival/Departure record. In that case, you must notify the International Services and Engagement Office so that we can apply for an extension to recapture your original approval period.
2. Valid, unexpired O-1 visa stamp in your passport
3. Current I-797 form (O-1 Approval Notice)
4. Copy of (I-129) petition
5. Letter from your employer certifying continuing employment at UC San Diego

TN

1. Valid passport
2. Original physical or electronic I-94 Arrival/Departure record indicating prior entry in TN status and annotated with employer's name
3. Valid, unexpired TN visa stamp in your passport (Canadians citizens are not required to have visa stamps for entry to the U.S.)
4. Letter from your employer certifying continuing employment at UC San Diego
5. Canadian citizens are eligible for expedited reentry through the NEXUS program.

B-1

1. Valid passport
2. Valid, unexpired B-1/B-2 visa stamp in your passport
3. Letter from your inviting department indicating the business nature of your activities on campus (see sample letter)

WB

1. Valid passport
2. Valid, unexpired ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) registration
3. Letter from your inviting department indicating the business nature of your activities on campus (see sample letter)

Dependents

Family members in derivative status (F-2, J-2, H-4, O-3, TD) will need to have valid documents respective to their immigration status listed from items #1 through #3 as well. Non-citizen Canadian spouse/dependents will need TD visa stamps.

• If your visa stamp has expired you will need to renew it; see applying for a visa.
• If you are traveling to adjacent countries, you may not need to apply for a new visa stamp; see Automatic Visa Renewal below.
• If you are applying for a new visa as a Third Country National and are required to wait for its issuance, do NOT under any circumstances return to the U.S. in B status to work while you wait for the visa approval.

For general travel to other countries: (if traveling to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean islands excluding Cuba for 30 days or less, see Automatic Visa Revalidation below):

U.S. Customs & Border Patrol (CBP) Officer will create an electronic automated arrival Form I-94 record during the admissions process for nonimmigrants entering the United States at an air or sea port. Upon entry, please retrieve your admission (I-94) number and print a copy of the I-94 for your record from the Form I-94 website. If an employer, local, state or federal agency requests admission information, present your admission (I-94) number along with any additional required documents requested by that employer or agency. If your record is NOT FOUND, please contact the International Services and Engagement Office.

Apply for I-94 prior to entry, if entering via land border (not air/sea). If you are entering via land border you MUST apply for an I-94 within seven days prior to entering the U.S. or you may be required to go to Secondary Inspection with U.S. Customs at time of reentry; there is a $6 application fee. After entry, you can retrieve your I-94 online. If you are entering via air or sea you do NOT need to apply for an I-94 prior to your entry. After entry, you can retrieve your I-94 online.

• CBP's travel website
• Form I-94 Fact Sheet (PDF | 133 KB)
• Form I-94 Quick Reference Guide (PDF | 1.8 MB)

Definition: Your expired U.S. entry visa is considered to be automatically extended to the date of reentry provided that the visa has not been canceled, and that you have not applied for a new visa. To take advantage of AVR your travel must be to contiguous/adjacent entities for less than 30 days. Rules governing AVR are found in the United States Code of Federal Regulations.

• Contiguous countries are: Canada, Mexico, and the adjacent islands: Saint Pierre, Miquelon, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, the Windward and Lee Islands, Trinidad, Martinique, and the British, French and Netherlands territories or possessions in or bordering the Caribbean Sea. Cuba is excluded.
• H-1B workers are allowed to take advantage of AVR for travel to Canada and Mexico ONLY.
• AVR is not available to individuals from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism.
• If you were issued a physical I-94 card (as opposed to automated, electronic version) DO NOT surrender your I-94 card when departing the U.S.; you must keep it for reentry and automatic revalidation of your visa stamp.  If you were issued an automated, electronic I-94, your I-94 will be verified electronically and you will be eligible for AVR if you meet all other requirements (as listed here).
• If you have a physical I-94 card that you will be using for automatic visa revalidation, and the flight attendant or officer asks for your I-94 card, politely inform them that you are taking advantage of the AVR provision.
• AVR is only for business/leisure travel for fewer than 30 days.
• AVR is not valid for people who travel from a contiguous/adjacent entity, such as Canada, to a non-contiguous country, such as Germany, and then return to the U.S. via a contiguous/adjacent entity.
• If you have changed your status while in the U.S. and hold a visa for the previous status, you may still take advantage of AVR, as long as you bring the supporting documents for your new status.  For example, if you changed your status from F-1 to H-1B, but still only have an expired F-1 visa, you may still use AVR.

For more information regarding AVR, please visit the U.S. Department of State website.

The Department of Homeland Security Traveler Redress Inquiry Program (DHS TRIP) is a single point of contact for individuals who have inquiries or seek resolution regarding difficulties they experienced during their travel screening at transportation hubs—like airports and train stations—or crossing U.S. borders, including:

• watch list issues
• screening problems at ports of entry
• situations where travelers believe they have been unfairly or incorrectly delayed, denied boarding or identified for additional screening at our nation’s transportation hubs

DHS TRIP is part of an effort by the departments of State and Homeland Security to welcome legitimate travelers while still securing our country from those who want to do us harm.

Deferred inspection provides assistance to those individuals who at the time of entry into the United States believe that the documentation and corresponding endorsements issued at the port of entry require review and possible correction. They are available to review and issue the necessary documents to remedy errors recorded on arrival documents relating to improper non-immigrant classification, inaccurate biographical information or incorrect period of admission, if appropriate.

Please note: The deferred inspection sites will only correct errors issued at the time of entry to the United States. You must bring your immigration documents with you for possible correction: Passport, DS-2019, I-94, I-20, or I-797

For information regarding public transportation in San Diego visit our Transportation and Commuting Alternatives page.

If you have plans to work for UC San Diego while outside the U.S., please consult with your department and any offices relevant to your position title (Office of Postdoctoral and Research Scholar Affairs, Academic Personnel Services, etc.). There may be restrictions and policies that could affect your situation.

Anyone working outside of the U.S. on UCSD research must also complete the Export Control Remote Work review form. This will then be routed to Export Control as well as IT to conduct a license review and ensure that data is being accessed properly in other countries.