Travel and Re-Entry

1. Visit the iUpdates.ucsd.edu for current immigration, visa, and policy updates that could affect your travel and re-entry into the U.S.
2. If any of the following apply to you, please consult with an ISEO Scholar Advisor before traveling outside of the U.S.:
   • I have applied for a waiver of the Two Year Home Residency Requirement (212e)
   • I am considering applying or have applied for a change of status
   • I am considering applying or have applied for permanent residency
   • ISEO is planning to extend or file a petition to extend my status
3. Will your travel require an official leave of absence from UC San Diego? Check with your department administrator. Processes and offices involved may be different depending upon your appointment title:
   • Postdoctoral appointments: Office of Postdoctoral Scholar Affairs/GEPA (opsa@ucsd.edu)
   • Visiting Scholars: Office of Research Affairs (visitingscholar@ucsd.edu)
   • Visiting Graduate Students: GEPA (support.ucsd.edu)
   • Career Staff appointments: Human Resources/Health Sciences Human Resources 
   • Academic Appointments: Academic Personnel Service

To re-enter the U.S. and continue your program or employment, you must have the appropriate documentation. Be sure to prepare these documents while still in the U.S. and keep them easily accessible during your travels.

• Valid Passport  - Must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your return date.
  • 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.)
• Valid Visa Stamp - Unexpired visa in your passport, if required
  • Note: Canadian nationals do not require a visa to enter the U.S.
• Supporting Documentation  - Varies by Status – see details below.

• Required Documents:
  • Valid passport (six months beyond return date)
  • Valid (unexpired) J-1 visa stamp
  • Valid Form DS-2019 with a valid travel signature from ISEO
    • Request a travel signature via iServices; allow five business days for processing.
• Recommended Additional Documents:
  • Appointment letter
  • Two most recent earning statements (from UcPath if paid by UC San Diego) 
• Note: A leave of absence notification to ISEO is required if:
  • Business travel exceeds 30 days
  • Personal travel exceeds 60 days
  • Combination of Business/Personal Travel exceeds 60 days 

H-1B Employees

• Required Documents:
  • Valid passport (six months beyond return date)
    • If your passport expires before the H-1B approval date, your I-94 end date may be shortened. Contact ISEO if this occurs.
  • Valid (unexpired) H-1B visa stamp
  • Original H-1B Approval Notice (Form I-797)
• Recommended Additional Documents:
  
  • Copy of H-1B petition (I-129 and ETA9035) provided via email when H-1B was approved
  • ISEO H-1B letter of support provided via email when H-1B was approved
  • Earning statements from UcPath (past two months)

O-1 Employees

• Required Documents:
  • Valid passport (six months beyond return date)
    • If your passport expires before the O-1 approval date, your I-94 end date may be shortened. Contact ISEO if this occurs.
  • Valid (unexpired) O-1 visa stamp
  • Original O-1 Approval Notice (Form I-797)
• Recommended Additional Documents:
  
  • Copy of O-1 petition (I-129)
  • Employer letter confirming continued employment from UcPath 
  • Earning statements from UcPath (past two months)

TN (Canadian & Mexican Professionals)

• Required Documents:
  • Valid passport (six months beyond return date)
  • Valid TN visa stamp (Mexican citizens)
  • I-94 Arrival/Departure record annotated with employer’s name
  • Employer Letter of TN support or Employer letter confirming continued employment fromUcPath 
• For Canadian Citizens:
  • A visa is not required for TN entry
  • Canadian citizens are eligible for expedited reentry through the NEXUS program.

E-3 Employees

• Required Documents:
  • Valid passport (six months beyond return date)
    • If your passport expires before the E-3 approval date, your I-94 end date may be shortened. Contact ISEO if this occurs.
  • Valid (unexpired) E-3 visa stamp
  • Copy of the Certified Labor Condition Application (LCA), if you applied for an E-3 visa abroad, OR original E-3 Approval Notice (Form I-797), if you applied for E-3 within U.S.
• Recommended Additional Documents:
  • Copy of E-3 Certified Labor Condition Application (LCA) – provided via email when E-3 LCA certified by the Department of Labor
  • Employer letter confirming continued employment   - available from UcPath or ISEO E-3 letter of support provided via email when E-3 LCA was certified by the Department of Labor
  • Earning statements from UcPath (past two months)

B-1 (Business Visitors)

• Required Documents:
  • Valid passport (six months beyond return date)
  • Valid B-1 visa stamp
  • Letter from UC San Diego department confirming business activities (see sample letter)

WB (Visa Waiver Program - ESTA)

• Required Documents:
  • Valid passport (six months beyond return date)
  • Approved ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) registration
  • Letter from UC San Diego department confirming business activities (sample letter)

Dependents (J-2, H-4, O-3, TD, etc.)

• Required Documents:
  • Valid passport
  • Valid visa stamp 
  • Supporting immigration documentation for derivative status
• For Canadian Dependents:
  • Non-citizen Canadian spouses/dependents will need a TD visa stamp

If your visa stamp has expired, you will need to renew it in order to re-enter the U.S. For more details on applying for a visa, please refer to applying for a visa.

• Visa: A visa is only required for entry into the U.S. Once inside, it does not need to remain valid. Many scholars have expired visas because they do not need to travel outside the U.S. However, if you do travel outside the U.S., you must have a valid, unexpired visa to re-enter. Visas can only be obtained outside the U.S. at a U.S. consulate.
• Status: Your ability to stay and work in the U.S. is determined by your Immigration Document (DS-2019, H-1B Approval Notice, etc.) and your most recent I-94 record. Your status must always remain valid and unexpired while inside the U.S.

• If you are traveling to adjacent countries, you may not need to apply for a new U.S. visa stamp. For more information, see the section on Automatic Visa Renewal below.

Third Country National Visa Applications

• If you are applying for a new visa as a Third Country National and are required to wait for its issuance, do not return to the U.S. in another status (such as B1/B2) to work while waiting for the visa approval. This can result in complications with your status and is strongly discouraged.

What is the I-94?
When you enter the United States, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will create an electronic Form I-94 arrival record as part of the admission process. Upon entry, retrieve and print your I-94 from the CBP Form I-94 website.

• Entering by Air or Sea:
  • No action needed before travel.
  • After entry, retrieve your I-94 online.
• Entering by Land Border:
  • You must apply for an I-94 online within seven days prior to entry.
  • There is an approximate application fee of $6.
  • After entry, retrieve your I-94 online.

• Record Not Found?
  • Contact your ISEO Scholar Advisor for assistance.
• Information Incorrect?
  • Reach out to your ISEO Scholar Advisor for guidance.

• CBP Travel Website
• Form I-94 Fact Sheet (PDF)
• Form I-94 Quick Reference Guide (PDF)

If you attempt to return to the U.S. without all of your valid documents, you may be subject to secondary inspection and/or denied re-entry.

It will be at the sole discretion of the port-of-entry officer to grant you re-entry to the U.S. Even if you are allowed entry, you may be issued a Form I-515A. This form allows a scholar to enter the U.S. for up to 30 days, during which the scholar must report to the Responsible Officer at their institution for required documentation. The 30-day period will be reflected on a date-specific I-94 Arrival/Departure Record (not stamped "D/S"). If you are issued a Form I-515A, please contact your ISEO Scholar Advisor for further assistance right away.

Automatic Visa Revalidation is a provision in which your expired U.S. entry visa is considered to be automatically extended to the date of reentry provided that your 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.

Eligible Travel Destinations:

• Contiguous territories include: Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands: Saint Pierre, Miquelon, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, the Windward and Leeward Islands, Trinidad, Martinique, and British, French, and Dutch territories or possessions bordering the Caribbean Sea
• Cuba is excluded
• H-1B workers can only use AVR for travel to Canada and Mexico (not the adjacent islands)

General AVR Requirements:

• Trip duration must be fewer than 30 days and for business or leisure purposes.
• AVR does not apply if you travel from a contiguous country (e.g., Canada) to a non-contiguous country (e.g., Germany) and then return to the U.S. via a contiguous country.
• AVR is not available to individuals from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism.
• You cannot use AVR if you have applied for a new visa. You must wait for your visa to be approved to re-enter the U.S.
• If you changed your status while in the U.S. but still hold a visa for your previous status, you may still use AVR as long as you bring supporting documents for your new status.
  • Example: If you changed from F-1 to H-1B but only have an expired F-1 visa, you may still use AVR.

I-94 Card Handling:

• If you have a physical I-94 card, DO NOT surrender it when departing the U.S. You must keep it for reentry and automatic visa revalidation. If a flight attendant or officer requests your I-94 card upon departure, politely inform them that you are taking advantage of the AVR provision.
• If you were issued an automated, electronic I-94, it will be verified electronically upon reentry, and you may use AVR if you meet all other requirements.

Important Considerations: 

• Entry to the U.S. is never guaranteed, and is solely at the discretion of Customs and Border Protection. 
• You may encounter an officer unfamiliar with AVR. We recommend printing out a copy of the Code of Federal Regulations to bring with you. 
• Scholars attempting to use AVR may be required to go to Secondary Inspection. 

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 are seeking resolution regarding difficulties 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 individuals who believe that their entry documentation or endorsements require review and possible correction after entering or re-entering the U.S.

What Can Be Corrected? Deferred inspection sites can only correct errors made at the time of entry, including:

• Incorrect nonimmigrant classification
• Inaccurate biographical information
• Incorrect period of admission

How to Request an I-94 Correction

• If you need an I-94 correction, you can contact U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at I94SAN@cbp.dhs.gov.
• Be sure to include:
  • A copy/picture of your passport biographical page
  • A copy/picture of your immigration document (DS-2019, I-20, or I-797 Approval Notice)

Need Assistance?

• If you believe your I-94 needs correction, contact an ISEO Scholar Advisor for guidance. We will review your documents and help determine whether deferred inspection is the best option for you. 

If you are traveling internationally for UC San Diego business or bringing UCSD property, safety and security should be a primary consideration. For more details, visit:

• Export Control page for researchers
• General Export Control Information

Working for UC San Diego While Outside the U.S.
If you plan to work for UC San Diego while outside the United States, consult with your department’s human resources contact and any relevant offices based on your position title. There may be restrictions and policies that could impact your ability to work remotely from abroad. Anyone conducting UC San Diego research outside the U.S. must complete the Export Control Remote Work Review Form (SSO Required).  

This form is routed to:

• Export Control for compliance review
• UCSD IT to ensure proper data access and licensing requirements in other countries