General Information
When traveling outside the United States, J-1 scholars must have in their possession the proper documents to return to the US to resume their activities. These documents are:
Passport valid at least six months beyond the date of US reentry
Valid J-1 visa stamp in passport
Form DS2019 authorized for travel by an ISS counselor
Note: You must surrender the current I-94 card at the U.S. border/port of exit. If this is not done you may have problems with your reentry or future immigration status (Exception: Auto revalidation to Canada or Mexico).
If one or more of the above documents are not valid, they should contact the ISS reception desk by phone (765-494-5770) or visit the ISS office during walk-in times (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 9am-11:30am and 1:30pm - 4pm; Thursday 1:30pm - 4pm only) to inquire about the procedures to follow. When visiting the ISS office, be sure to bring your passport, I-94 card, and current Form DS2019.
Furthermore, other documents could be carried with you to confirm your right to reenter the US. Such documents would be proof of financial support as listed on your DS2019 or a letter from your department confirming your appointment/invitation to Purdue.
If a J-1 scholar has a travel endorsement in the "Travel Validation by Responsible Officer" in the lower right corner of their DS2019, that endorsement is valid for a one year period from the date that it has been signed or until the expiration date of the DS2019, whichever comes first. The expiration date is given in item #3 of the DS2019. Following are exceptions to this one-year endorsement. Please read and pay careful attention to these exceptions.
On the date that they complete their program, the endorsement is no longer valid. This date may be the date a scholar terminates the employment or program within the inviting department.
If the visa stamp in their passport has expired, they will need to have their DS2019 endorsed for travel and obtain a "good standing letter" from the ISS office in order to apply for a re-entry visa at a US Embassy or Consulate abroad.
If the department terminates the scholar's program, the DS2019 is no longer valid. It is imperative that such scholars talk with an Immigration Counselor in ISS concerning their nonimmigrant status. If one of these situations applies and a scholar travels outside of the US, that scholar should not use the endorsed DS2019 to reenter the US; the scholar will be denied legal entry to the US.
If a scholar is traveling to Canada or European countries and needs a visa stamp, that country might require a signature within the current semester before granting a visa. Of course, if the scholar is from that country, they do not need a visa stamp. Please check with the consulate of the country to confirm what is required for a visa.
If a scholar is outside of the US for over 30 days for personal reasons, the DS2019 will no longer be valid for reentry according to the Department of State (DOS). If a scholar is outside the US for non-personal reasons for more than 30 days, such as awaiting visa approval or working on a collaborative project between Purdue and the scholar's home institution, ISS will need written confirmation for such situations to facilitate valid reentry to the US.
SPECIAL REGISTRATION (NSEERS). If you were subject to the special registration when you last entered the US you must carefully follow the instructions given to you at that time for exiting the US.
APPLYING FOR A VISA. If a scholar needs to apply for a new J-1 visa abroad, they should visit the ISS office at least two weeks prior to the departure date and ask about required documentation for the trip.
Please plan far in advance for travel. With well over 5000 international students and scholars at Purdue, end of semester periods can be busy at ISS with many travel and other types of requests.
Visa Appointments in Canada and Mexico
If you are traveling from the United States to apply for a non-immigrant visa at the US Embassy or a US Consulate in Canada, or at a US Consulate in Mexico located along the US/Mexico border, you must have an appointment for an interview. You may either schedule an appointment via Internet or phone:
Phone-based appointment system:
from Canada, the number is 1-900-451-2778
from the US, the number is 1-900-443-3131
Only applicants with appointments will be interviewed.
Canadian Landed Immigrant or Mexican Citizens:
If you are a Canadian Landed Immigrant in the US and wish to make application in Canada, or if you are a Mexican citizen in the US desiring to make application in Mexico, you do not need to make a visa appointment.
Traveling to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean: Auto-revalidation of visa: If you travel for less than 30 days to Canada, Mexico, or certain Caribbean Islands you may re-enter the US with your present expired or valid non-immigrant F or J visa in your passport. In order to re-enter the US you not only need the expired or valid visa but also a valid passport, an endorsed I-20/J document, a valid I-94 and a letter from ISS to ensure that you retain your I-94 card(s). See the exceptions below.
- Auto revalidation is cancelled if you choose to apply for a US visa at the US consulate/embassy in one of these countries and are denied.
- Citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba are not eligible for automatic revalidation when traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands. Citizens from these countries must have a valid visa before they may re-enter the US.
- If you remain in Canada or Mexico or the Caribbean Islands for 30 days or longer, you just obtain a re-entry visa at the US Embassy or Consulate. Your application for a re-entry visa may be the lowest priority and may be denied.