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International
Student Services
International Programs Office at Benedictine
University
Travel
Outside the U.S.
According to U.S. law, a non-immigrant visa student may be readmitted
to the U.S. after an absence of five months or less, provided
that he/she has maintained lawful full-time F-1 status during
his/her stay in the U.S.
In order to reenter the U.S. after traveling abroad, an international
student must present the following documents to the U.S. immigration
inspector upon arriving at a U.S. airport or other Port of Entry
(POE):
- An un-expired/valid passport
- An un-expired / valid F-1
visa stamp in the passport. If you do not have a valid F-1 visa
stamp, you must obtain one from a U.S. Consulate Office in your
home country. Please read our Visa Application Checklist and
10 Points to Remember When Applying for a Non-Immigrant Visa,
or speak with an International Programs advisor before you depart.
- A recent signature by
the Designated School Official (DSO) on the SEVIS I-20 Form.
Please make sure that you get your SEVIS I-20 Forms signed by
the appropriate International Programs advisor each time you
travel. Check to make sure that the travel signature on your
document is not older than six months. If you (or your
dependent) need to apply for an F-1 (F-2) visa, you should request
a SEVIS I-20 from the ISO. Issuance of new SEVIS forms will
take one week from the date of request. To obtain a SEVIS I-20,
please complete a Document Request Form, available both at the
International Programs Office and web site.
- Proof of adequate financial
support USCIS has recently state that returning as well as first
time students may be required to provide financial documentation
in order to enter the U.S. Please ask an advisor for a copy
of your Confidential Financial Statement of Support, if you
do not already have it.
In addition, we strongly recommend
that you have the following documents ready in the event that you
are required to present additional information regarding your studies
in the U.S.
- A letter verifying lawful
F-1 student status (please complete a Document Request Form.
Letters will be ready for pick-up or mailed to you 3 business
days from request.)
- A Benedictine University
student identification card
- An official transcript;
this is a historical record of your course work and grades,
and may be obtained from the Ben Central. A rush request may
be available. For more information please visit the ARC web site
at http://www.ben.edu/resources/resource_center/
NOTE: TRAVEL TO CANADA AND/OR
MEXICO
Effective April 1, 2002, the "automatic revalidation of visa" benefit
changed. "Automatic revalidation of visa" allows an international
student in F-1 visa status to enter the U.S. without a valid U.S.
visa after a 30-day or less visit to contiguous territories (Canada,
Mexico and U.S. adjacent islands other than Cuba). However, effective
April 1, 2002, the following changes took effect:
- Any person who applies
for a new visa at a U.S. consulate in Canada or Mexico will
have to wait until the new visa is granted in order to re-enter
the U.S. IN OTHER WORDS, ANYONE WHO APPLIES FOR A NEW VISA AT
A U.S. CONSULATE IN CANADA OR MEXICO AND IS DENIED A VISA WILL
NOT BE ABLE TO RE-ENTER THE U.S. BASED ON 'AUTOMATIC REVALIDATION'
- Citizens of the following
countries will no longer be eligible for the "automatic revalidation
of visa" benefit: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea,
and Cuba
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