Domestic and International Travel Information

Topics covered in this section

• Travel within the U.S.
• Travel to Canada or Mexico (of 30 days or less)
• Travel abroad (including Canada or Mexico for more than 30 days)
• Travel and H-1B portability
• Sensitive areas of study or research

To ensure compliance with immigration law, Western Michigan University's Immigration Services office strongly advises international students, scholars and visitors to consult with an Immigration Services advisor prior to making any travel arrangements.

Travel within the U.S.

Anytime a student travels within the U.S. it is important that they carry their passport and immigration documents. Canadian citizens are exempt from the visa requirements. There is heightened security in the U.S.—not only at border crossings, but also at bus terminals, train stations and airports; a student may be stopped by an authorized government agent and questioned randomly. International Student and Scholar Services (I3S) encourages students to carry their immigration documents along with their Bronco Card for all travel outside Kalamazoo. In Kalamazoo, carry a copy of immigration documents at all times.

Travel to Canada or Mexico (of 30 days or less)

Under certain circumstances, non-immigrants with expired visas are allowed to return to the U.S. after a visit of 30 days or less to Canada or Mexico in the same status in which they departed to continue their previously approved activities without having to obtain new visas. This is known as automatic extension of visa validity. For F/J status holders, this benefit also extends to adjacent islands other than Cuba.

Note: It may be necessary to obtain an entry visa to enter these countries; check with the appropriate consulate for more information.

Documents needed for re-entry

F Students need the following documents to re-enter the U.S.:

• Valid Form I-20 endorsed for re-entry by I3S.
• Passport valid for more than six months from the date of intended return.
• Valid arrival/departure record.

J-1 Exchange Visitors need the following documents to re-enter the U.S.:

• Valid Form DS-2019 endorsed for re-entry by I3S.
• Passport valid for more than six months from the date of intended return.
• Valid arrival/departure record.

H-1B and O-1 workers need the following documents to re-enter the U.S.:

• Passport valid for more than six months from the date of intended return.
• Valid arrival/departure record.
• Original I-797 Approval Notice.

If you hold any other immigration status, please consult with I3S prior to traveling outside the U.S.

Citizens of Iran, Syria, Sudan or Cuba

Citizens of these countries will always need a valid visa to re-enter the U.S. Even though citizens of these countries may be eligible for re-entry per the regulations, security or other clearances may be required before they are permitted to re-enter the U.S., and they may be required to remain outside the U.S. for more than 30 days. 

Any nonimmigrant who chooses to apply for a new U.S. entry visa while in contiguous territory will not be eligible for the automatic re-validation benefit during the course of that trip, but is required to wait until the visa is granted to re-enter the U.S. This would seem clearly to prevent someone whose visa application is denied from then reentering the U.S. under the automatic re-validation provision, but the broad language could also be read to prevent individuals whose visa application is still pending from using the automatic extension of visa validity provision to reenter the U.S. before the visa application is decided. 

Travel abroad (including visits to Canada or Mexico for more than 30 days)

Whether or not to travel abroad is a personal decision. Students and scholars whose U.S. entry visas have expired will need to obtain a new U.S. entry visa to return. They should anticipate longer waiting periods to obtain visas, closer scrutiny of visa documents, in-person interviews, and possible security clearance delays. Due to recent changes, check with the U.S. consulate or embassy where applying for the visa, or its website, before leaving the U.S. to determine the particular consular post's policies and procedures. Allow ample time for applying for new visas.

Travel and H-1B portability

Under certain circumstances, a foreign national holding H-1B status in the U.S. on whose behalf a new employer has properly filed an H-1B petition under the H-1B portability provisions may travel abroad and apply for re-admission to the U.S.

Note: I3S recommends that travel is delayed until the H-1B portability petition by WMU is approved by United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to avoid a possible encounter with an immigration official who is not familiar with this rule.

Documents needed for re-entry

Carry the following documents when returning to the U.S. from international travel (including to Canada or Mexico):

• Passport valid for more than six months from the date of intended return.
• Valid H-1B visa (presumably annotated with the name of a previous H-1B employer).
• Original I-797 Approval Notice for the previous H-1B employer.
• Original I-797 Receipt Notice issued to WMU, which filed the H-1B portability petition.
• Proof of employment with WMU, such as recent pay stubs or a recent letter from a supervisor confirming employment.
• Photocopy of the arrival/departure record (I-94) issued at the time of last entry.
• Photocopy of WMU’s H-1B portability petition filed with the United States Center for Immigration Services, including a Labor Condition Application.

Sensitive areas of study or research

U.S. visa officials worldwide have been requesting Security Advisory Opinions from Washington, D.C., for nonimmigrant visa applicants wishing to enter the U.S. for educational or business purposes that involve sensitive areas of study or research. Such a clearance can add up to 16 weeks or longer to the normal visa processing time.

Nationals applying for non-immigrant visas who are from countries identified by the U.S. State Department as being state sponsors of terrorism will warrant special scrutiny if their purpose for entering the United States involves sensitive areas of study or research. Those countries are: Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria. Security clearance for visa applications may also be required for a foreign national who is not a citizen of one of these countries, depending upon their field of study or research (especially if it is in the sciences, technology or engineering).

For more information, contact I3S prior to traveling outside the U.S.