Required Travel Documents
Students must have a valid passport, valid visa, and DS-2019 with a valid travel endorsement.
Additional Documents for AT
Students on Academic Training (AT) must have a valid passport, valid visa, DS-2019 with a valid travel endorsement. It is also highly recommended that students travel with an offer letter or employment letter.
Travel Endorsements (Travel Signatures)
A travel endorsement, otherwise known as a travel signature, is issued by ISSO. This signature verifies that you are currently enrolled and maintaining status, and therefore eligible for reentry into the U.S.
Travel signatures are only needed for reentry into the U.S. and are not needed for travel within the U.S.
Requesting a Travel Signature
Read more about how to get a travel signature on our Travel Signatures FAQ.
Validity of Travel Signature
Travel signatures are valid for one year. For students on AT, travel signatures are only valid for 6 months.
Expired Travel Signature and Outside U.S.
Contact ISSO at 515-294-1120 or firstname.lastname@example.org. ISSO will provide more instructions at that time.
A student does not need a new visa if it has not expired. However, students in the following circumstances may need to get a new visa and should contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy in their home country to confirm:
- Students who have reported their passport (and visa) lost
- Students who have updated their name on their passport
- Students who have taken an absence from the U.S. for 5 months or longer
- Students who have been dismissed and are reentering the U.S. with a new SEVIS record
- Students who have violated their J-1 status and have NOT been reinstated to valid FJ-1 status
- Students whose visas have been revoked by the Department of State
J-1 Visa for Students on AT
Students on AT do not need to get a new visa if the visa has not expired.
Documents Required for Visa Renewal
ISSO recommends students check the U.S. Consulate or Embassy policies in the country where they will renew their visa.
Visa Renewal as Third Country National
It may be possible for students to renew their visa in a country other than their home country, but there is a higher risk of facing complications, and ISSO therefore recommends that students renew their visas in their home countries to reduce those risks. Some countries have policies that do not permit third-country nationals from renewing their visas in that country. It is always recommended that students check the U.S. Consulate or Embassy website before applying.
Processing Time for Visa Renewal
Wait times vary from country to country. For current information, please refer to this Department of State website.
Validity of New Visa
The validity period varies from country to country. For current information, please refer to this Department of State website.
Automatic revalidation allows an J-1 student to reenter the U.S. without a valid visa if they visited Mexico, Canada, or adjacent islands. The visit can be for no longer than 30 days for automatic revalidation to apply. Students must have a valid passport, DS-2019, and travel endorsement to reenter the U.S. using automatic revalidation. ISSO also recommends students take a copy of their I-94 record. There are some exceptions to automatic revalidation, and students are encouraged read more about Automatic Revalidation on the Department of State’s website here.
Automatic Revalidation and AT
Automatic revalidation applies to students on AT. Students on AT must have a valid passport, DS-2019 with travel endorsement, and EAD to reenter the U.S. using automatic revalidation. ISSO also recommends students take a copy of their I-94 record.