High-Risk Travel Periods

F-1 students are permitted a 60-day grace period following the end date of their I-20. During this grace period, F-1 students may:

• Remain in and travel within the United States
• Change their immigration status
• Apply for Optional Practical Training (OPT) if eligible
• Start a new program at The New School
• Transfer to another U.S. institution

F-1 students who travel outside of the United States during the 60-day grace period without taking steps to maintain their F-1 status will not be able to re-enter the country in F-1 status, even if the F-1 visa has not yet expired.

J-1 exchange visitors are permitted a 30-day grace period following the end date of their DS-2019. During this grace period, J-1 exchange visitors may:

• Remain in and travel within the United States
• Change their immigration status

J-1 exchange visitors who travel outside of the United States during the 30-day grace period will not be able to re-enter the country in J-1 status, even if the J-1 visa has not yet expired.

F-1 students who take a leave of absence from The New School of less than five months are advised not to enter the United States in any status other than F-1 during the period of leave. Entering in another status (for example, on an ESTA or as a B-1 or B-2 tourist) can prevent the reactivation of your SEVIS record when you return from leave.

To avoid risking violation of status, F-1 students who take a medical leave of absence for medical treatment in the United States must always enter the country in F-1 status if traveling internationally during the medical leave period.

Unless you qualify for a visa exception, you must always have a valid F or J visa to enter the United States in F or J status, even when you are on Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Post-Completion Academic Training (AT). If your visa will expire soon or has already expired, you must renew it when you travel abroad. Please be aware that the renewal of a visa is always at the discretion of the consular officer at the U.S. consulate or embassy. If your visa renewal application is delayed or denied, you may not be able to re-enter the United States as an F-1 student or J-1 exchange visitor.

F-1 students may travel and re-enter the United States in F-1 status until the I-20 program end date, even if a Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) application has already been filed with USCIS. ISSS strongly discourages traveling after the program end date if you have a pending OPT application.

If you choose to travel outside of the United States after your program end date (the last day of classes in your last semester of study) and before receiving your OPT approval and EAD card, please be advised of the following facts related to your status and your application:

• In order to re-enter the United States in F-1 status after your program end date, you must be able to show evidence of your work authorization on OPT, including your EAD Card and other travel documents.
• If you attempt to re-enter the United States and do not have your EAD Card, you may be denied entry and so will need to wait abroad until you receive your EAD Card.
• If you re-enter the United States in a status other than F-1, your pending OPT application may be denied; if you have already received OPT approval, your F-1 status and OPT may be ended.
• USCIS will send communication to through the U.S. Postal Service to your U.S. address as given on the I-765 form. You must be able to receive and respond to any notifications from USCIS that are mailed to you, or your application may be denied.
• After your OPT is approved, your EAD Card will be issued and mailed to the U.S. address on the I-765 form. The card cannot be mailed internationally by USCIS. Please note that if the EAD Card is lost in the mail, you will need to apply for a replacement card and may submit an EAD Card replacement application only from within the United States.

It is strongly advised that you keep scanned copies of all communication and documents from USCIS about your OPT, including your EAD Card, for your records.

If you plan to travel internationally when your OPT application is pending, please speak to an ISSS advisor about documentation required when traveling. 

F-1 students may travel and re-enter the United States in F-1 status until the Post-Completion OPT work authorization end date. ISSS strongly discourages traveling after the Post-Completion OPT work authorization end date if you have a pending STEM OPT extension application with USCIS.

If you choose to travel outside of the United States after the Post-Completion OPT work authorization end date and before you receive your STEM OPT extension approval and STEM OPT EAD Card, please be advised of the following facts related to your status and your application:

• In order to re-enter the United States in F-1 status after your Post-Completion OPT work authorization end date, you must be able to show evidence of your work authorization on STEM OPT, including your STEM OPT EAD Card and other travel documents.
• If you attempt to re-enter the United States and do not have your STEM OPT EAD Card, you may be denied entry and so will need to wait abroad until you receive your STEM OPT EAD Card.
• If you re-enter the United States in a status other than F-1, your pending STEM OPT application may be denied; if you have already received STEM OPT approval, your F-1 status and STEM OPT may be ended.
• USCIS will send communication to you only by post mail to your U.S. address as given on the I-765 form. You must be able to receive and respond to any notifications from USCIS that are mailed to you, or your application may not be approved.
• After your STEM OPT is approved, your STEM OPT EAD Card will be issued and mailed to the U.S. address on the I-765 form. The card cannot be mailed internationally by USCIS. Please note that if the STEM OPT EAD Card is lost in the mail, you will need to apply for a replacement card and may only submit an EAD Card replacement application from within the United States.

It is strongly advised that you keep scanned copies of all communication and documents from USCIS about your STEM OPT, including your STEM OPT EAD Card, for your records.

If you have a reinstatement or change of status application pending with USCIS, you are advised not to travel outside of the United States until the reinstatement or change of status has been processed and approved. If you travel outside of the United States, you will probably not be able to re-enter the country in F or J status. Furthermore, USCIS may consider your pending application abandoned and deny your reinstatement or change of status petition.

If you have to travel while an application is pending, please speak with an ISSS advisor about alternative options for regaining status (such as Travel Restart) or changing status (such as Travel and Re-entry).

Transfer In

F-1 students who transfer to The New School and carry over a SEVIS record from a previous academic institution may remain in the United Station for the duration of the transfer-in process as long as the period between academic programs at the prior institution and at The New School is less than five months. If you travel outside of the United States during the transfer-in process, you must re-enter the country with the new I-20 issued by The New School. If your F-1 visa has not expired, you may still use it for travel back to the United States. If your visa has expired, you must have the new I-20 issued by The New School in order to apply to renew your visa before re-entering the United States.

J-1 exchange visitors who transfer to The New School and carry over a SEVIS record from a previous academic institution are required to immediately begin their academic program at The New School the day after transferring from the prior institution. J-1 exchange visitors must therefore be issued a new DS-2019 and have their SEVIS record validated by The New School before departing from the United States. Please contact an ISSS advisor if you are planning to travel during this time. If your J-1 visa has not expired, you may still use it for travel back to the United States. If your visa has expired, you must have the new DS-2019 issued by The New School in order to apply to renew your visa to re-enter the United States.

Transfer Out

F-1 students who transfer their SEVIS record from The New School to another academic institution may remain in the United States for the duration of the transfer-out process and may travel and re-enter the United States in F-1 status until the transfer-out date with valid travel signatures and documents unless they are already within the F-1 student grace period (see During Grace Periods, above). Please be advised that you may face a greater risk if you re-enter the United States close to the transfer-out date. It is strongly advised that you follow up with your next academic institution during this time about issuance of your new I-20 and travel plans. If you plan to travel, you must re-enter the United States with the I-20 issued by your next academic institution.

J-1 exchange visitors who transfer their SEVIS record from The New School to another academic institution are required to begin their academic program at the next institution the day after completing the transfer-out process and may travel and re-enter the United States in J-1 status until the transfer-out date with valid travel signatures and documents. Please be advised that you may face a greater risk if you re-enter the United States close to the transfer-out date. It is strongly advised that you follow up with your next academic institution during this time about  issuance of your new DS-2019 and any travel plans after the transfer-out date. If you plan to travel after the transfer-out date, you must re-enter the United States with the DS-2019 issued by your next academic institution.

ISSS urges students who have not secured jobs and are attempting to re-enter the United States while on Post-Completion OPT or STEM OPT to exercise caution. F-1 regulations allow for re-entry to the United States "to resume employment after a temporary absence." F-1 students on OPT are permitted 90 days of unemployment. F-1 students on STEM OPT Extension are permitted 60 days of unemployment in addition to any unemployment time not used during OPT.

Students may be questioned at the port of entry on whether they are returning to the United States to continue working or start a job. The longer a student has had an EAD Card but has not been working, the greater the likelihood that he or she will encounter difficulties at re-entry. All students who are unemployed should be prepared to describe substantial steps they have been taking to secure employment.

SEVP has further clarified that students need not have already begun working before leaving the United States as long as they have a job offer upon return to the country. In general, it is best for students to have both an EAD Card for OPT or STEM OPT and a job or job offer in order to avoid difficulties in re-entering the United States. If either of these two conditions is not met, students are assuming risk.