Travel Signatures & Documents

When traveling outside of the United States, F-1 students should carry the following documents for re-entry to the United States:

• Passport (valid for six months into the future)
• Unexpired F-1 visa (unless they qualify for a visa exception)
• Unexpired I-20 with valid travel signature*
• I-901 SEVIS Fee receipt (recommended)
• Enrollment verification for The New School issued by the university registrar (recommended)

*Travel signatures are located on page 2 of the I-20 and are valid for 12 months from the date of signature or until the I-20 end date, whichever is sooner. Travel signatures must be valid at the time of re-entry to the United States.

If you need a new travel signature, please complete the iGlobal e-form Reprint I-20 and choose Travel.  ISSS will email you an I-20 with an electronic signature. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

When traveling outside of the United States, F-1 students on OPT or STEM OPT should carry the following documents for re-entry to the United States:

• Passport (valid for six months into the future)
• Unexpired F-1 visa (unless they qualify for a visa exception)
• Unexpired I-20 with valid travel signature*
• EAD Card
• Letter from employer as evidence of employment (recommended)
• I-901 SEVIS Fee receipt (recommended)

*Travel signatures are located on page 2 of the I-20 and are valid for six months from the date of signature or until the OPT or STEM OPT end date, whichever is sooner. Travel signatures must be valid at the time of re-entry to the United States.

Please also review the High-Risk Travel Periods section for information about travel for students in OPT or STEM OPT and see details of the OPT or STEM OPT employment benefit for F-1 students.

If you need a new travel signature, please complete the iGlobal e-form Reprint I-20 and choose Travel. ISSS will email you an I-20 with an electronic signature. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

When traveling outside of the United States, F-2 dependents should carry the following documents for re-entry to the United States:

• Passport (valid for six months into the future)
• Unexpired F-2 visa (unless they qualify for a visa exception)
• Unexpired I-20 with valid travel signature*

*Travel signatures are located on page 2 of the I-20 and are valid for 12 months from the date of signature or until the I-20 end date, whichever is sooner. If the principal F-1 is on OPT or STEM OPT, the travel signature is valid for six months from the date of signature or until the principal F-1 OPT or STEM OPT end date, whichever is sooner. Travel signatures must be valid at the time of re-entry to the United States.

F-2 dependents traveling without the principal F-1 should also carry:

• Copy of the principal F-1's visa (unless the F-1 qualifies for a visa exception)
• Copy of the principal F-1's unexpired I-20
• Copy of the principal F-1's I-94 record

If you need a new travel signature, please complete the iGlobal e-form Reprint I-20 and choose Travel. ISSS will email you an I-20 with an electronic signature. If you have any questions, please email [email protected].

When traveling outside of the United States, J-1 exchange visitors should carry the following documents for re-entry to the United States:

• Passport (valid for six months into the future)
• Unexpired J-1 visa (unless they qualify for a visa exception)
• Unexpired DS-2019 with valid travel signature*
• I-901 SEVIS Fee receipt (recommended)
• Enrollment verification for The New School issued by the university registrar (recommended for J-1 students)
• Copy of visiting scholar invitation letter (recommended for J-1 scholars)

*Travel signatures are located on page 1 of the DS-2019 and are valid for 12 months from the date of signature or until the DS-2019 end date, whichever is sooner. For J-1 short-term scholars, travel signatures are valid for six months from the date of signature or until the DS-2019 end date, whichever is sooner. Travel signatures must be valid at the time of re-entry to the United States.

If you need a new travel signature, please complete the iGlobal e-form DS-2019 Reprint and choose "Travel." ISSS will email you the new DS-2019 with a digital signature.

If you are a short-term scholar, please email [email protected] for assistance.

When traveling outside of the United States, J-1 exchange visitors on academic training should carry the following documents for re-entry to the United States:

• Passport (valid for six months into the future)
• Unexpired J-1 visa (unless they qualify for a visa exception)
• Unexpired DS-2019 with valid travel signature*
• I-901 SEVIS Fee receipt (recommended)
• Letter from employer as evidence of employment (recommended)

*Travel signatures are located on page 1 of the DS-2019 and are valid for 12 months from the date of signature or until the DS-2019 end date, whichever is sooner. For J-1 short-term scholars, travel signatures are valid for six months from the date of signature or until the DS-2019 end date, whichever is sooner. Travel signatures must be valid at the time of re-entry to the United States.

If you need a new travel signature, please complete the iGlobal e-form DS-2019 Reprint and choose "Travel." ISSS will email you the new DS-2019 with a digital signature.

When traveling outside of the United States, J-2 dependents should carry the following documents for re-entry to the United States:

• Passport (valid for six months into the future)
• Unexpired J-2 visa (unless they qualify for a visa exception)
• Unexpired DS-2019 with valid travel signature*
• EAD Card (if they have one)
• Letter from employer as evidence of employment (recommended for those who are employed)

*Travel signatures are located on page 1 of the DS-2019 and are valid for 12 months from the date of signature or until the DS-2019 end date, whichever is sooner. If the principal J-1 is a J-1 short-term scholar, travel signatures are valid for six months from the date of signature or until the DS-2019 end date, whichever is sooner. Travel signatures must be valid at the time of re-entry to the United States.

If traveling without the principal J-1, J-2 dependents should also carry:

• Copy of the principal J-1's visa (unless the J-1 qualifies for a visa exception)
• Copy of the principal J-1's unexpired DS-2019
• Copy of the principal J-1's I-94 record

If you need a new travel signature, please complete the iGlobal e-form DS-2019 Reprint and choose "Travel." ISSS will email you the new DS-2019 with a digital signature.