Student Travel
We understand that you are likely to travel throughout your time at WashU. Therefore, It is important for you to stay informed about regulations and ensure you have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019.
Scholar & Employee Travel
You may travel on your own or even for WashU during your stay. Therefore, it is important for you to stay informed about travel regulations related to your immigration status.
Entry to the U.S.
It is your responsibility to be informed about travel regulations.
Your passport, visa, and other immigration documents must always be valid when entering the U.S. Due to possible delays, we advise that you apply for a visa well in advance of the date you wish to travel to the U.S.
Remember to carry your immigration documents on your person when traveling. Do not pack them in your checked luggage!
Visa timeline, delays & denials
Visit the Department of State website for visa appointment and processing wait times and information regarding administrative processing.
If you have issues at the U.S. port of entry
During regular business hours (M – F, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.):
Contact OISS by email at OISS@wustl.edu or by phone at 314-935-5910.
After hours, weekends or holidays:
Contact the WashU Police Department at 314-935-5555. WUPD will then contact OISS staff who can assist you.
A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer might also ask for your OISS/WashU contact information so that they can reach out to us directly. Please have the CBP officer use the same information listed above.
Travel outside the U.S.
If you are planning to visit a country outside the U.S. which is not your country of citizenship or legal permanent residence, be sure to determine whether or not you will need a visa to enter that country. There are circumstances when your U.S. visa might allow you entry to a third country outside the U.S., but more often than not you might need to obtain a visa directly from that third country’s embassy/consulate. For information on gaining entry into specific countries, consult the embassy of the country you would like to visit:
- U.S. Department of State list of Foreign Consular Offices
- Embassy: list of websites of foreign embassies in the U.S.
- Canadian Embassy
- U.S. Department of State list of U.S. embassies and consulates in other countries
Nonimmigrants wishing to apply for a visa (for the first time or as a renewal) in a country other than their country of citizenship are referred to as “Third Country Nationals” (TCNs).
Travel within the U.S.
Traveling within the country is generally simple:
- Carry two forms of photo identification (including your passport with valid visa) and your form I-20/DS-2019 (for students and exchange visitors) or I-797 approval notice (for employees).
- You do not need an additional visa stamp or travel signature to travel within the U.S. That includes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Avoid using Global Entry and Nexus
International students and scholars should avoid using Global Entry and Nexus when entering the U.S. for several reasons:
- Global Entry and Nexus are designed for frequent travelers and may not account for the specific requirements and restrictions of student (F-1, J-1) or scholar visas (J-1, H-1B, E3, TN, O-1). Using Global Entry and Nexus could lead to misunderstandings about the purpose of your visit.
- The I-94 record, which details your entry and exit dates, is critical for maintaining your visa status. Using Global Entry and Nexus might result in incorrect or incomplete I-94 information, potentially causing issues with maintaining your legal status.
- International students and scholars often need to go through additional screening to verify their visa status, SEVIS records, approval notices and other documentation. Global Entry and Nexus kiosks do not provide this level of scrutiny, which could result in being sent to secondary inspection.
- CBP officers need to manually check immigration documents like the Form I-20 (for F-1 students), DS-2019 (for J-1 students and scholars) and USCIS Approval notices. Global Entry and Nexus kiosks bypass this important step, leading to potential complications.
- Incorrect entry processing can lead to long-term legal status issues, affecting your ability to study, work, or travel. You may be required to leave and re-enter the U.S. if your I-94 record cannot be corrected due to Global Entry and Nexus use.
Best Practice
- Manual Entry Processing: By going through the standard entry process, international students and scholars ensure that their documents are properly reviewed and that their entry is correctly recorded via the I-94 record, preserving their visa status and avoiding potential legal issues.