Student Admissions FAQs

New Students

Upon arrival in Cleveland as a new international student, you must check in with the VISA Office. This process is done online and is the first step in properly maintaining your visa status.

Visit our step-by-step guide for more information on how to check in.

Upon completion of the process, The VISA Office will be able to properly register your personal information in SEVIS and indicate to the government that you have arrived and are complying with federal regulations.

Current Students

Students who are continuing their education at CWRU do not need to check in online with The VISA Office when they arrive on campus every semester. The VISA Office ensures that you’re properly validated in SEVIS by verifying your enrollment status during subsequent semesters of study.

The only time when you would be required to submit your passport or the passport of your dependents to the VISA Office would be if new ones are issued. The VISA office keeps copies of your documentation in your student file.

J-1 students: if your Form DS-2019 is issued by a sponsor other than CWRU, be sure to contact them directly about their preferred processes and procedures to ensure that you properly maintain your J-1 status.

Within the first 10 days of first arriving in the U.S., you must report your address to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This is accomplished by providing your local address on Form AR-11, Change of Address Form and submitting it electronically to DHS.

After you’ve submitted your AR-11, anytime in the future that you move to a new location within the U.S., whether it be a different apartment in the same building or a whole new state, you must update the Student Information System (SIS) within 10 days of moving. The information that you log in SIS is automatically forwarded to the VISA Office and we then use that information to update SEVIS. If SIS is not kept up to date, neither is the government. Failure to properly maintain that information with the government is a violation of your visa status.

Important points to keep in mind when maintaining/updating your address:

• Do not list CWRU’s main address or any department address as your local address. You must indicate where you are physically living.
• If you live on campus, make sure to include your box number. Only putting your street address does not tell the post office where you receive your mail. This will cause delays in receiving your mail or prevent you from receiving it all together.
• Do not list your apartment number or street number before your street name. This can cause confusion for the post office and delay delivery of your mail. In the U.S., the proper way to write your address is:
• Street Number Street Name, Apartment Number, City, State Zip
• Example: 10900 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106 or 123 Main Street, Apt 456, Cleveland Heights, OH, 44120

Whether you’re moving down the hall from your current apartment or to another state, you always need to make sure that you’re properly reporting your address. This is essential for maintaining your visa status. Regulations state require students to report any change in personal contact information within 10 days of the change.

As an enrolled student, you are expected to promptly update your contact information using the Student Information System (SIS). Instructions about how to do this can be found on the Registrar’s website. The information that you update with the Registrar is provided to the VISA Office through an electronic interface and then the VISA Office passes this information along to SEVIS.

As you’ll see when looking at the Registrar’s instructions, there are multiple types of addresses to maintain. Keeping this information up to date in SIS is the best way to ensure that the university can reach you (either in-person or by mail) with important information.

Students who have graduated from CWRU and authorized for Academic Training, OPT, or STEM OPT are also required to report any changes in personal contact information within 10 days; however, the method for doing so is different. For F-1 students, these processes are explained on the OPT & STEM OPT Reporting Requirements page. For J-1 students, please email visa@case.edu to report your personal contact information updates.

An F-1 or J-1 student must be enrolled full-time.

Undergraduate Students

The Department of Homeland Security defines a full-time course of study for undergraduate students as 12 semester credits for undergraduate study. Certain experiential learning opportunities allow for a full-time course load based on different registration requirements. Always consult with the VISA Office about course registration to be sure that you're maintaining full-time status.

Graduate Students

A course load of nine credit hours is generally considered full-time for graduate and professional programs; however, some programs do have different credit hour requirements.

Graduate students enrolled in thesis and project coursework will also find that certain courses come with full-time enrollment status even when registration is less than 9 credit hours. Always consult with the VISA Office about course registration to be sure that you're maintaining full-time status.

Graduate students must also understand the impact that the Waiver of Registration has on their visa status.

Part of your responsibility as an F-1 or J-1 student is to be registered in a full course of study during the academic year. The VISA Office is required by federal regulations to report on the status of each student’s enrollment every semester and at any point that there’s a drop below the required full-time course load.

The only time when an F-1 or J-1 student is considered to be in status without being enrolled full-time is during a vacation period between semesters, such as summer break, so long as he or she is eligible and intends to enroll for the next semester.

Never drop below a full course of study during the academic year before having a conversation with the VISA Office about your options. Dropping below full-time status without VISA Office approval can result in serious consequences that will negatively impact your visa status. If you have questions about the definition of full-time course of study, contact the VISA Office at visa@case.edu or 216.368.6964 or visit us at Crawford Hall, Room 215.

If you find yourself in a situation where you cannot maintain full-time enrollment, the VISA Office may be able to suggest options for you to maintain your status or will advise you about the proper steps to take if you cannot maintain status.

There are certain exceptions to the full-time course of study requirement, however, only the VISA Office can determine if a student qualifies for an exception and authorize the Reduced Course Load (RCL). 

Valid academic reasons

There are a few valid academic reasons by which a student can maintain status without being enrolled in a full course of study. If you think you may have a valid academic reason for being unable to maintain full-time enrollment, you must discuss your situation with the VISA Office prior to withdrawing from coursework and provide the required documentation.

Only the VISA Office can determine whether or not you qualify for one of these exceptions based on the Application for Reduced Course Load that you submit.

Maintaining your status based on this reduced course load is only available once during an academic level and must be authorized by the VISA Office or the J-1 sponsor prior to withdrawing from coursework. Without proper authorization from the VISA Office, students are considered to be in violation of their visa status. You must resume full-time enrollment status in the semester immediately following the RCL semester.

Completing all course requirements in the current semester

Students who are completing their final semester of study may take less than a full-time course load if a lesser course load is necessary to complete the remaining program requirements during the final semester.

Students requesting a Reduced Course Load in their final semester must submit the Reduced Course Load request to the VISA Office in order to be considered for authorization.

Medical reason

A student who needs to drop below full-time for medical reasons is considered to be in legal F-1 or J-1 status during the illness if they provide documentation from U.S. licensed medical or mental health professionals to the VISA Office. The student must be able to resume a full-time course of study upon recovery. An F-1 or J-1 student is only allowed to drop below a full course load for medical reasons for a total of 12 months during each academic level.

In the event that a student doesn’t qualify for RCL or have other viable options to maintain status, the student may choose to completely withdraw from the program and request authorization to do so from the VISA Office or the J-1 sponsor. This withdrawal still results in failing to maintain status, but being authorized is better than failing to maintain status without any authorization. An authorized withdrawal provides a student with an additional period of time to arrange for their departure, while an unauthorized withdrawal does not.

Based on the date the student is considered to have dropped below full-time enrollment status, and whether or not the withdrawal had been authorized, the international advisor will inform the student of how long they may legally remain in the U.S. and of how they may regain F-1 status, if desired, in the future.

J-1 Exchange Visitor Program regulations require that J-1 Exchange Visitors (both student and scholar) and their J-2 dependents carry health insurance meeting specific minimum standards (Code of Federal Regulations – 22 CFR 62.14). Failure to maintain the required minimum insurance coverage can result in termination of J status.

Because health care expenses in the United States are expensive, coverage in the amounts listed below may not be sufficient to cover all expenses for medical care, and higher levels of coverage may be considered.

J-1 health insurance must provide the following minimum coverage (in U.S. dollars):

• Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness;
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000;
• Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor (or accompanying spouse or dependent children) to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000;
• A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

An insurance policy secured to meet J-1 coverage requirements:

• May require a waiting period for preexisting conditions, which is reasonable as determined by current industry standards;
• May include a provision for co-insurance under the terms which the exchange visitor may be required to pay up to 25% of the covered benefits per accident or illness;
• Shall not unreasonably exclude coverage for perils inherent to the activities of the exchange program in which the exchange visitor participates.

Any policy, plan or contract must, at minimum, be:

• Underwritten by an insurance corporation having an A.M. Best rating of “A−” or above; a McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A−” or above; a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above; a Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of “A−” or above; a Moody’s Investor Services rating of “A3” or above; or such other rating as the Department of State may from time to time specify; or
• Backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor’s home country; or
• Part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor; or
• Offered through or underwritten by a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or eligible Competitive Medical Plan (CMP) as determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

In addition to being a federal requirement for J-1 students, having proper medical (or health) insurance is a requirement for all CWRU students. CWRU provides a student medical plan for all students (also available to their dependents for an additional cost) that meets all of the above listed criteria. The university conveniently bills the cost directly to students’ accounts so that they’re fully covered year-round.

There are many options for medical insurance; however, not all plans are equal. If you choose to waive CWRU’s student medical plan because you either already have insurance or have purchased another insurance plan, you must prove, in a timely manner and as described by University Health Service, that your plan meets the same level of comprehensive coverage that CWRU’s student medical plan provides. If the other plan does not meet CWRU standards, the CWRU student medical plan fee is reapplied to the student account and coverage goes into effect.

Some J-1 exchange visitors are required to return to their home country for two years at the completion of the J-1 program as part of the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 212(e). This requirement is imposed for one of four reasons:

• The country and field are listed on the Exchange Visitors Skills list (a list of skills needed in the student’s home country).
• The exchange visitor has been funded by the U.S. government.
• The exchange visitor has been funded by the home country government.
• The exchange visitor has participated in a medical education training program sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.

The J-1 exchange visitor may not change to another status in the U.S. if he or she is subject to this requirement. In some circumstances a waiver is possible. Learn more about applying for a waiver of the two-year home-country physical presence requirement.

Complete the Request for a New I-20 or DS-2019 Form online. A VISA Advisor will review the request, issue a new document, and notify you by email when it’s ready.

A student is considered to be eligible for a program extension if all three conditions are met:

• the completion of studies date on the student’s current I-20 has not expired;
• the student has continually maintained status; and
• the student is unable to finish the degree program by the completion date on his/her I-20 because of compelling academic or medical reasons.

Program Extension Procedures:

You must submit a complete I-20 extension request online through the Terra Dotta system no earlier than the semester in which your I-20 will expire. Plan to submit your complete request at least 3-4 weeks (sooner is always better!) before the program completion date listed on your current I-20.

As part of this process, you'll be asked to identify your academic advisor, who will then be contacted by the VISA Office to provide additional information about your extension request. Undergraduate students should list their dean in Undergraduate Studies. (Do not list Dean Wolcowitz.) If you do not know who your dean is, please email ugstudies@case.edu to inquire. Graduate students should list their academic advisor.

A VISA Advisor will review the documentation and issue a new I-20 with an extended graduation date for all qualifying program extension requests. Students will be notified by email when the new I-20 is ready.

Ineligibility:

Students who do not meet the requirements for an I-20 extension are considered to be out of status and must apply for reinstatement to legal F-1 status. Consult a VISA  Advisor about the process and any other options.

F-1 students are admitted to the U.S for “duration of status,” or “D/S.”

For F-1 students, duration of status means:

• the time during which they are pursuing a full course of study and making normal progress toward completing the course of study
• if applicable, the time they are working in authorized practical training after completion of studies
• a 60-day grace period during which they prepare to depart from the country, to apply for a change to another visa status, or to begin practical training.

Duration of status is limited by the “completion of studies” date listed in the student’s most recent I-20. A student needing additional time to complete their program must apply for an extension of program of study before the original end date printed on the I-20.

If the information entered into the electronic I-94 system is incorrect, call the local Cleveland Customs and Border Protection office at 216.267.3600, then press option 1 for F-1 students, or option 2 for J-1 students. (Please note that it may take several days for your I-94 information to appear after an entry to the U.S., so if you cannot locate your I-94 record, please wait a few days before contacting CBP.)

It is extremely important that a student who has lost his or her passport report this to the police immediately. The police report will likely be required when the student applies for a replacement passport from their home government.

Obtaining a new passport is done directly through an embassy or consulate of the student’s home country and does not require any documentation from the VISA Office. Each country’s procedure is different: Some may require in-person applications while others accept requests by mail, so students must investigate the process. This information is generally accessible on the embassy's website.

Maintaining a valid passport at all times while studying in the U.S. is also the student’s responsibility and is required to maintain visa status. For a passport to be considered valid, it must be valid for at least 6 months into the future at all times. Procedures for issuance of a new passport or extension of a current passport are country-specific so it’s essential that a student investigate the procedure well in advance of the passport's expiration. The website of the home country’s embassy should have instructions regarding passport renewal or extension.

The visa in your passport governs when and how often you can enter the United States, but it does not determine how long you can remain in the U.S. Students may stay in the US with expired visas and are properly maintaining their status as long as their I-20s or DS-2019s remain valid and there are no other visa status violations to consider.

The only time you need to apply for a new visa is if yours is expired and you will be traveling abroad. You need a valid visa to enter the U.S., so you must plan ahead. The process is very similar to what you did when you applied for your initial visa. You can find information about obtaining a visa on our website and the VISA Office strongly encourages you to check the website of the US embassy or consulate at which you'll apply. Some offices do have very specific local requirements, such as requiring transcripts or enrollment verification which you can request through the University Registrar, so you'll want to prepare accordingly.

It is not possible to renew a visa in the United States. Visas are issued only by U.S. embassy or consulate outside the United States.

F-1 Students

F-1 students are permitted to work on campus no more than 20 hours per week during the academic year but may be employed full-time (more than 20 hours per week) during breaks and between semesters so long as they are properly verified by the VISA Office prior to engaging in employment and they are eligible and intend to enroll for next semester. Employment may not interfere with the student’s academic program

All off-campus employment must be authorized by the VISA Office prior to beginning work. For more information, visit the F-1 Student Employment and Training page.

J-1 Students

Students in J‑1 status may be employed in three situations:

• As part of the terms of a scholarship, fellowship or assistantship.
• On the premises of the campus the student is authorized to attend.
• Off-campus by showing serious, urgent and unforeseen circumstances that arose since acquiring exchange visitor status.

All J-1 employment must be authorized in writing by the VISA Office or the sponsor. Students must be in good academic standing and must continue full-time studies while working. The employment may not exceed 20 hours per week during the academic year.

For more information, visit the J-1 Student Employment and Training page.

F-1 students who complete one degree and wish to pursue another degree at CWRU must obtain a new I‑20 for the new program.

To obtain a new I-20, you’ll need to provide:

• an admission letter from CWRU
• documentation of sufficient financial resources

The new I-20 must be generated by the VISA Office within 60 days of the completion of the first degree, so be sure to submit everything in a timely manner to maintain your visa status.

F-1 Students

F‑1 students may transfer their SEVIS records from one academic institution to another. To be eligible for transfer, students must start their new program at their new university within 5 months of transferring out of CWRU to maintain their current legal F-1 status.

Students who have completed a degree from CWRU and want to begin a new program at another school must have their SEVIS record released to the new school within 60 days after graduation.

Students who are transferring schools during an academic program may choose any release date for their SEVIS record as long as that release date is after the completion of coursework at CWRU and before the semester begins at the new school.

To initiate the transfer of your SEVIS record, complete the online Transfer-Out Form. Upon receiving your completed form and any required supporting documents, the VISA Office will initiate the transfer of your SEVIS record to the new school.

J-1 Students

A J-1 transfer is a very time-sensitive process and requires careful coordination between a student’s current sponsor and their new sponsor, so be sure to act promptly and consult with your sponsor if you have questions.

If the program sponsor is CWRU, provide the following information to the VISA Office:

• the admission letter from your new school
• a completed Transfer-Out Form from CWRU
• any documentation from CWRU that your new school requires

A VISA Advisor will review all material and, if the transfer is recommended, your SEVIS record will be updated to reflect the intent to transfer to a new program. The new sponsor will be able to issue the new DS-2019 for the new program after the date when you are released from CWRU.

If the program sponsor is not CWRU, you must contact the sponsor directly and coordinate the transfer with them based on their procedures.

It is extremely important to maintain your legal status in the United States. Current law imposes certain penalties on those who overstay their status in the United States and those who are “unlawfully present" for certain periods of time. 

The visa stamp of an individual who stays beyond the authorized period of stay is automatically considered void (even though it may appear to be valid). All subsequent applications for nonimmigrant visas must be made in the country of nationality. If an individual leaves the U.S. after having been unlawfully present in the U.S. for more than 180 days and less than one year, the individual is barred from reentry to the US for three years from departure from the U.S. Those who have been unlawfully present for more than one year are barred from reentry to the U.S. for 10 years.

Immigration authorities have stated that an overstay and unlawful presence occurs when the date on the I‑94 has expired, or an immigration judge or immigration officer determines that a status violation has occurred. Students are advised to pay close attention to the dates on their I‑94, especially if they’ve been admitted on an I-515A with a specific end date (usually 30 days) and must have their status returned to F-1. Failure to renew the I‑94 in time will cause an overstay and unlawful presence. Those admitted for “Duration of Status” (D/S) who are determined by USCIS to have violated their status will be considered unlawfully present.

Should you have any questions, please contact the VISA Office or a personal immigration attorney.

Failing to maintain visa status can have a significant impact on your plans to study at CWRU and long-lasting consequences that can affect your ability to obtain another visa status in the future. It is extremely important to maintain status at all times.

If you believe you have failed to maintain your status, you must consult with a VISA  Advisor immediately to evaluate your situation and be advised about any options for reinstatement. The standards for reinstatement are very high.

F-1 Students

Reinstatement

If you are no longer maintaining F-1 status, you may wish to file for reinstatement with USCIS. If USCIS authorizes the reinstatement, your F-1 status will be restored. If USCIS denies the reinstatement, you would need to leave the U.S. immediately. Remaining in the U.S. after a reinstatement application has been denied may result in a bar on reentry to the United States. If you plan to apply for reinstatement, talk to a VISA  Advisor first to discuss your eligibility and the application process.

Departure and New Entry

If you are no longer maintaining F-1 status, you may choose to restore your status by obtaining a new I-20 from the VISA Office and leaving the U.S. to apply for a new visa abroad. Creating a new I-20 with a new SEVIS ID will result in your having to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee again and can affect your eligibility for Curricular Practical Training and Optional Practical Training. For more information, talk to a VISA Advisor.

If you are a graduate student submitting a Waiver of Registration for this semester, it is essential that you understand the impact of this decision on your visa status. The Waiver of Registration is an administrative process of the university, but does not fulfill federal regulations that stipulate a requirement to be properly registered at all times. Proper registration is required to maintain your visa status and if you are not properly registered, you need to take other steps to maintain your visa status.

Keep in mind:

• When you submit a Waiver of Registration, the VISA Office is obligated to shorten the length of your I-20 or DS-2019 to reflect the Drop/Add deadline. Your legal status in the U.S. actually becomes shorter because it is now based on this Drop/Add deadline rather than your future intended graduation date.
• In order to maintain your visa status after submitting a Waiver of Registration, you must, in a timely manner, either apply for OPT or apply and be authorized for Academic Training before the Drop/Add deadline or make arrangements to begin a new academic program.
  • F-1 Students: OPT applications must be submitted within the 60-day grace period following the new Drop/Add deadline. It takes an average of 90-120 days for an OPT application to be processed. If you wait too long to apply, you're not likely to be authorized for your full 12 months of OPT.
  • J-1 Students: Academic Training applications must be submitted to the VISA Office at least 2 weeks before the DS-2019 end date and authorized before that end date. It takes the VISA Office 3-5 business days to review and authorize an Academic Training application. If you wait too long to apply, you're not likely to be authorized and you will fall out of status.

If you intend to begin another academic program, to maintain your current F-1 status (and SEVIS record), your new academic program must start within 5 months of the Drop/Add deadline. Any program beginning later than 5 months will result in you falling out of status.

If you do not intend to maintain your status either through OPT or continued education, you are required to leave the United States within 60 days of the Drop/Add deadline. Remaining in the US beyond the 60-day grace period can have negative consequences.

Please get in touch with the VISA Office if you have additional questions or concerns. We are here to help!

F-1 and J-1 students are eligible to enroll in online classes. Up to 3 credit hours per semester can count towards maintaining full-time enrollment. Here are some examples to better explain. 

For the sake of these examples only, we’re going to state that full-time enrollment to maintain status is 12 credit hours.

1. Student is enrolled in 3 classes for 9 credit hours. These 3 classes meet on campus. Student enrolls in an online class for 3 credit hours. The total credit hours is 12 and the student is properly maintaining enrollment. If the student decided to engage in additional online coursework, that would be permissible; however, only one of those online courses counts towards maintaining visa status and the 12 credit hour requirement.
2. Student is enrolled in 3 classes for 9 credit hours. These 3 classes meet on campus. Student enrolls in 2 online classes for 6 credit hours. Total enrollment is 15 credit hours. Student decides to drop one of the courses that meets on campus. Student is still enrolled in 12 credit hours; however, only one online class can count towards maintaining full-time enrollment. That means that the student is only in 9 credit hours (6 credit hours on campus and 3 credit hours online) that can count towards maintaining status. This is a violation of status.

Whenever you’re considering enrolling in online coursework, consult with the VISA Office to ensure that you’re properly maintaining status.

If your status changes, you need to inform the VISA Office immediately. Send an email to visa@case.edu.

If you know that you will be changing your status, it is best to reach out to the VISA Office in advance so that we can advise you regarding maintenance of your current status until your change is approved as well as any necessary actions required to your SEVIS record. This will help ensure that all of your information is accurate at the time that your status ends.

Any questions you have about your new status should be directed to the immigration attorney who has helped you file for your change of status.

Be sure to keep all of your DS-2019s or I-20s and related materials in a safe place as they reflect your U.S. immigration history. If you continue to make immigration-related transitions, you may need to provide these materials as part of future applications. The VISA Office does not retain copies of student visa documents so it is very important that you keep track of them.

Yes! You can use the Updated Document Upload- Registration Form to provide the VISA Office with a copy of a document that you want our office to maintain in your online Terra Dotta record. Use this form to provide a copy of an updated passport, visa page, or anything else. You can access the information that you upload at any time by logging into your account at visas.case.edu and looking for the link titled "Updated Document Upload."

Please note that no action will be taken on your current SEVIS record by uploading a document through this form. The VISA Office is simply providing a safe, accessible, digital storage option for you.

If you need any action to be taken on your SEVIS record (for example, you have become a permanent resident or changed to another nonimmigrant status) or if the VISA Office staff should be aware of this document that you're uploading, please email us at visa@case.edu before using this form.

Terra Dotta is a data management system used by the VISA Office to maintain records for our international students and J-1 scholars. Students can report material changes to the VISA Office by submitting their update to Terra Dotta.

We do strongly recommend that you plan ahead to obtain a travel signature before you leave the U.S. However, if you forget, the VISA Office will be available to help you year-round, except when the university is closed. 

If your current DS-2019 or I-20 was issued by CWRU, you can request a DS-2019 or I-20 Reprint, which will be signed and sent to you. When your document has been generated, the VISA Office will notify you by email and provide instructions for receiving your document. (If your current DS-2019 was not issued by CWRU, you'll need to reach out to your J-1 sponsor for assistance with getting a travel signature.)

If you're unable to receive the reprint in time for your travel, be prepared to be placed into secondary inspection and receive a Form I-515A from the Customs & Border Protection officer upon your arrival in the US. The I-515A authorizes temporary admission to the U.S. and you must comply with the requirements listed on it to return to good standing. This is an extremely time sensitive process so you must work with the VISA staff immediately upon your return to Cleveland to resolve this situation. Failure to handle this properly could result in termination of your student visa status. For this reason, we recommend you plan ahead before foreign travel and get your travel signature before you leave!

If you have other questions or concerns, be sure to send an email to visa@case.edu.

And remember, the VISA Office should be your first point of contact whenever you have questions or problems regarding your visa status. Never attempt to resolve a problem with your status without first contacting our office as there may be very serious consequences for your actions. 

F-1 students:

• F-1 students can make travel signature requests on behalf of their F-2 dependent(s) by using the Travel Signature Request. 

J-1 students:

• If the VISA Office issued your DS-2019, a J-1 student can make travel signature requests on behalf of a J-2 dependent  by using the Travel Signature Request. (If your DS-2019 was not issued by the VISA Office at CWRU, you need to reach out to your J-1 sponsor for assistance with getting a travel signature.)

If the travel signature request is just for a dependent and not for yourself as well, you should make note of that in the text box request within the form.

A VISA Advisor will review the request and will contact you by email when the new I-20/DS-2019 is ready.

Nonimmigrants wishing to apply for a US visa in a country other than their country of citizenship/residence are referred to as "Third Country Nationals" (TCNs). Students should know that consular offices are not required to provide service to TCNs. If they do, the process likely will be more time consuming—officers adjudicating TCN applications must take extra necessary measures to become informed about the applicant’s relationship to their home country and the U.S.—and the possibility of denial of a visa is significantly higher than if the student were applying in his or her own country, due to the officers’ unfamiliarity with the applicant's situation. If a visa application is denied, you may be required to return to your home country to obtain a new visa there before you can return to the U.S.

The VISA Office strongly urges students who are considering applying as TCNs to consult with a VISA Office Advisor before doing so.

Generally, nonimmigrants (and their dependents) must present a valid, unexpired visa in their passport each time they enter the United States. An exception to this rule exists when nonimmigrants (and their dependents) enter the U.S. after a short trip (less than 30 days) to Canada, Mexico, or for Fs and Js only, “adjacent islands” other than Cuba. In this case, the visas are considered to be extended to the date of reentry through “Automatic Revalidation of Visa Validity.”

Individuals seeking to benefit from automatic revalidation must retain their I-94 when leaving the U.S., as it is essential for re-entry. In addition, all other travel documents relevant to the particular status (passport, I-20 or DS-2019) must be present, valid, and properly endorsed.

For more information about automatic revalidation, please visit the State Department's Bureau of Consular Affairs website.

Please be aware that there is never a guarantee that an individual in F or J status seeking re-entry will be admitted, even if all of the criteria are met. Border officials have the authority to approve or deny entry to whomever they choose for reasons that may or may not be apparent.

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Documents

You must travel with your passport and your most recent I-20 or DS-2019. Your passport must be valid at least six months into the future on the date you return to the United States. The travel signature on page 2 of your I-20 or in the lower right section of page 1 of your DS-2019 must be less than one year old on the date you return to the United States.

If you are an F-1 student on post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) or STEM OPT or traveling to Canada, your travel signature must be less than six months old on the date you return to the United States, and you must also have with you your Employment Authorization Document (EAD). The VISA Office also recommends printing your I-94  (showing the most recent date of entry) from the Customs & Border Protection website.

Visas for the Countries You Will Visit

Some ports of call may require visas, so be sure to research that information with the cruise line or by contacting the embassy or consulate of that country in the United States.

If Your U.S. Student Visa is Valid 

If you have an unexpired F-1 or J-1 visa inside your passport valid for multiple entries, you should not have any difficulties with your cruise plans, regardless of the itinerary, as long as your passport is valid for at least six months into the future on the date you return to the United States, you have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 (see the section on Documents, above), and you have secured any required visas for your ports of call.

If Your U.S. Student Visa has Expired

If your F-1 or J-1 visa has expired (or will expire during your cruise) your cruise destinations are limited to only U.S. territories, Canada, Mexico and adjacent islands of the Caribbean, and your combined visits to these countries must be limited to fewer than 30 days. It also must be your intention to resume your F-1 or J-1 status upon your return. This benefit is not available to citizens or nationals of Iran, Syria, Sudan and Cuba.

Your passport must be valid at least six months into the future on the date you return to the United States, you must have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019 (see the section on Documents, above), and you need to have secured any required visas for your ports of call.

U.S. territories in the Caribbean include Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, St. Croix and St. John).

Adjacent islands of the Caribbean are defined in the U.S. Code of Federal Regulations at 8 CFR 286.1(a). They do include Cuba, however, however, it's important to know that traveling to Cuba will make you ineligible for automatic revalidation.

If your cruise itinerary includes even one port of call not on the above list (for example, Belize) and you have an expired U.S. visa, U.S. immigration officials will not allow you to re-enter the United States. Even if you stay on board the ship during the entire time the ship is docked in that country, it won't matter. The ship has physically entered that country's sovereign territory, and if you are on the ship, you've entered that country, too. Cruise officials may not even permit you to board the ship!

This is why it is very important to carefully review a cruise itinerary for potential travel problems if your U.S. visa in your passport has expired.

If You are a Citizen of Canada

Citizens of Canada are exempt from the U.S. visa requirement, so you do not need to be concerned about having a valid U.S. visa in your passport, but you will need the other documentation (passport, I-20/DS-2019, etc.) to reenter the U.S. You must also be sure you are compliant with the visa requirements for the ports you plan to visit.

Document Check

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the validity of your passport or I-20 or DS-2019, stop by the VISA Office (Crawford Hall, Room 215) during walk-in hours before you travel. The VISA staff will look everything over and provide you with a fresh travel signature for your I-20 or DS-2019 if needed.

It's permissible to travel abroad and return to the US while authorized for Academic Training as long as you have:

• a valid visa
• a valid passport (for at least 6 months into the future)
• a valid DS-2019
  • showing your authorization for academic training and
  • a proper Travel Endorsement on page 1.

Students who have either applied or have been authorized for OPT or STEM OPT should read about traveling under the F-1 student employment sections on our website.

Most students will clear customs after your documents are reviewed by a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer, but sometimes students are instructed to meet with another officer whose goal is to verify your student status or clarify any additional questions they may have. This meeting with an additional officer is known as “secondary inspection.”

Secondary inspection can be intimidating, and students may feel nervous about this, but there is not usually cause for serious concern. Completing this process, however, can take some time--often an hour or longer. Whenever possible, try to schedule your flights with enough time between connections so that secondary inspection, if it occurs, does not significantly affect your travel plans.

If the CBP Officer has questions that can be answered by the VISA Office, ask the officer if they would be willing to call us. During business hours, call 216.368.6964. After hours, follow the protocol described on the VISA Office website to get connected with someone who can help.