international current student info

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

For a visual example of some of the travel documents you will need click below:

Sample Travel Documents

Passport - A passport is a government (or other competent authority) permit for the bearer to leave and re-enter the country of issuance. You must have a valid passport to obtain a visa for the United States, and you must maintain a valid passport throughout your entire stay in the United States.

U.S. Visas – There are primarily two categories of visas for those wishing to enter the United States, immigrant and non-immigrant. Fuller is authorized to issue certificates of eligibility (I-20 or DS 2019) for F and J categories of non-immigrant visas. Fuller must comply with U.S. government regulations in order to maintain this authorization. The seminary, through the international services office, must also provide information regarding the maintenance of lawful status in the United States of those holding visas in these categories.

Most international students and scholars at Fuller will apply for a non-immigrant visa in one of the two following categories.

• F-1: Visa status for individuals conducting full-time study at an authorized institution in the U.S.
• J-1: Visa status for study, teaching or training as an exchange visitor in the U.S.

Applying for a Visa
Applicants for non-immigrant visas usually apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country of permanent residence. Although visa applicants may apply at any U.S. consular office, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside the country of permanent residence.

Information about U.S. consulate policies, procedures, and requirements can be obtained through the U.S. State Department Visa Services website.

Required Documentation

1. Application form DS-156 and DS 158. Some applicants will also be required to complete and sign Form DS-157. Forms are available at all U.S. consular offices and on the Visa Services website under "Visa Application Forms"
2. A passport valid for at least six months
3. One (1) 2x2 photograph
4. For the "F" applicant, a Form I-20. For the "J” applicant a Form DS-2019.
5. Evidence of sufficient funds to meet educational expenses.
6. Proof of payment of the SEVIS fee (see explanation below)

For more information on applying for a U.S. visa, please see the website “10 points to remember when applying for a non-immigrant visa”

The SEVIS Fee

The U.S. government has recently implemented a fee to be charged to those persons who wish to enter the United States either as a student or an exchange visitor with a Form I-20 or DS-2019 dated on or after September 1, 2004. The $100 fee must be paid prior to your application appointment. The fee is nonrefundable, regardless of whether the visa is issued.
There are several options available for paying the SEVIS fee including online payment using a credit card, payment by check or money order in U.S. dollars, or payment at a Western Union office in your local currency. Detailed information on paying the SEVIS fee can be found at www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/i901/indext.htm.

I-94 (Arrival and Departure Record) 

The I-94 is given to you at the airport, when you arrive in the U.S. and shows that you have been legally admitted. It is often stapled to your passport and contains an eleven digit Admission Number. DO NOT LOSE THIS FORM. If you need to apply for any extension or change of status, practical training or other regulatory changes, you must submit your I-94 to the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The ICE uses the admission number to keep track of your U.S. arrivals and departures.

When you enter the U.S., the ICE representative should write *F-1, D/S and your date of entry on the I-94 document. The D/S written on your I-94 means "duration of status". This indicates that you are allowed to remain in the United States as long as you maintain your F-1 or J-1 student status. The admission number on your I-94 will be entered on your I-20.

*If the officer writes anything other than F-1 D/S on your I-94 document, please see a member of the ISO staff as soon as possible.

Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 or DS-2019)  

This is proof that you are entering the U.S. as a student or exchange visitor. Please keep this in your passport. You are required to keep all original copies of form I-20/DS-2019 throughout your stay as an F-1 student or J-1 exchange visitor and possibly longer if you return to the U.S. in any capacity other than as a tourist.

It is a good idea to keep all of your documentation together in a centralized and safe place. This location should be a place where you can locate your documents at all times.

Travel Outside the US During Your Studies

The ability to re-enter the U.S. following travel abroad is considered a benefit of F-1 or J-1 status. It is important that you comply with all immigration regulations and requirements. Failure to comply may lead to a loss of travel benefits.

If you are planning to travel outside the United States and return to continue study at Fuller you will need the following documents to re-enter the United States:

• An un-expired Passport valid at least 6 (six) months into the future.

• An un-expired I-20 or DS-2019 with a travel signature less than one year old.

• An un-expired F-1 or J-1 visa stamp valid for further entries into the United States.

• Proof of full-time enrollment. You may request a transcript from the Registrar's Office at 250 N. Madison (first floor) before leaving the country.  There is a charge of $3.00 for the transcript and it takes two business days for the document to become available. Download the transcript request form from http://www.fuller.edu/registrar/TranReq.pdf.

• Proof of financial support. This may include personal or family bank statements, declaration or letters of  support from organizations and/or individuals.

F-1 Students

• The travel signature on your Form I-20 is valid for a maximum of one year.
• You may use your I-20 to enter the U.S. as long as you are a continuing, full-time student and all the information on it remains the same
• If you are returning to the U.S. after a leave of absence and/or an absence of more than 5 months, you must obtain a new I-20 prior to re-entry. Contact an the ISO if this applies to you.
• Upon entry to the U.S., a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officer will issue an I-94 card to you that will indicate the date of entry and grant you F-1 status for duration of status (F-1 D/S). If your I-94 card indicates anything other than F-1 D/S, contact the ISO immediately upon return.
• If you are on post-completion optional practical training, see the section below for students on practical training.

J-1 Students / Scholars

• The travel signature on your Form DS-2019 is valid for a maximum of one year.
• You may use your DS-2019 to enter the U.S. as long as you are a continuing, full-time student and all the information on it remains the same.
• Upon entry to the U.S., an immigration officer will issue an I-94 card to you that will indicate the date of entry and grant you J-1 status for duration of status (J-1 D/S). If your I-94 card indicates anything other than J-1 D/S, contact the ISO immediately upon return.
• If you are on post-completion academic training, see the section below for students on academic training.

Traveling Outside the US during Post-Completion Optional Practical Training (F-1 OPT) or Academic Training (J-1)

To reenter the U.S. in while on post-completion Optional Practical Training (for F-1 students) or Academic Training (for J-1 students), you will need the following documents:

• an unexpired passport valid at least six months into the future
• a valid F-1 or J-1 visa stamp
• an I-20 or DS-2019 that has been signed for travel by an OISS advisor; note that F-1 students should have their I-20s signed every six months instead of every year while on post-completion Optional Practical Training
• an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card issued by the USCIS for F-1 students on practical training; or an employment authorization letter issued by the OISS for J-1 students on academic training
• F-1 students: Obtain a letter from your employer stating your job title, job description, begin and end dates (must fall within the practical training period), and verifying that your employer knows you are traveling and expects you to return to complete your job. If you do not have a job, you are advised not to travel as you may not be permitted to re-enter the U.S.
• J-1 students: Obtain a letter from your employer stating your job title, job description, begin and end dates, and verifying that your employer knows you are traveling and expects you to return to complete your job.
• If your F-1 or J-1 visa has expired, speak to an ISO staff before making travel plans. It is more difficult to obtain an F-1 or J-1 student visa while on practical/academic training, as the issue of intent to return to your home country is harder to prove once you have finished your degree and are working in the U.S.

Travel To Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Countries
If you are an F-1 or J-1 student / scholar, traveling to a contiguous territory (Canada or Mexico) or the adjacent islands of the Caribbean, you do NOT need to obtain a new visa stamp to reenter the U.S. To qualify for this privilege, you must:

• Presently be in valid F-1 or J-1 student / scholar status.
• Have a valid I-20 or DS-2019 in your possession, which has been signed for travel
• Have an unexpired I-94 card with you (do NOT surrender it when you leave the U.S.)
• Have an unexpired passport valid at least six months into the future
• Have a previously-issued nonimmigrant visa (even for a different nonimmigrant classification)
• Be in one of the contiguous territories or adjacent islands for less than thirty (30) days. The adjacent islands are: the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, St. Pierre & Miquelon, Trinidad & Tobago, the Leeward Islands (Anguilla, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Nevis, St. Kitts, and the British Virgin Islands), the Windward Islands (Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent), and other British, French, or Dutch territories or possessions in, or bordering on, the Caribbean Sea.
  *NOTE: The special exemptions do NOT apply to students who are citizens of the countries named above. In those cases, students must obtain an F-1 or J-1 visa to re-enter the U.S., except for Canadians. Please note that it is more difficult to apply for a U.S. visa while in one of these countries.