Welcome to the J-1 Travel Resource Page!
Travel
Click here to download a quick guide that covers some frequently asked questions and answers.
Always carry your valid passport with J-1 visa, your valid DS-2019, and your most up-to-date I-94 document with you when you travel, particularly if you are traveling across the border to Mexico or Canada. You will not be issued a new I-94 upon your re-entry from a brief visit to Mexico or Canada, so make sure to present your I-94 printout with your DS-2019 and passport at the border.
Always enter the U.S.. as an exchange student by showing your J-1 visa. Never enter the U.S. as a tourist during your academic program at USD, even if you have a B1/B2 tourist visa.
Travel Advice Table
(Note: This table is for reference only and should not be used as a substitute for a one-on-one advising session with a licensed international student adviser at OISS. Whenever possible, please request for an appointment to discuss your intent to travel before making any travel arrangements.)
| Scenario / Question | Can I travel? (General) | Key Requirements to Re-enter U.S. | Main Risks / Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. I'm an enrolled F-1 or J-1 student, in valid status, planning a short trip abroad | Usually yes (Traveling while school is in session not recommended) |
Valid passport (6+ months beyond entry), valid F-1 or J-1 visa, I-20 or DS-2019 with recent travel signature, continued full-time enrollment. | Flight disruptions, consular delays if visa renewal needed, possible extra questioning at CBP. A consultation with OISS may be required. |
| 2. I'm from a country currently subject to a U.S. travel ban / proclamation | NOT advisable | Even with a valid visa/I-20, entry may be barred or heavily restricted by proclamation. | May be denied boarding or entry; rules can change quickly. MUST consult with OISS before travel. |
| 3. My F-1 visa is expired, but I'm in valid status and want to travel home | Risky because you must renew visa | Must apply for a new F-1 visa abroad (except some short trips under automatic revalidation). Need valid passport, I-20, SEVIS fee paid, proof of funding, enrollment, and ties to home country. | Visa interview backlogs, administrative processing (often 30–90+ days), possible visa denial. Travel only if prepared for extended stay abroad. |
| 4. I'm traveling to Canada/Mexico or certain Caribbean islands with an expired F-1 visa or J-1 | In some cases yes, via automatic revalidation | Trip must be 30 days or less, to Canada/Mexico/adjacent islands; must have unexpired I-94, valid passport, and properly signed I-20 or DS-2019. Not available if you apply for a new visa while there or are from certain restricted countries. | If you apply for a new visa and it's refused, you lose automatic revalidation. Country-specific bans may still block re-entry. |
| 5. I'm on post-completion OPT and want to travel | Possible but higher risk | Valid passport, unexpired F-1 visa, I-20 with travel signature (within 6 months), EAD card, and proof of employment or job offer. | If you lose your job or can't show employment, re-entry may be refused. Consular delays if visa renewal needed. |
| 6. I'm a J-1 visa holder on post-completion Academic Training and want to travel internationally | Technically allowed, but highly discouraged | New valid J-1 visa. Reapply for a J-1 visa (dependent on including all initial J-1 visa application documents and appointment availability) prior to re-entry in the U.S. | If you apply for a new J-1 visa and it is denied, you cannot reenter to complete your Academic Training. |
| 7. My OPT is pending and I want to travel | Technically allowed, but often discouraged | Before approval: passport, valid visa, I-20 with travel signature, OPT receipt (I-797). After approval: you must have a physical EAD and job offer to re-enter. | USCIS may issue RFEs or mail EAD while you're abroad; you may be unable to respond or receive the card. High risk of being stuck outside the U.S. if OPT is approved while away. |
| 8. I'm in my 60-day grace period after program/OPT and want to travel | Generally NOT recommended (Travel within the U.S., allowed; Departing the U.S. forfeits the grace period) |
F-1 status ends; you usually cannot re-enter in F-1 just to use grace period. You'd need a new status or new initial I-20/visa. | Likely refused entry in F-1; travel usually treated as departure with no right to return in the same F-1 record. Student may need to plan their return under the ESTA or B1/B2 visa. |
| 9. I've been outside the U.S. for close to 5 months | Requires a consultation with OISS before making plans to return to the U.S. under F-1 | SEVIS record may need to be reset as "initial," requiring a new I-20 and possibly new visa. | Risk of SEVIS termination and loss of continuity of status; may need to restart F-1, repay SEVIS fee, and re-enter as initial student. |
| 10. I need to renew my F-1 visa abroad | Yes, but plan ahead. (We recommend that you do not leave the U.S. until you secure a visa appointment.) | Schedule consular appointment early; bring I-20, transcripts, proof of enrollment, funding, and ties to home country. Expect enhanced vetting and possible administrative processing. | Long wait times, security checks, and possible visa denial. Students from certain countries may face extra scrutiny or bans. |
| 11. I have a pending H-1B change of status ("cap-gap") and want to travel | Travel not advisable | Travel can break the change-of-status request; you may need to obtain an H-1B visa abroad instead. | Risk of losing cap-gap protection and needing consular processing; must consult with your immigration attorney and inform OISS before travel. |
As a J-1 student/scholar, you are allowed a 30-day grace period to remain in the U.S. after the completion of your J-1 program. If you wish to travel to another country after the end of your academic program — even to neighboring countries such as Mexico and Canada — please be aware that you may not use your J-1 visa to re-enter the United States during the grace period, even if the intent is simply to collect your belongings and make final arrangements before leaving for your home country. Your grace period will immediately come to an end if you leave the U.S.
If you have a B-1/B-2 tourist visa or if you're a citizen of a visa-waiver country and you wish to stay in the U.S. past your 30-day grace period, you must first exit the U.S. before the end of your grace period and then re-enter as a tourist. Citizens of visa-waiver countries should register for an ESTA to re-enter the U.S. for up to 90 days following J-1 program completion. It is imperative that you check the ESTA website to learn the most up to date information regarding your travel.
For students who have an I-94 card (non-digital copy) and will be traveling home across the Mexican border by car or by foot: You will need to visit the I-94/Permisos office on the U.S. side outside of the “El Chaparral” border crossing and adjacent to the Las Americas Outlet mall (see map photo below). We suggest parking at Las Americas and walking there. Let the officer outside the office know that you need to hand in your paper I-94 card and say you are ending your stay as a J-1 student and wish to turn in your I-94 card to document that you are exiting the U.S.. Once this is done, you can walk or drive across the border.
Please note
OISS attempts to provide the most recent, useful information to our students. However, we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to here, the iTorero Portal, and in emails coming out of OISS.
Information provided by OISS does not constitute and should not be considered legal advice or a legal opinion, and it may not necessarily reflect the most current legal developments. OISS likewise cannot guarantee the outcome of status-related benefit requests filed with US government agencies. Students should seek the advice of counsel or a tax professional for additional guidance. OISS reminds students and scholars that failure to comply with F-1 and J-1 regulations is a violation of your status, which may result in serious consequences including the termination of your SEVIS record, your inability to re-enter the US, and the accrual of unlawful presence which could lead to your removal from the US.
Direct all questions regarding your F-1 and J-1 status to OISS, internationaloffice@sandiego.edu.