International Student Frequently Asked Questions

Possibly. ISSSO will endeavor to alert international students and scholars of any travel bans or restrictions. 

Possibly. ISSSO will endeavor to alert the university community of any travel bans or restrictions.

No, federal officials at an airport or land border decide whether to admit someone as a nonimmigrant each time the person presents their immigration documents and seeks admission to the U.S. This has always been the case. 

 ISSSO will endeavor to alert international students and scholars of any travel bans or restrictions.

International students and scholars traveling within or outside the United States should always check-in with ISSSO before travel, and always carry the following documents:

• A valid passport (valid for at least 6 months into the future)
• A valid visa (This does not apply to citizens of Canada or Bermuda.)
• Their current I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature
• Their most recent I-94
• SEVIS Fee Receipt
• Proof of Enrollment (the unofficial transcript which can be found in the New UIS portal is sufficient)
• If on OPT: their EAD and a Letter of Employment.  Students on OPT should contact their ISSSO advisor for more information about what the letter should contain. You can schedule an appointment here.

The Department of Homeland Security requires that all foreign nationals who did not enter the United States with a visa register with the federal government. Also, all foreign nationals 14 years of age or older who have not been registered and fingerprinted and remain in the United States for 30 days or longer must apply for registration and fingerprinting. Finally, all non-US citizens are required to carry proof of registration at all times.

It is possible that you are considered to have registered already.  Those who are considered to have registered include: 

• Lawful permanent residents – “green card holders”;
• Nonimmigrant admitted into the United States who were issued a Form I-94 or I-94W (paper or electronic), even if the period of admission has expired;
• Foreign nationals present in the United States who were issued immigrant or nonimmigrant visas before their last date of arrival;
• Foreign nationals paroled into the United States under INA 212(d)(5) even if the period of parole has expired; 
• Those foreign nationals who have been placed into removal proceedings; 
• Foreign nationals who have been issued an employment authorization document; 
• Foreign nationals who have applied for lawful permanent residence and have provided fingerprints (unless waived), even if the applications were denied; and
• Foreign nationals issued Border Crossing Cards.

Depending on your immigration status, there are different documents that can demonstrate proof of registration including: 

• I-94 (Arrival-Departure Record)*
• I-185 Nonresident Alien Canadian Border Crossing Card 
• I-186 Nonresident Alien Mexican Border Crossing Card 
• I-485 Application for Status as Permanent Resident* 
• I-551 Permanent Resident Card* 
• I-766 Employment Authorization Document*
  (*Print out of a receipt (I-485), I-94 record printout from CBP website, employment authorization card, and/or green card/immigrant visa).  

Be sure to carry the document that applies to you with you at all times.

Your local US address must also be up-to-date.  If you are a current student, you can update your permanent mailing address in the NewUIS as your permanent mailing address only. If you are an F1/J1 student, once you have made this update, please send an email to [email protected] so that we can update your address in SEVIS. If you are on OPT, you are able to update your address in the SEVP portal.