Traveling Tips for F-1 Students

Required Travel Documents

Travel Signature

Bring your most recent I-20 to Julia Wells for an authorized travel signature. No appointment is needed. Please allow five to seven business days for your I-20 to be processed.

• You are required to present a current I-20 with authorized signature to immigration officers.
• We also recommend you (1) carry all previous I-20s in case the officer wants to review your I-20 history and (2) obtain a travel signature every six months you travel.

Passport

Your passport should be valid for at least six months.

Visa

Your visa must be valid for you to re-enter the United States after traveling to other countries. If you have an expired visa (or if it will be expired by the time you return to the U.S.) you must apply for a new visa.

The only exception to this rule is if you are traveling to Mexico, Canada, or the contiguous islands of the Caribbean. This exception is called the Automatic Visa Revalidation. Please see the U.S. Department of State's website for more information.

I-901 Fee Payment Proof

We recommended you carry proof of your SEVIS fee payment. If you do not have a printout, please go to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's website and print a confirmation of payment.

Proof of Financial Support

We suggest your bring proof of financial support, per the I-20.

Marian University Admission Letter

Have a copy of the letter in which you are formally offered admission to the university. 

Campus Contact 

In case you have an emergency and need to contact someone from the university during your travels, call Marian University's 24-hour emergency phone. This number is to the Marian University Police Department and is (317) 955-6789.