Immigration
Traveling Abroad for J-1 Visa Holders
(Except for Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands for which different rules apply)
If you are a student holding a J-1 visa and you plan to travel abroad, in order to be readmitted to the US you need to present to the Immigration Officer, at the port of entry, the following documents:
- Valid Passport. It must be valid for at least 6 months when you enter the US.
- Valid American J-1 Visa. A valid J-1 visa stamped in your passport.
- Valid DS-2019. A new DS-2019 or your current DS-2019 Form which has been signed for travel in the lower right hand corner within 1 year by your sponsor. If MIT is your sponsor you will need the signature of an ISO advisor in the International Students Office, otherwise you need to contact your visa sponsor.
- Documentation of Financial Support (award letters, letters from departments, bank letters, etc.)
- Documentation of MIT enrollment (letter from department, unofficial transcript, MIT ID card, etc.)
- Form I-901 (SEVIS Fee) Receipt
Please be advised that entry into the US is at the sole discretion of theU.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) Officer at the U.S. Port-of-Entry. Also, please be aware that since the passage of the Immigration Act of 1996 it has become extremely hard to receive a new US visa in a third country.
Special Cases:
- Students who have changed their visa type while in the US, if you decide to travel outside of the US after the change of status has been approved, you must apply for a new entry visa at the American Consulate or Embassy before reentering the US.
- Students who are married to American Citizens or Permanent Residents, and students who have been included in a petition for permanent residency, please make an appointment with one of the International Student Advisors before you finalize the plans for your trip.
Inspection / Questions at the U.S. Port-of-Entry
When entering the U.S. from abroad, every individual (including American Citizens), will be subject to questioning by USCBP officers. Primary Inspection will be where a USCBP Officer will ask you to present your visa documents and ask questions about where you are arriving from and the purpose of your stay in the U.S. The USCBP Officer can ask any question to determine your eligibility to enter the U.S. If the officer cannot determine your eligibility to enter the US from the documentation you present, or requires additional information, you may be directed for additional questioning at "Secondary Inspection".
Secondary Inspection is a separate, guarded room area where you will be asked to wait to speak individually with a more senior level USCBP Officer. Secondary Inspection also has access to additional information, including more details about your visa/SEVIS record. In Secondary Inspection, you may be advised that you are not able to make any phonecalls without permission of the USCBP Officer -- please follow their directions. Recent changes is U.S. Department of Homeland Security guidance allows USCBP to ask any question needed to determine our eligibility to enter the U.S, including your past travel history, financial information, information about your family members, previous travel to the U.S., as well as request that you provide access to your email or social media accounts for review. Please note that wait times at Secondary Inspection can be under one hour or it may take many hours. If you have to wait for an extended period, Secondary Inspection offices have bathrooms/toilets and access to water. If there are any concerns, you will be advised to speak with a Secondary Inspection Officer for assistance. Please note there is no way to expedite (speed up) processing at Secondary Inspection, so it is advised to remain calm.
Being referred to Secondary Inspection does NOT necessarily mean that you have done anything wrong. Similar to your visa interview appointment and visa processing at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate, security procedures must be completed in order to enter the U.S. and can take some time to resolve (based on the type of procedure and number of individuals in Secondary Inspection at the time of your entry to the U.S.). We ask that you be patient. If you are waiting for an extended period of time at Secondary Inspection, you may request from USCBP (which may or may not be granted) the ability to contact anyone who may be waiting for you at the airport. USCBP also has access to contact information for the MIT International Students Office.
If any questions arise during or after your time at U.S. Customs and Border Protection Primary or Secondary Inspection, you or USCBP can contact the MIT International Students Office (ISO) directly. During normal business hours (Monday-Friday between 9:00am-4:00pm Eastern Time), please contact the ISO main office by phone (617-253-3795). Outside of business hours, you may reach the ISO directly (508-380-0910) or by calling MIT Police (617-253-2996 or 617-253-1212) and MIT Police will notify ISO Staff to contact you by the phone number you provide.
Request a Form DS-2019 with ISO Travel Signature
Students should check the bottom right hand corner of your current Form DS-2019 for a ISO advisor or program sponsor signed travel signature. This signature should be dated at least within 12 months of the day you plan to re-enter the U.S.
If your Form DS-2019 is sponsored by MIT, request an updated travel signature by visiting the ISO during business hours and dropping off your most current Form DS-2019 at the reception desk. You may return to the ISO after 2 business days to pick-up your Form DS-2019 with new travel signature.
Please see our pages on Traveling to Canada, Mexico, or Adjacent Islands or Travel for Canadians, if your situation, applies for different guidelines on travel.
Disclaimer
This information is for MIT students only. For more complete information come to the International Students Office.
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