- U.S. Department of State Travel Advisories
- Make sure you have all required documentation and back-up copies
- Review Study in the States Frequently Asked Questions before exiting & re-entering the U.S.
Request an I-20 Travel Signature
Bring your I-20 to the International Education office during business hours. You are advised to get your I-20 signed for travel at least two (2) days before your departure day.
- Designated School Official (DSO) Signatures last for 1-year.
Travel Documents Needed for students in F-1 Status
Pack the following documents in your CARRY-ON bag/luggage:
Passports must be valid at all times
- If your passport expires soon, read the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Six Months Validity Update
- “Visitors traveling to the U.S. are required to be in possession of passports that are valid for six months beyond the period of their intended stay in the U.S. Citizens of the countries in this document are exempt from the six-month rule and need only have a passport valid for their intended period of stay.”
Your I-20 should:
- Reflect your current program of study with a future end date
- Include a DSO signature that was signed less than one year ago for travel on page 2
When returning to the U.S. you must return:
- Before your I-20 expiration date
- Before the next quarter’s starting date
- A valid visa is needed to enter the U.S. in most cases.
- Most countries issue F-1 visas with “M” (multiple) under entries, allowing unlimited entries.
- If your visa has expired or you have used all allowed entries, you must renew your F-1 visa before returning to the U.S.
- There are some exceptions for Canada and Mexico
- To renew your F-1 visa, follow the U.S. Department of States’ F-1 visa information.
- Consider bringing copies of your Bellevue College class schedule, transcript, updated financial documents, and an enrollment verification letter from your International Advisor.
Note: If an F-1 student stays outside the U.S. for more than five months, a new visa is usually required to re-enter. Contact the U.S. Consulate in your home country to confirm.
You are advised to print out and bring the following documents with you:
F-1 students with an expired U.S. visa (or F-1 I-94 from a change of status) may continue to re-enter the U.S. from Canada or Mexico as long as they meet the following criteria:
- Passport and current SEVIS I-20 are still valid
- You remain in Canada or Mexico for no more than 30 days, and you do not leave Canada or Mexico during those 30 days
- You have not applied for a new U.S. visa while in Canada or Mexico and had that application denied
- You are not from Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, or Cuba
Special Travel Issues
For complicated situations – consult an immigration attorney for any status issues or complexities prior to departing or attempting to re-enter the U.S.
A travel signature for reentry to the United States to resume your study at Bellevue College is an F-1 visa benefit and is granted only if you are maintaining status. Out-of-status students with terminated SEVIS record may depart the United States but cannot reenter with the I-20. Consult with your International Advisor if you are terminated or have a pending immigration case with United States Customs and Immigration Services (USCIS).
Since June 4, 2025, there are two U.S. Presidential Proclamations restricting entry to the United States by nationals of certain countries.
- Presidential Proclamation 10949 of June 4, 2025, published on whitehouse.gov
- White House Fact Sheet on Proclamation 10949
- Presidential Proclamation 10998 of December 16, 2025, published on whitehouse.gov
- White House Fact Sheet on Proclamation 10998 of December 16, 2025
- Department of State News Alert on February 2, 2026: Suspension of Visa Issuance to Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States
The travel bans and restrictions are applicable only to nationals of the subject countries who:
- are outside the U.S. on January 01, 2026 12:01 am eastern standard time, and
- do not have a valid visa on January 01, 2026 12:01 am eastern standard time.
If you must travel outside of the U.S. and plan to resume studying at Bellevue College, we strongly advise you consult with your International Advisor and an immigration attorney. If you must renew your F-1 visa, you are likely to be subject to the travel bans and restrictions. Even if your F-1 visa is still valid, re-admission to the United States is at the sole discretion of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer.
If you are considering taking a cruise ship you may need to confirm whether the cruise crosses international borders and re-enters the U.S. You may need to procure additional visas or other travel documents, or risk being detained between borders.
If you are in another status other than F-1, please consult your sponsoring agency or company or an immigration attorney prior to travel. Some visa types may require some time spent in your home country prior to re-entering the United States
Last Updated April 9, 2026