With summer vacation around the corner, many of our students and friends are planning to travel back to India for a brief visit. Some have recently transferred their SEVIS to newly admitted Day 1 CPT universities, while others are planning to take advantage of the gap between OPT and Day 1 CPT. They wonder if they can visit home during this transition period and return when their Day 1 CPT program starts.
Additionally, due to the pandemic and the high cost of airfare during the past two years, some students who have been studying at Day 1 CPT universities for a while are now deciding to travel home for a long-overdue visit. They are concerned whether their F1 visas, granted by Day 1 CPT universities, are as reliable as their previous F1 visas from traditional universities.
The fear of being deported at the border is real, and the risk of traveling internationally and not being able to return to the U.S. is also real. However, by taking the right measures, these risks can be avoided.
For international students, traveling home usually involves three scenarios:
Let us check them out one by one:
When both your F1 visa sticker on your passport and your I-20 are associated with the same school and are within the validation period, the process is straightforward. Whether you are studying or already on OPT, you will need to acquire a travel signature from your DSO before traveling internationally.
The travel signature will appear on page two of your I-20 as a confirmation from your school to USCIS, supporting that you have a valid F1 status. Each signature is valid for one year (for F1 students on OPT, the travel signature is valid for six months). You must obtain this signature before leaving the U.S. because it is required for reentry, although it is not required for leaving. If you do not plan to return, there is no need to obtain this signature. However, if your current travel signature will expire before your return to the U.S., you must contact your school's DSO and request an updated travel signature before you arrive at the U.S. border.
This is especially important if you are on OPT or CPT. If your I-20 includes work authorizations like OPT or CPT, you may be asked to show proof of employment. Before leaving the US for your trip, ensure your SEVIS record is up to date. Border control officers can access these records.
Day 1 CPT students have been denied entry not because they were enrolled in a Day 1 CPT program, but because they changed employers without informing their school. Border control officers couldn't match the employment proof provided to the SEVIS records. This issue affects both OPT and CPT students. Keeping your SEVIS record up to date is crucial for a smooth re-entry into the U.S.
Everything is the same except you should request a travel signature from the school that issued your current I-20. USCIS grants international students up to five years of F1 visa stamp validity. Many students complete at least one program during this period. As long as you maintain an active I-20 status, you don't need to renew your F1 stamp.
It's common to use one school's I-20 to apply for an F1 visa and then transfer to another school with a new I-20 during the visa's validity period. If this is you, before traveling, ensure to obtain a travel signature from the school with your active I-20. Everything else remains the same as previously mentioned.
Whether your F1 visa and I-20 come from a traditional school or a Day 1 CPT university generally doesn't matter. As long as you maintain your F1 status requirements, you're fine.
However, concerns arise when attending Day 1 CPT universities because these institutions vary widely. Some have poor reputations with immigration due to insufficient on-site classes and poorly structured programs relying heavily on online courses.
The problem is that while the F1 visa is for full-time academic study, some Day 1 CPT programs seem more suited to a B visa, which permits short-term study. If your program is mostly online with limited on-site attendance, USCIS may question the need for an F1 visa. This mismatch can lead to complications at the border.
Ensuring your program aligns with F1 visa requirements can help you avoid issues when traveling internationally.
More than that, staying outside the US for too long (longer then one semester) is also a red flag. Recently, an Indian students who is enrolled at the University of the Cumberlands has been stopped at the border and deported, particularly for this reason.
Depending on your travel destination, the procedures may vary. Generally, you will need to obtain a new visa stamp from a US embassy or consulate outside the U.S. This new stamp, paired with your active I-20, will allow you to re-enter the US.
For Indian students, the current wait time for an F1 visa interview in New Delhi is approximately 51 days, while in Mumbai, it is around 43 days​ (check the most updated waiting time in your city here)​. Given the potential delays, it is advisable to schedule your appointment well in advance.
If the waiting time in India is too long, consider applying for your F1 visa in a third country. Popular options include:
Before you travel, ensure you have an appointment at the U.S. embassy or consulate in your chosen country. This proactive approach can help you avoid unnecessary delays and ensure a smooth return to your studies in the US.
Renewing your F1 visa is similar to applying for it the first time. You've done this before, so don't worry—you've got this!
If you are enrolled at a Day 1 CPT university, be prepared to answer some specific questions during your visa renewal interview:
⨠⨠Why pursue another master's degree?
⨠⨠Why switch to a university with a lower ranking?
Clearly articulate your reasons for pursuing another degree and align them with your career goals to address any concerns during your F1 visa renewal interview. However, if these questions aren't raised, there's no need to address them. Your primary goal is to demonstrate that your intention is to study and that you understand the limitations of the F1 visa, including the requirement to return to your home country after your studies are complete.
If your F1 visa stamp expires but your I-20 is still active, you can travel to certain countries and return to the U.S. successfully by using your I-20 and expired F1 visa. This process is called "automatic revalidation". However, certain restrictions apply to this "F1 benefit":
1. You must be traveling to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands (except Cuba).When using automatic revalidation, you must still adhere to the important rules mentioned in "scenario 1": Make sure to obtain a travel signature from your DSO before traveling; ensure that this signature is not expired upon your re-entry; and, keeping your SEVIS record up to date.
Traveling outside the United States during a SEVIS transfer is generally not recommended due to potential inconsistencies with your travel signature. If you transfer from School A before leaving the U.S. but are enrolled at School B upon your return, the travel signature on your I-20 will still be from School A. This discrepancy may cause confusion for the border officer and could trigger a secondary inspection.
Depending on the school you are enrolled in, traveling during a SEVIS transfer might be prohibited. For example, Monroe College requires students to be present in the U.S. during a SEVIS transfer. Other schools may have more lenient policies regarding this matter.
If you run into an emergency and have to travel outside the US during this period of time, try to communicate with DSO at both your current school and your new Day 1 CPT school. If they are willing to provide support, then the re-entry situation falls under the scenario where your F1 visa and I-20 are active and valid (see scenario 1).