Before making international travel plans, please review the current presidential proclamation regarding travel restrictions. The National Association of International Educators (NAFSA) has provided a comprehensive summary, which you may find helpful.

All students and scholars traveling abroad need to check the validity dates on their immigration documents to ensure everything is in order. If you have any questions, please see an OISS advisor.

International students and scholars should register all international travel (personal and university-affiliated) due to increased scrutiny from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Important Considerations – READ THIS FIRST

What to Expect
• Travelers may face additional questioning at U.S. ports of entry
• Travel to certain countries or entities of concern may receive heightened scrutiny
• Customs and Border Protection Officers may ask whether your travel is registered with your university

Research & Personal Devices
• Research materials (even open source or academic work) may be closely reviewed
• Officers may not distinguish between public research and sensitive information
• Be mindful of documents, data files, and images stored on your devices
• Content that could be interpreted as illegal or questionable activity may raise concerns

Why Registration Matters
• Confirms your travel is reported to the university
• Provides access to travel briefings
• Helps you prepare for questions at the port of entry
• May support smoother reentry into the U.S.

Additional Guidance
Save the International Travel Incident Response Team’s number (713-348-6000). This is also the same number to call if you need support from OISS during a travel emergency outside normal business hours.

Visit https://global.rice.edu/travel-resources/registering-your-trip to register your travel.

Required Documents

1. Passport, valid at least 6 months past the date of (re)entry into the U.S.

2. Travel endorsement on the current I-20 or DS-2019 that is no older than 1 year. Please note that travel signatures are only valid for 6 months while on OPT/STEM OPT.

3. Valid visa stamp (Exception: Canadian citizens are not required to have a visa in their passport).

Special information for students on OPT/STEM OPT

If you are traveling while on F-1 OPT or the STEM OPT extension, review your documentation to make sure it includes the following:
• I-20 showing OPT is approved on pg. 2 and updated with current employer information if possible.**
• Travel endorsement on current I-20 that is no older than 6 months
• Original EAD
• Letter from your employer, if applicable
For more information about travel on OPT, please see https://oiss.rice.edu/OPTcompliance

**Once your OPT has been approved and you have submitted a copy of your OPT EAD to OISS, you may request an updated I-20 to update the information on the second page from "OPT Requested" to "OPT Approved." Unless you need the updated I-20 earlier for international travel, we recommend waiting until your OPT has started and you have updated your employment information in the SEVP Student Portal to ensure this information is also printed on the new I-20.

To make the request, please email OISS at oiss@rice.edu and indicate that you would like to have an updated "OPT Approved" I-20. If you are making the request before your OPT start date, please confirm the purpose of the I-20 (for international travel, please include estimated travel dates). Otherwise, please also confirm that the employment information in your SEVP Student Portal is current.

Requesting Travel Endorsement

OISS can provide travel endorsements for all F and J visa holders whose immigration records are sponsored by Rice. Each endorsement for travel is valid for 1 year (or 6 months for students on OPT/STEM OPT) and can be used for multiple entries within that validity period.

If you are planning to travel internationally during school breaks and do not have a valid travel signature on your current I-20/DS-2019, please request an updated signature by the following deadlines:
For spring/summer travel, request a travel signature by Spring Break.
For winter recess travel, request a travel signature by early November.

To request a travel signature, please email oiss@rice.edu. Please allow 1-3 business days for processing. Please only submit one request, as multiple requests can result in duplicated and confusing SEVIS events on your record.

You will receive a new I-20 or DS-2019 by email. Both the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) for I-20s and the U.S. Department of State for DS-2019s have confirmed that electronically signed and issued documents are allowed. When you receive an I-20 or DS-2019 by email, print it at your earliest convenience and sign it by hand (i.e., in wet ink) at the bottom of the first page, after which the form will be considered valid. An electronic I-20 or DS-2019 displayed from a mobile device is not considered valid.

For more on the validity of electronically issued and signed I-20s, please see the SEVP Policy Guidance.

For more on the validity of electronically issued and signed DS-2019s, please see the Department of State Detailed Description of the DS-2019 webpage.

Visa Renewal

If your visa stamp has expired and you are traveling outside the U.S., you may need to apply for a visa stamp renewal. Please feel free to schedule an appointment with an OISS advisor to discuss the process, but please note that you do not require any supporting letter from OISS. We have also compiled some tips for the visa application process and a list of helpful videos, please see https://oiss.rice.edu/visa-tips.

Effective September 6, 2025, non-immigrant visa applicants must schedule their visa appointments only at a U.S. consulate in their country of citizenship or residence. If the location is based on the country of residence, applicants must be able to demonstrate their residency. Citizens of countries where the U.S. government does not provide non-immigrant visa services must apply at the embassy or consulate designated by the Department of State, unless they have residency in another country. For more information and a list of the designated consular locations, see https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/adjudicating-niv-applicants-in-their-country-of-residence.html.

Please submit a copy of your renewed visa stamp to OISS at http://bit.ly/oissdocs.

Automatic Revalidation

If you are traveling to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean Islands (except Cuba) and your visa stamp has expired, you may be able to use automatic revalidation to re-enter the U.S. without renewing your visa stamp. You may schedule an appointment with an OISS advisor to review automatic revalidation guidelines.

Travel to a Third Country

If you are traveling to a country other than your home, please note that you may require a visa to enter your destination. Visa requirements vary by country and by the traveler's citizenship, so check the website of the embassy/consulate of the country you're going to and research the visa requirements that apply in your case. Please note that your U.S. visa status can affect the process, so you may need to inquire further. Fortunately we have many consulates located right here in Houston!

If you require proof of your valid U.S. immigration status, OISS can provide an immigration status verification letter confirming your visa status at Rice. Please use our online letter request form as needed.

Returning to Rice University

Make sure to download your updated I-94 record after every entry to the U.S. and submit a copy to OISS so we can update your arrival record. You may submit all new documents at http://bit.ly/oissdocs.

Most U.S. Ports of Entry have moved away from issuing entry stamps, and it is not a problem if you do not receive one.

Additional Resources

• I-515A Overview
• Travel Advisories
• List of U.S. Embassies / Consulates by Country