Travel

Going on a trip?

Scholars and employees should ALWAYS confirm that they have all documentation needed for successful travels both domestically and internationally:

• Travel for J-1 Scholars
• Travel for H-1B Employees

All international travel carries some inherent risks and it is up to the officer at the U.S. port of entry to determine your admissibility. ISSA can NEVER guarantee that a traveler will be able to return to the United States once they have departed. Review your rights as a non-citizen at the port of entry here.

• It is recommended to have a phone number to call if you are detained at the port of entry; though a personal number is better, students and scholars can contact NDPD's non-emergency number of 574-631-5555 and they will reach out to an ISSA advisor, as needed.
• Remember CBP has the authority to search your devices. More information can be found from CBP here and from AILA here.

TRAVEL AND THE I-94 RECORD

The I-94 record is considered your lawful record of admission and establishes your immigration status. Each time you enter the U.S., an I-94 record is created.

After each entry into the US, it is imperative that you check your I-94 from CBP here and print out a hard copy. When checking you are specifically reviewing the Class of Admission, which must match your visa type, and Admit Until Date.

Action Steps

There are two action items after checking the most recent I-94 record: 

1. Submit the I-94 to ISSA via ISSAlink
2. Print off a hard copy to carry with you at all times
   • Federal regulations require that non-citizens carry "evidence of registration" at all times; the I-94 is the evidence. 

It is your responsibility to check your I-94 and alert us of any issues. We review your I-94 to ensure that there are no status issues that will disrupt your program/employment at the university, but the visa holder has full responsibility for managing their status, particularly as it relates to the I-94 entry record. Failure to apply for an extension of stay or to depart the US by the end date noted on your I-94 record could result in unlawful presence in the US.

• If using Global Entry and you have other valid US visas, be mindful of confirming your intention to enter the US with your J-1/H-1B/TN/E-3/O-1 visa (you may need to do this manually), as this may impact your I-94 record. 

Have you checked current travel requirements for your destination?

While ISSA advises on US immigration, it is the responsibility of the individual traveler to ensure they have appropriate visas and travel documents to enter other countries.

Apply for an H-1B Visa Stamp

Information can be found here.

Apply for a J-1 Visa Stamp*

Information can be found here.

*If you need to apply for a new visa or renew your current one, you must return to your home country or country of residence for the required visa application interview. At this time, we are advising scholars and students to carefully consider any travel that will require a new visa stamp. PLEASE NOTE: New and renewal visa processing times are longer, and visa appointment availability is limited, therefore there is no guarantee you will be issued a new visa on your timeline.