Current Travel Advisory
If you are planning to travel internationally, please be aware that visa processing, re-entry requirements, and country-specific restrictions can change with little or no notice. Anticipated new restrictions and delays may affect your ability to return to the U.S. as planned, and you may encounter increased scrutiny from government officials when departing or re-entering the country. It is important that you assess your individual situation and evaluate possible risks when making travels plans. Stay informed:
When entering or returning to the U.S., you may be detained for a search or questioning. Key considerations include staying calm, never fleeing a checkpoint, and providing truthful documentation. The ACLU provides this helpful guide on your rights.
CBP has deployed facial biometric technology to support U.S. entry procedures. Once the camera captures an image of the traveler and the system successfully matches it with historical photos of all travelers from the gallery associated with that manifest, the traveler proceeds to inspection for admissibility by a CBP Officer.
Secondary Screening
A CBP officer's border search authority is derived from federal statutes and regulations, including 19 C.F.R. 162.6, which states that, "All persons, baggage and merchandise arriving in the Customs territory of the United States from places outside thereof are liable to inspection by a CBP officer." Unless exempt by diplomatic status, all persons entering the United States, including U.S. citizens, are subject to examination and search by CBP officers.
» Read more - CBP Search Authority
Detention of Electronic Devices
CBP may conduct a border search of your electronic device(s) and can detain your electronic devices for up to 30 days or longer. This may include copying and retaining data contained in the device(s) at the time of the search.
- The CBP officer conducting the examination will speak with you and explain the process: Border Search of Electronic Devices.
- Information from WHOI Security about considerations when traveling internationally is available here.
Travelers are obligated to present electronic devices and the information resident on the device in a condition that allows for the examination of the device and its contents. Failure to assist CBP in accessing the electronic device and its contents for examination may result in the detention of the device to complete the inspection.
Password Refusal:
- U.S. citizens and permanent residents cannot be denied entry for refusing to unlock a device, but refusal may cause delays or device seizure.
- Foreign nationals can be denied entry if they refuse to provide passwords.
Return of Detained Electronic Device(s)
CBP will return your electronic device(s) prior to your departure from the port of entry unless CBP identifies a need to temporarily detain the device(s) to complete the search or the device is subject to seizure.
If CBP detains or seizes your device(s), you will receive a completed written custody receipt detailing the item(s) being detained or seized, who at CBP will be your point of contact, and how to contact them. To facilitate the return of your property, CBP will request contact information.
If it is impractical for you to pick up your device, CBP can arrange to return your devices to you.
Should you have additional questions or concerns regarding the devices, please contact the telephone number provided on the written custody receipt.
You must plan for international travel by first reviewing your visa documents for reentry to the U.S. In addition, if traveling to a country that is not your own, you need to confirm that you have the required entry visa documents for that country. Please contact the embassy or consulate of the country you plan to visit for detailed information on what you need to do to apply for an entry visa should you need one.
Note that starting on April 11, 2025, USCIS will require registration of all noncitizens (including Legal Permanent Residents) 14 years old or older “who were not fingerprinted or registered when applying for a U.S. visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer.” WHOI recommends that you take with you all related immigration documents for travel inside the U.S.
Required US Re-Entry Documents
- Proof of continued employment, such as an appointment letter and/or recent pay stubs
Unexpired passport
All international students, scholars and their family members are required to have valid passports. Passports must be valid at least six months beyond your date of entry to the United States.
Unexpired U.S. visa (except for Canadian citizens)
It is not possible to apply for or renew non-immigrant visas inside the U.S.Citizens of all countries except Canada are required to have unexpired U.S. visas in their passports to enter and reenter the U.S. If you need to apply for a visa, you can contact the U.S. embassy or consulate at which you plan to apply for the visa in advance to confirm its hours of operation, application procedures, and to see if any changes have been implemented. For a list of U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, visit the U.S. Department of State web site. A U.S. non-immigrant visa is issued in an individual's passport by a U.S. consul in a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the U.S. A visa is used solely for the purpose of entry and reentry to the U.S. The visa does not determine how long an individual may remain in the U.S. An individual may remain in the U.S. beyond the expiration date of a visa if the immigration document (Form I-20, Form DS-2019, or Form I-797) is valid.
Unexpired immigration document (Form DS-2019, I-20, I-797, DS-7002)
Please check your documents prior to making international travel plans. Visa documents include the Form I-20, Form DS-2019, Form DS-7002, and Form I-797. A visa document certifies the length of stay for international students, scholars and their family members and it indicates an individual's visa status. A visa document must always be unexpired.
If you leave the U.S. and you forget to bring your Form I-20 or DS-2019, or it is lost or stolen, you can request that a new form be emailed to you by contacting FN Advisor.
Unexpired travel signature on Form I-20 or DS-2019 (in most cases no older than 12 months)
Students and scholars on F-1 and J-1 visas (as well as their dependents on F-2 and J-2 visas) need a travel signature on Form I-20 or DS-2019, in most cases, no older than 12 months.
- You may request a travel signature by contacting fna@whoi.edu. If you have dependents, you do not need to submit a separate request for signatures; all forms can be issued and sent to you automatically.
If you attempt to re-enter the U.S. with a visa document (Form I-20 or DS-2019) that has an expired travel signature, the immigration officials at the U.S. port of entry have the discretion to readmit you for up to 30 days. You may be given Form I-515A granting you a 30-day admission period. If you are given an I-515A upon entry, it is very important that you contact your FN Advisor immediately.
Form I-94
Each time you enter the U.S., the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) creates an on-line, electronic entry record of your entry to the U.S. This is called your I-94 record. Because U.S. airports no longer stamp your passport when you enter the U.S., the I-94 will be your only official record of entry to the U.S.
You should check and save a screenshot of yourI-94 record each time you enter the U.S. as you may need it for other purposes. If the I-94 record ever displays incorrect information, or cannot be found, please contact your FN Advisor.
WHOI Recommends You Do Not Use Global Entry or NEXUS
Global Entry and NEXUS expedite your entry into the U.S., but they are designed for tourists and do not permit you to study or work. While these programs reduce wait times, entering on an incorrect visa status can lead to serious complications, including being unable to start your studies or appointment. In extreme cases, you may need to return home and re-enter to be in the proper status. To avoid this, do not use Global Entry, NEXUS, or an automated passport kiosk. Always speak with a Customs and Border Protection Officer and present the required documents to be admitted in the correct status.
Transit through a Third Country
Please be aware that many countries (including the United States) do not allow visitors to transit through their countries unless they have an entry visa, a transit visa, or meet specific requirements. Before arranging travel that would require transit through a country that is not your home country, review that country's visa policies.
Register Global Travel
WHOI researchers, scholars, and employees who are traveling for WHOI-related or personal reasons may register their travel with WHOI Foreign Visits Form. If any incidents occur abroad while you are traveling, registration with an embassy enables the government to help you in circumstances where their assistance is critical (e.g. lost passports, arrests, natural disasters, etc.).
- S. citizens can register with State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
- Citizens of other countries may find it helpful to review a list of embassies and consulates in the U.S.
Change of Visa Status within the U.S.
Those who have obtained an approval of a change of visa status in the U.S. through the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will still be required to apply for a visa for the new visa status at a U.S. embassy or consulate when traveling outside the U.S. prior to returning to the U.S. in the new visa status.
Family Members in Dependent Visa Status
Family members in dependent visa status such as F-2, J-2, H-4, or O-3 must have their own dependent visa documents (Forms I-20, DS-2019, I-797) when traveling with or without their principal visa holders.
Export Control
The U.S. Government has strict export control laws. If you are traveling abroad, you should check with the head of your department or laboratory before sending or taking materials related to your work. The U.S. Government may require a license to export such items.
You must have a valid travel signature on the date you reenter the U.S. after international travel. A travel signature on your DS-2019 (or I-20) is a signature from the Foreign National Advisor (Alternate Responsible Officer). This signature is generally valid for one year and can be used for multiple trips abroad. A more recent travel signature is recommended if you plan to renew your visa on this trip abroad.
Please check the right-hand side of your DS-2019 form for a travel signature and verify if it is valid.
A sample DS-2019 signature appears on the right-hand side of the form:
Request a DS-2019 travel signature
J-1 scholars can obtain a travel signature at Nobska House on the WHOI Village Campus by contacting fna@whoi.edu for an appointment.
The Foreign National Advisor (FNA) will need to review your records and sign your documents:
- passport with your J-1 visa
- most recent Form DS-2019
- printed copy of your most recent I-94 entry to the US from the USCPB I-94 website
The FNA will send you a new DS-2019 via email within 10 business days. Please note that you will need to print, sign the DS-2019, and present the paper form to a US customs officer when physically returning to the US.
On the day you will reenter the U.S., the visa in your passport must be valid. If your visa will expire before the date of your return, you must apply for a new visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy while you are outside of the U.S.
Please note: You may need to schedule an in-person visa interview at a U.S. consulate to apply for a new visa during your travel. If you need to apply for a new visa, you may experience administrative processing delays at the U.S. Embassy, which could delay your return to the United States. If you are unsure of whether to travel, you should consult with your department about the consequences (payroll, research delays, etc.) if you are unable to return to the U.S. right away.
When you arrive in the US by air or sea, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will electronically update your I-94 entry record to reflect the immigration status in which you were admitted and the length of lawful stay that you have been granted.
For J-1 exchange visitors, and your J-2 (or F-1 students and F-2 dependents), your electronic record should reflect your correct status for “D/S” (duration of status).
For H-1B, TN, O-1, etc., your passport stamp and electronic record should reflect the end date on your corresponding immigration document.
Each time you reenter the US it is important to check both your electronic I-94 record to make certain these are correct. You can retrieve your electronic I-94 record after each entry to the United States and save a copy of your records. Errors to your admission status or length of stay can jeopardize your ability to study, work and remain lawfully in the U.S. If you discover an error to your electronic I-94 record, come to the Foreign National Office immediately to discuss how this can be corrected.
See sample I-94 record below:
- If Detained: Try to contact a trusted family member or friend. It's recommended they have a list of immigration attorneys who specialize in deportation/removal to contact on your behalf.
- Know Your Rights: The New England Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) provides a helpful resource titled What to Do if You are Detained at a Port of Entry.
- Employees: The Office of General Counsel (OGC) is available to answer questions submitted to Legal Request , though OGC may refer individuals to personal legal counsel depending on the issues raised.
The following are links to resources you may find useful.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Local Non-Profits
- Irish International Immigrant Center: (617) 542-7654
- Catholic Charities: (617) 464-8100
- PAIR Project: (617) 742-9296
- Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition ("MIRA"): (617) 350-5480
Legal
If you think you’ve been a victim of an immigration scam, report it. Find more information about common scams and how to report them. Common Scams | USCIS