ISSS Travel Advisory Session

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ISSS Travel Advisory Session

• International Student Scholar ServicesDivision
  of Student Affairs
• FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY

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Immigration Travel Advisory WorkshopOverview

• Before traveling Check your Documents!
• Changes in Automatic Visa Revalidation
• Consular Affairs Visa Application
• Procedures
• Documents
• Security Checks
• U.S. CBP Inspections at Port of Entry
• In Case You Have not Thought of it

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Before Traveling Check your Documents

• F-1 Students Currently Enrolled
• Unexpired passport Important Students with
  Dual Citizenships You MUST use the passport of
  the country that appears on your I-20 as your
  country of citizenship.
• Valid F-1 visa stamp in passport (F-2 visa for
  dependents) NOTE If expired, you must apply
  for a new one at U.S. Consulate in home
  country for use at reentry.
• Original and valid FIU SEVIS I-20 (DSO signature
  valid for a one year period provided, student
  remains in-status during that period)
• Evidence of financial resources Must be current

Source U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Information Sheet, SEVP Program, (2005).
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Before Traveling Check your Documents

• F-1 Students Currently Enrolled
• Not required but recommended, especially if you
  have had problems at POE in your previous
  travels
• Updated FIU academic transcript
• Full-time Certification letter from ISSS
• Name and contact information for a FIU PDSO or
  DSO

Source U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Information Sheet, SEVP Program, (2005).
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Before Traveling Check your Documents

• F-1 Students who graduated and currently on OPT
• Unexpired passport Important Students with
  Dual Citizenships You MUST use the passport of
  the country that appears on your I-20 as your
  country of citizenship.
• Valid F-1 visa stamp in passport (F-2 visa for
  dependents) NOTE If expired, you must apply
  for a new one.
• Original and valid FIU SEVIS I-20 (with valid
  OPT authorization noted under Remarks
  section (item 9 on I-20) and DSO signature.

Source U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Information Sheet, SEVP Program, (2005).
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Before Traveling Check your Documents
F-1 Students who graduated and currently on
OPT IMPORTANT Effective Spring 2005, SEVP
changed their policy regarding a regulatory
section under 8 CFR 214.2(f)(13)(ii). SEVP now
considers F-1s who possess unexpired EADs but who
are currently unemployed or do not have a job
offer to be INELIGIBLE for reentry into the U.S.
under F-1 status.

• Highly recommended to travel with
• Employers letter confirming current
  employment or offer of employment (for
  which degree completed is required and related)
• NOTE Traveling without proof of current
  employment in the U.S. poses a critical risk.

Source U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Information Sheet, SEVP Program, (2005).
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Before Traveling Check your Documents

• J-1 Visa Holders
• Unexpired passport Important Students with
  Dual Citizenships You MUST use the passport of
  the country that appears on your I-20 as your
  country of citizenship.
• Valid J-1 visa stamp in passport (J-2 visa for
  dependents)NOTE If expired, you must apply for
  a new one at U.S. Consulate
• Original and valid DS-2019 (with updated RO/ARO
  signature) DS-2019 issued by FIU or by
  sponsoring agency/organization
• Evidence of financial resources Must be current

Source U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Information Sheet, SEVP Program, (2005).
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Before Traveling Check your Documents

• J-1 Visa Holders
• Not required but recommended, especially if you
  have had problems at POE in your previous
  travels
• For those in student category, updated FIU
  academic transcript
• For scholars researchers, copy of your
  contract, if you have one.
• Name and contact information for an FIU RO

Source U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Information Sheet, SEVP Program, (2005).
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U. S. VISIT
Secondary Inspections WHY?

• An individual may require additional or secondary
  screening because one or more of the following
• The data provided indicates possible national
  security concerns.
• The data provided indicates other law
  enforcement concerns.
• The data presented constitutes improper
  documentation.

Remember Stay calm. Do NOT panic. If you
didnt do anything wrong, no need to worry.
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Changes in Automatic Visa Revalidation

It is definitely NOT business as usual with
Automatic Visa Revalidation.

• What is Automatic Revalidation? A special
  provision in the Department of State regulations
  which permits holders of F and J status---with
  original/valid Form I-94 and absence of no more
  than 30 days---to
• go to contiguous territory and return to the
  U.S. without a currently valid visa stamp in
  the passport.
• go to adjacent islands return to the U.S.
  without a currently valid visa stamp in the
  passport.

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Changes in Automatic Visa Revalidation
Contiguous territory Canada and Mexico

Adjacent Islands Angular, Antigua, Aruba,
Bahamas, Barbados, Barbuda, Bermuda, Bonaire,
British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Curacao,
Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Grenada,
Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Marie-Galante,
Martinique, Miguel, Montserrat, Saba, Saint
Bartholomew, Saint Christopher, Saint Estates,
Saint Kitts-Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Marten,
Saint Martin, Saint Pierre, Saint Vincent and
Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and
Calicos islands.
NOTE Automatic Revalidation is NOT available for
travel to ones home country/country of
citizenship.
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Changes in Automatic Visa Revalidation
Automatic Revalidation Rules and Criteria

• You must not be a citizen of a country that the
  Department of State determined to be a
  sponsor of terrorism. Countries currently on
  this list Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North
  Korea, Sudan, and Syria.

• Time outside the U.S. MUST (1) not exceed 30
  days AND (2) be spent ONLY in contiguous
  territory or adjacent islands. NOTE Travel to
  a third country from Canada, Mexico or an
  adjacent island is NOT PERMITTED.

• You must be in possession at exit/reentry of a
  valid SEVIS I-20 or DS-2019 and present it to
  USCBP Officer at POE.

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Changes in Automatic Visa Revalidation
Automatic Revalidation Rules and Criteria

• You must be in possession at exit/reentry of a
  valid unexpired passport.

• You must be in possession at exit/reentry of an
  original and valid Form I-94. NOTE When
  you travel to Canada, Mexico or Caribbean, DO
  NOT SURRENDER your I-94 to an airline
  representative or other transportation
  entity. The original I-94 is REQUIRED to be
  eligible for reentry using automatic
  revalidation.

• You must have maintained legal and valid F or J
  status while in the U.S. prior to travel and
  must resume legal and valid status upon reentry.
  Students who fall out-of-status are NOT
  eligible for automatic revalidation.

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Changes in Automatic Visa Revalidation
Automatic Revalidation Rules and Criteria

• You must not be considered inadmissible to the
  U.S. under Section 212(a) or 212(d)(3)(a) of
  the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
  If either one is noted in your expired visa
  passport, you are not eligible for automatic
  revalidation.

• You MUST NOT apply for a visa at the U.S.
  Consulate in Canada, Mexico, or the
  Caribbean. A student or scholar who proceeds to
  apply for a visa
• MUST be prepared to wait the entire period of
  processing including security checks, as
  necessary.
• MUST be prepared to return to his/her home
  country should the application be denied.
  In this case, he/she is NOT eligible for
  automatic revalidation.

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Changes in Automatic Visa Revalidation
IMPORTANT!An F or J visa holder who somehow
gets admitted into the U.S. even if he/she did
not meet the rules and criteria will be
considered as having committed VISA FRAUD.Visa
Fraud is a deportable offense and he/she is
subject to removal from the U.S. and will not be
eligible to be admitted any time in the
future.Refer to INA Section 212( a )( 6 )( C )
under Misrepresentation -.INA Site
http//uscis.gov/graphics/lawsregs/INA.htm

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Consular Affairs Visa Application
Visa Application Procedures

• Visa Application is done at U.S. Consulate in
  your home country.
• Third country might be possible only if (1)
  permanent residence at that country or (2) can
  document hardship with travel to home country.
• Personal interview on an appointment basis, in
  most cases.
• Check bulletins on Consulate closings and
  procedure/policy changes. Site
  http//travel.state.gov/travel/tips/embassies/emba
  ssies_1214.html
• Decision on visa application will vary depending
  on length of security clearance processing at
  the particular U.S. Consulate. In many cases,
  processing may take at least 30 60 days.
• Plan ahead. Be prepared.

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Consular Affairs Visa Application
Visa Applications Documents

• REQUIRED
• Forms DS - 156 Nonimmigrant Visa
  Application DS 157 Supplemental
  Nonimmigrant Visa Application DS 158
  Contact Information and Work History for
  Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant
• Valid passport must be valid at least 6 months
• Original SEVIS I-20 (F1/F2) or DS-2019 (J1/J2)
• Original and current financial documents to
  prove sufficient funding.
• Proof of SEVIS (I-901) Fee, if applicant is
  subject to it.
• For dependents, proof of relationship to
  principal (F1 or J1)

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Consular Affairs Visa Application
Visa Applications Documents

• Visa renewal for Continuing students I-20 Issue
• Requires a new I-20 as FIU that reflects 2004
  2005 cost estimate.
• Student must request new I-20 and reverify
  funding sources with original and current
  financial documents.
• If student is out-of-status and traveling abroad
  to RESTART F-1 to reenter the U.S., is required
  to have a new I-20 issued for Initial
  Attendance whether or not a new visa is
  needed.

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Consular Affairs Visa Application
Visa Applications Documents

• NOT required but MAY BE REQUESTED
• Full-time enrollment certification
• Updated academic transcript
• If on Post-completion OPT, EAD and Employers
  letter.

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Visa Application Security Checks
Department of State-Consular Affairs may subject
individual applicants to the following security
clearances

• CLASS Consular Lookout and Support System
  Name check system for general background
  clearance.
• NCIC-III National Crime Information Centers
  Interstate Identification Index A criminal
  database name check system.
• TAL Technology Alert List A list designed as
  an effort to prevent the transfer of
  sensitive technology or material for the wrong
  purpose or into the wrong hands.
• Visas Condor A security check triggered by
  information on the DS-157 (Supplemental
  Nonimmigrant Visa Application).
• Visas Mantis (Donkey or Eagle) A cable process
  used by consulates to verify background
  information for certain applicants regarding
  security issues.

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U.S. CBP Inspections at Port of Entry

• Presentation review of travel documents for
  reentry eligibility - Valid passport, valid
  visa stamp, and valid I-20 - Fully completed
  Form I-94
• U.S. VISIT Processing Fingerprinting (left
  right index fingers) AND photograph taken.
  Added time to inspections Less than 3 minutes.
• Secondary Inspections - U.S. CBP Officer may
  send traveler for secondary inspections due to
  one of the following 1. Data provided indicates
  possible national security concerns. 2. Data
  provided indicates other law enforcement
  concerns. 3. Data presented constitutes improper
  documentation. BE AWARE Increased cases of
  secondary inspections of students who (1) fell
  out-of-status and restarting F-1 by travel
  reentry OR (2) anyone who had a history of
  status violation (SEVIS violator)REMEMBER
  Stay Calm. DO NOT panic. If you did not do
  anything wrong or did not violate any regulation,
  you need not worry.

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U.S. CBP Inspections at Port of Entry

• SEVIS (I-901) Fee - For citizens of Canada
  and Bermuda, SEVIS fee MUST be paid at least 3
  days before appearing at POE. - For all others,
  fee MUST be paid at least 3 days before visa
  interview/application OR for those with valid
  visas but restarting F-1, at least 3 days
  before reentry.

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In Case You Havent Thought of It

• Travel to countries other than your country of
  citizenship or permanent residence, may
  require that you obtain a tourist/entry visa from
  the consulate of that country you are
  visiting.
• At time of visa application, you will also be
  asked to present proof of funds, your
  itinerary, your SEVIS I-20, your valid unexpired
  passport with a valid F-1 visa stamp in it.
  You may also be asked to present a full-time
  certification letter, and your RT ticket.

It is important to realize that admission into a
country other than our own country of citizenship
or lawful permanent residence is a privilege it
is not a right.
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Web Resource Sites

• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S.
  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USICE)
  www.usice.gov
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
  (USCBP) www.uscbp.gov U.S. VISIT
  Program http//www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/co
  ntent_multi_image/cont ent_multi_image_0006/xml
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
  (USCIS) www.uscis.gov
• U.S. Department of StateBureau of Consular
  Affairs travel.state.gov
• Immigration and Nationality Act (INA)
  http//uscis.gov/graphics/lawsregs/INA.htm

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International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS)

• UP - GC 242 Phone [phone]
  Fax [phone]
• BBC - WUC 363 Phone [phone]
  Fax [phone]
• Office hours 800 AM - 500 PM Monday
  Friday
• Advising Hours By Appointment or Walk-In
  Wednesdays

Division of Student Affairs - Florida
International University