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    J-1:Travel Abroad

    General Information
    When traveling outside the United States, you need to have in your possession the proper documents to return and resume your studies. These documents are:

    • DS-2019 signed by RO/ARO (ISSS advisor if KU-sponsored) for travel
    • current passport valid for at least six months after the date of your reentry or,
    • if you are from one of the countries listed here , a passport that is current through the date of entry
    • Current, valid J-1 visa
    Also, upon departure from the United States, you will need to give up your current I-94 card (unless you are traveling to Canada or Mexico in which automatic revalidation of visa applies).

    *If you are planning to travel out of the U.S. and intend to resume your program at KU, please remember to bring your DS-2019 to the ISSS office to obtain a travel signature. Please plan to leave your document with ISSS at least overnight. Typically, it will be ready for you to pick up after 24 hours (excluding weekends and holidays).

    *If your passport is expiring you will need to contact your home country government to renew it. ISSS can help you obtain the contact information for your country’s embassy or consulate.

    *If you need to apply for a new visa, you may only do so from outside of the U.S. You may wish to consult with an ISSS advisor for information on applying for a visa. Please visit the website of the particular U.S. consulate post where you intend to apply for the visa for specific requirements of that post. Links to U.S. consulates and embassies worldwide can be accessed at http://usembassy.state.gov/. *Due to the computer hacking incident of spring 2003, it is still recommended that you obtain an ISSS travel letter to help verify your identity when reentering the U.S. A travel letter request form is available here or in ISSS office. If you were not a student or an admitted student at that time, this may not apply to you. If you are uncertain whether or not this situation applies to you, ISSS front desk staff can assist you in making this determination. Since the letter can take several days to prepare, you may need to leave a self-addressed envelope and have it mailed to you if you are leaving before it is ready.

    *If you are subject to Special Registration, do not forget to leave through a designated port of departure and register your departure according to the required procedures before you exit the U.S. For additional details on this process and a list of designated ports, visit:http://www.ice.gov/pi/specialregistration/index.htm. Please remember that some of these processes can take a few days or longer to complete,so plan ahead to allow adequate time to take care of these concerns when making your travel arrangements.

    Learn More: Travel to Canada or Mexico