Carnegie Mellon

OIE Winter Travel Advice

Dear Students,

The following message provides recommendations for students in F1 and J1 status who will be traveling internationally OR domestically this winter. If you plan to travel outside the Pittsburgh area, please read over this email carefully and contact OIE with your questions or concerns.

What documents should I carry for International Travel?

We advise all students to travel "fully documented." You may expect attention to detail from the US border officer examining your documents upon reentry to the US or by US Consular officials if you must apply for a new entry visa. Carrying all of the documents suggested may keep your anxiety level low if you are carefully examined by US officials.

Carry with you:

--- Unexpired SEVIS I-20 or SEVIS DS-2019 with a current FSA signature (F1s within the last 6 months and J1s within the last 12 months.) To get a signature, bring your most recently issued I-20 or DS-2019 to OIE's front desk and pick up the document 3 days later.

--- Copies of all previous I-20s or DS-2019s

--- Unexpired Passport valid 6 months into the future

--- Unexpired Visa Stamp (See point 2 below if your visa will be expired when you plan to re-enter the US)

--- I-94 card (This will be collected when you leave the US and a new I-94 will be issued upon your return.)

--- Verification Letter from the HUB (This should be ordered on-line http://www.cmu.edu:8001/hub/verification.html. Request verification of your name, class, college, department, dates of attendance, date of expected graduation.)

--- CMU ID with current validation sticker affixed

What do I need to apply for a new visa to return to Carnegie Mellon?

--- Plan ahead! Contact the US Consulate or Embassy where you will apply for your visa before you leave the US. Most US Consulates now require a scheduled, in-person interview. Make sure you understand their visa application processes and that you have an appointment, if necessary. Remember, US Consulates and Embassies observe both local and US holidays, so they will likely be closed for several days during your school break.

Also, US consulates may close for indefinite and uncertain periods of time if there are concerns about security in certain countries or regions. There is no way to predict these closings, but a consulate closing will prevent your ability to obtain a new visa, if needed. You should check the relevant US Department of State websites shortly before you exit the US as a last-minute precaution.

Information on US Consulates abroad can be found here. The accuracy of the information on these sites depends on the individual consulate actively keeping it up to date. The best way to get the most up-to-date information is to CALL THE CONSULAR OFFICE DIRECTLY.

--- Security checks may add several weeks to the visa processing time. If subject, it is possible that you will not get a visa in time to return to the US before the start of the spring semester. Please be aware that, should you be subject to security checks, there is little if anything Carnegie Mellon can do to speed up the process. Additionally, students who work in fields considered to be sensitive by the Department of State may also be subject to additional scrutiny. (For further information on sensitive fields, visit the following web site: http://www.foia.state.gov/masterdocs/09fam/0940031X1.pdf http://travel.state.gov/visa/state147566.html) If you are delayed, keep your Foreign Student Advisor and your academic department informed as to your situation.

--- Obtain copies of official transcripts from CMU and any previous schools that you attended in the US.

--- Obtain original financial documents from you or your sponsor, showing your ability to cover remaining tuition and living expenses to complete your degree (Examples: bank statements for personal funds and/or department letters for CMU support). 2004 - 2005 living expenses are $14,300/yr. for a student plus $5,600/yr. for a spouse and $3,600/yr. per child.

--- Obtain a copy of your paid student account via the HUB. This proves you aren't in debt to the school. If you have paid for next semester's tuition or have a positive balance on your account, this may be counted as proof of finances.

--- You may also be asked to show ties to your home country. Property, other assets, family, and future job plans in your home country should be mentioned and documented. Offer such information ONLY if the issue is raised by the consular official reviewing your application. Officials are looking for proof that you intend to return home after completing your degree rather than immigrating to the US.

Will I need to follow US-Visit Departure procedures?

US-Visit entry procedures, where travelers are photographed and fingerprinted, have been in place for some time now with departure procedures being piloted at only a few locations. As of November 2004, several ports of departure have been added to the pilot locations. If you are leaving the US through any of the following ports of departure, please be sure to following US-Visit exit procedures. FAILURE TO DO SO COULD IMPACT YOUR ABILITY TO RETURN TO THE US.

- Baltimore, MD (Baltimore-Washington International Airport)
- Miami, FL (Miami International Cruise Line Terminal)
- Chicago, IL (O'Hare International Airport)
- Atlanta, Georgia (William B. Hartsfield International Airport)
- Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport)
- Denver, Colorado (Denver International Airport)
- Detroit, Michigan (Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport)
- Ft. Lauderdale, Florida (Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport)
- Newark, New Jersey (Newark International Airport)
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia International Airport)
- Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport)
- San Francisco, California (San Francisco International Airport)
- San Juan, Puerto Rico (Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport)
- Seattle, Washington (Seattle/Tacoma International Airport)
- Los Angeles, California (San Pedro and Long Beach Seaports)

***NSEERS Special Registrants must be sure to follow NSEERS departure procedures regardless of port of departure. See section 5 below for more information.***

For further information on the US-Visit program see http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=91&content=3768

What if I'm traveling to or through another country?

Many countries are changing their visa and entry requirements. Some of these changes have occurred recently. If you are planning to travel to, or in transit through, a country where you are not a citizen, you should check with that country's Embassy or Consulate regarding entry requirements. In addition to the documents you need for re-entry to the US, you may also need a visa for entry to any other country you may be traveling to or through. For example, the European Union (including the United Kingdom) is now requiring citizens from several countries, including India, to have transit visas for flights routed through the European Union. This new rule may only apply to individuals with expired US visas. Contact the Embassy/Consulate concerned for more information:
http://www.embassy.org/embassies/index.html or
Yahoo Search: Foreign Embassies and Consulates in the United States

What about Special Registration?

EXIT PROCEDURES
If you have an FIN number on your I-94 card and you were fingerprinted and photographed at the port of entry or at the local INS/USCIS office, you are subject to NSEERS. This means that when you exit the US, you must follow the specific exit procedures for individuals subject to NSEERS. These exit procedures require you to go to a specific room in the exit airport to report your intention to leave the US. If you fail to report your intent to depart, you may not ever be permitted to re-enter the US. Even if it means missing your flight, DO NOT LEAVE THE US WITHOUT FOLLOWING THESE INSTRUCTIONS. Please make an appointment to discuss this with your Foreign Student Advisor if you have concerns about this requirement. A reminder of your responsibilities under NSEERS and a full list of exit locations in each U.S. airport can be found:
http://uscis.gov/graphics/shared/lawenfor/specialreg/srindividuals.pdf

RE-ENTRY PROCEDURES
Whether you are already subject to NSEERS or not, you may become subject to the NSEERS/Special Registration requirements at the port of entry.
For more information, visit the Special Registration Home Page at
http://www.ice.gov/graphics/specialregistration/index.htm

What should I carry for travel within the US?

It is required by law that non-US citizens carry their "alien registration document" while in the United States. If you will travel outside the Pittsburgh area, OIE recommends that you carry your I-94 card, passport, and I-20 or DS-2019.

Where can I find more information?

OIE will do their best to keep you informed via e-mail. If you'd like to do research on your own, check out the sources listed below.

GOVERNMENT RESOURCES:

US Department of State: http://www.state.gov/

US Citizenship and Immigration Services: http://uscis.gov

US Transportation Security Administration: http://www.tsa.gov

TRAVEL RESOURCES:

The Pittsburgh International Airport: http://www.pitairport.com

Daily updates on safety and travel alerts: http://www.expedia.com

How can I get in touch with OIE over the holidays?

The best way to contact OIE without delay is to call 412-268-5231 between the hours of 8:30am-5pm, Mon-Fri. If you are experiencing an emergency, communicate this to the receptionist and ask to speak with a foreign student advisor. You may also send a fax to 412-268-7832.

For routine questions that do not require an immediate response, OIE may be reached by email at oie@andrew.cmu.edu.

General information on travel and immigration issues can also be found on the OIE web site at http://www.cmu.edu/oie.

Please remember that CMU will be closed in observation of the holidays on the following dates:

December 24
December 27
December 30
December 31

Best wishes as you make travel plans, and don't hesitate to contact us with questions!

Sincerely,

OIE Staff

Last Updated On: September 5th, 2006