S5 Blog: Traveling During Your Program: Travel Signatures, Visa Renewal and Re-Entry

 Quick answer. Travel during scheduled breaks, never during on-site weeks. Before you book, check your documents. If you changed status inside the US or an H-1B petition is pending, talk to our senior consultant first.

Pre-trip checklist
[ ] Valid passport and F-1 visa, or a plan to renew the visa abroad
[ ] I-20 with a travel signature, generally valid for 12 months while you're studying
[ ] Proof of enrollment, and a CPT employer letter if you're working

Time away: more than five months outside the US can affect your status.

Expired visa? It doesn't affect your status inside the US, but you'll need a new F-1 visa abroad to return. Plan for wait times, and answer questions about your program and CPT honestly.

See our senior consultant first if you changed status to F-1 inside the US (you have no F-1 visa yet), an H-1B change of status is pending (leaving can abandon it and trigger a $100,000 fee for your employer), or you've had a visa refusal or entry problem before.

Next step: send us your travel dates before you book.