Ask ISSP Column

I plan on traveling abroad soon. Do I need to do anything before I travel?

Answer:

The short answer is YES. You must see an advisor in the ISSP office several weeks BEFORE you travel to ensure that your documents are in order to return safely to the U.S.

Below is a longer answer to this seemingly simple question.

With the end of the semester upon us, many international students will be traveling abroad and many international scholars employed by Emory may be choosing the summer months to travel abroad for pleasure or to attend a professional conference.

ISSP offers all the information you require at its website so that you can travel and return safely to the U.S.

• If you are a student in F-1 or J-1 status, you may go to the Student section of our website. Select either F-1 or J-1 student and under the topics covered, select “Traveling Outside the U.S.” That page will provide you all the information you need to know before departing the U.S. Make certain that you have either your I-20 (if an F-1 student) signed by a Designated School Official in the ISSP office or your DS-2019 (if a J-1 student) signed by an Alternate Responsible Officer in the ISSP office before departing the U.S.
• If you are a J-1 Research Scholar, Professor, Specialist, or Short-term Scholar and are in possession of a DS-2019 issued by Emory University, visit ISSP website's J-1 scholar section. You will find all the information you need to travel safely. Remember that you will require a signature on your DS-2019 signed by an Alternate Responsible Officer in the ISSP office before you depart the U.S.
• If you are an H-1B1 temporary worker, please visit the ISSP website's H-1B scholar section. There you will find a printable checklist that you can use in gathering the necessary documentation for traveling abroad.

For any student or scholar traveling without a valid visa stamp in his or her passport, you will be required to obtain a valid visa stamp at a U.S. Consulate before you may return to the U.S. To find out how to set up an appointment with the U.S. Consulate at which you will apply for the visa, as well as documents and fees required to obtain the visa stamp visit the following Department of State website at: usembassy.state.gov and select the appropriate country, and from there you will be guided to the various consulate offices in that country that issue visa stamps.

Again important reminder: Always speak to an advisor before traveling outside the U.S. to make certain that all your documents are in order to safely return to the U.S. several weeks before you plan to travel abroad. Do not forget that we will have document-signing days especially set aside to answer your questions and sign documents:

• Friday, April 27, 9 am – 5 pm
• Monday, April 30, 9 am – 5 pm
• Monday, May 7, 9 am – 5 pm