Immigration Documents
All F-1 and J-1 students should make copies of all travel documents and keep the copies in a safe place, separate from the originals.
Photocopy the following documents:
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Passport identification pages that have your picture and personal information, as well as official information (including its date of expiration). If you have renewed/extended your passport, make sure that you copy the page with the extension information.
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Passport page with F-1 or J-1 entry visa.
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Both sides of Form I-94.
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Form I-20 (pages 1 & 3) or DS-2019 (page 1) and any subsequent documents you receive. If you transferred to Emory, you should also keep the originals and photocopies of the documents from your previous school or program.
Passport
The passport is your own government's permit for you to leave and re-enter your home country. Your passport must be valid at least six months into the future at all times. Consult your embassy in the United States to renew your passport six months before it expires. The embassy officials will explain what forms and fees, if any, are required. If you are required to supply a letter affirming that you are a student at Emory University, you may request an official letter from the Emory University Registrar's Office.
Visa
Most F-1 and J-1 students must have a valid visa stamp to enter the United States. Citizens of Bermuda and Canada do not need a visa to enter the United States. The visa indicates the immigration classification you will have when you are admitted to the United States. You must renew your visa if it has expired and you are planning on traveling outside the North American continent. You may renew your visa by visiting a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country to which you are traveling. If you are not going to your home country, be sure to consult with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country you are visiting prior to leaving the United States to be sure you can obtain an appointment and renew your visa there. Visas cannot be renewed inside the United States.
Citizens of Bermuda and Canada do not need a visa to travel to the United States. Please see the U.S. Department of State website for more information.
Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
Form I-94 is a small white card which confirms that you have been admitted to the United States. You will receive it on your flight or at the border crossing. The I-94 card is usually stapled adjacent to the U.S. visa page (if applicable) in your passport. It contains an eleven-digit identifying number that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses to keep track of your arrival in and departure from the United States. DHS sometimes refers to this number as the "admission" number.
As an F-1 or J-1 student, you are admitted for the length of your program of study as indicated on your DS-2019 or I-20, plus any period of post-completion practical or academic training, plus a grace period (30 days for J-1 students; 60 days for F-1 students). This is indicated by the inscription "D/S" (duration of status) in the upper right corner of your I-94 card. If you receive an I-94 with a specific date, rather than D/S, consult with your advisor in ISSS. Unless this mistake is corrected, you must leave the United States by that date or apply to extend your stay.
Form DS-2019
Form DS-2019 is the certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant J-1 Exchange Visitor status. This document is issued by a representative of your program sponsor, known as a Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO). This could be Emory University, a government agency or an organization that sponsors students for exchange programs. The bottom right corner of the DS-2019 Form contains lines for a signature by an RO or an ARO affirming that an Exchange Visitor has maintained status and is eligible to re-enter the United States after travel abroad. This document must contain the most accurate information about your program of study at all times. Students must monitor the end date of the form and contact an International Student Advisor regarding any changes (finances, graduation, major, local U.S. address, and more). Each DS-2019 issued to you should be retained for your records.
Form I-20
Form I-20 is the immigration document issued to students entering the United States in F-1 status. It indicates the program (major) and level of study that you are currently pursuing. Page 3 of the I-20 contains lines for a signature by a Designated School Official (DSO) affirming that the F-1 student has maintained status and is eligible to re-enter the United States after travel abroad. There are spaces for information about your dependents and for employment authorization or notations by a DHS official. This document must contain the most accurate information about your program of study at all times. Students must monitor the end date of the form and contact an International Student Advisor regarding any changes (finances, graduation, major, local U.S. address, and more). Each I-20 issued to you should be retained for your records.