Travel Reminders – Spring 2025

Travel Reminders – Spring 2025

Please Read Through the End of the Full Letter Below

Dear MIT International Students,

We know that many students are considering travel plans for the Spring term, and specifically the Spring break period (March 22-March 30, 2025). We understand there may be questions about visa processing and travel procedures. The ISO has a number of resources posted on our website, and so we wanted to highlight a few key reminders for review before you finalize your travel plans.

Travel signatures on Form I-20/Form DS-2019
Please check your Form I-20 on Page 2 (F visa holders) or Form DS-2019 (J visa holders) on Page 1 to be sure you have a travel validation signature signed within 12 months of your planned date of return to the U.S. If you do not yet have a travel validation signature, or it will be older than 12 months before your planned return date, you can request in iMIT a new Form I-20/DS-2019 with travel signature. Instructions are available on the ISO “Visas and Travel” webpage. 

Applying for a New Entry Visa at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate
Please check your current F or J entry visa (issued by the U.S. Embassy/Consulate abroad) in your passport. If you are planning to travel outside of the U.S., and your current entry visa will be expired by your planned date of return to the U.S., you will need to apply for a new entry visa at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate while abroad in order to return to the U.S. There are some special conditions if you are only traveling from the U.S. to Canada, Mexico, and certain adjacent islands and returning directly to the U.S. We advise that students should request an updated Form I-20/Form DS-2019 in iMIT to have for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.

NOTE:  Citizens of Canada and Bermuda are exempt from the U.S. entry visa requirement, however they must possess all other required documentation when entering the U.S. through a U.S. Port-of-Entry.  

It is very important to review the guidance from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate (https://usembassy.gov) on how to schedule a visa interview appointment and required documentation for the visa interview. Please note that you may experience longer processing times at U.S. Embassies/Consulates, both in securing a visa interview and in receiving the visa.  Many applications may be subject to lengthy Administrative Processing security reviews.  

Students should take this timing into consideration before traveling, determine if travel is required at this time, and if a student must travel outside the U.S. they should consult with their academic program to have a plan in place in case they are not able to return to the U.S. as planned (e.g. can coursework, or any research or teaching assistantship, be pursued remotely from abroad while awaiting the issuance of the new entry visa). 

Details on how to apply for a new entry visa are available on the ISO website: https://iso.mit.edu/getting-started/obtaining-a-visa/. If you have any questions, please contact your ISO Advisor. 

Traveling To a Country That is Not Your Home Country
Please note that immigration and travel rules to many countries may be different than those in the U.S.  If you are traveling to a country other than your home country, please check the Consulate General website for that country to confirm any required visas needed to enter the country, any required documentation for visa applications/interviews, and related travel guidance.  Please note some countries do not allow for visitors to apply for an entry visa upon arrival to the country. 

Traveling Inside the U.S.
International students are advised that they should carry ALL of their immigration documentation with them when traveling outside of Massachusetts.  This includes your passport, Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, copy of I-94 arrival record, proof of enrollment at MIT (such as a copy of your unofficial transcript and printout of current Spring 2025 term enrollment from WebSIS), and current financial support documentation for the academic year.

Students whose entry visas have expired can remain in the U.S., as well as travel within the U.S.  However, there may be risks if you are planning to travel to U.S. territories outside the continental U.S. (such as Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands).  Taking a cruise and traveling to non-U.S. territories may also require a valid U.S. entry visa to return to the U.S.  In these cases, we recommend that you speak with your ISO Advisor to discuss potential risks before finalizing your travel plans.   

What Can I Do to Confirm the Travel Requirements for Return to the U.S.?
The ISO continues to monitor any updates provided by the federal government, and will be sure to notify students via email and the ISO website of any changes.  We recommend that students also take the following steps prior to travel:

IMPORTANT NOTE:  We continue to monitor the potential for a U.S. Federal Government Shutdown if a new federal budget is not approved by March 14, 2025.  Such a shutdown could impact visa services at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad, as well as application processing timelines at USCIS, among other government services.  For reference, please see the announcement from December 2024 (https://iso.mit.edu/news/potential-impact-on-international-students-and-scholars-of-a-us-government-shutdown/) about the potential impact of a U.S. Federal Government Shutdown and consider these factors when making any travel plans.  

We will be sure to provide updates to the MIT community as they develop.  If any questions arise, please contact your advisor at the MIT International Students Office (ISO). 

Best regards,
David C. Elwell
Associate Dean and Director
MIT International Students Office (ISO)

Office of the Vice Chancellor