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Office ofInternational Student Support

Travel Documents

When you travel into the U.S. you will need to present the following documents at the U.S. port of entry:

  • Valid Passport *
  • Valid Visa
  • I-20 with travel endorsement signed on page 2 within the last 12 months
  • SEVIS I-901 Fee receipt
  • Financial documentation (optional)
  • Evidence of your study at Haverford - for example, your admission letter, and /or transcripts
  • Emergency contact details for Haverford College: Natasha Weisz, DSO (484-441-3349), Sophie Goodfellow (484-441-3570), and Haverford College’s Campus Safety Office (610-896-1111)

* Please ensure that your passport has at least 6 months of remaining validity at the time of entry into the US. 

We recommend that students review the Preparing for International Travel document before travel.

Important Notes

  • You should carry physical copies of the listed documents.
  • Before leaving the immigration inspection area, check your passport to see if the officer placed an entry stamp in your passport. The entry stamp or I-94 that you are provided should show that the status you entered in was F-1, and expiry should be D/S (Duration of Stay).
  • New students who are traveling to the United States on an “initial” I-20 can only enter the US up to 30 days before their program start date. The earliest date that you can enter the United States can be found in the “Program of Study” section on the first page of your I-20 under “Earliest Admission Date.”
  • If you have a new passport and your valid F-1 visa is in your expired passport, you should travel with both your current passport and the passport that holds your valid F-1 visa.
  • Citizens of Canada and Bermuda are exempt from needing a valid visa for entry.
  • Passports should always be valid for at least 6 months beyond the time of entry.
  • Customs and Border Officers at the Point of Entry always have discretion to allow or deny entry into the United States. Re-entry to the United States is never guaranteed even when you hold a valid visa.
  • The mandate for non-U.S. citizens to provide evidence of fully COVID vaccinated status has been lifted. Nevertheless, it is advisable to carry documentation of your COVID vaccination status as a precautionary measure in the event of sudden changes to US-entry requirements.

Secondary Inspection and the Form I-515A

When a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer cannot immediately ascertain your status or needs to inspect documentation in more detail, travelers are sent to “secondary inspection.” The CBP officer may need to confirm details with your DSO which is why it is important to travel with the emergency contact details listed above. In some cases after secondary inspection, CBP might issue you a Form I-515A, "Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor," which requires you to submit the information needed to the (SEVP) Student Exchange and Visitor Program.

What circumstances usually generate a Form I-515A?

If you depart the U.S. and try to re-enter without your Form I-20, the Custom and Border Protection officer, at his/her discretion, might allow you to enter the U.S. for 30 days. Should the student be granted temporary readmission, Form I-515A and an I-94 card with the 30-day admission will be provided to you.

What if I receive Form I-515A?

You must (immediately) report to the International Student Support Office (ISSO). The ISSO will provide guidance in helping you to correct the I-515A in order to extend your permission to remain in the U.S.A.

Traveling During OPT

Optional Practical Training (OPT) is one type of work permission available for eligible F-1 students.

Pre-Completion OPT

The travel documents that you should carry when you are entering the United States while being on pre-completion OPT is the same as those listed above:

  • Valid Passport
  • Valid Visa
  • I-20 with travel endorsement signed on page 2 within the last 12 months
  • SEVIS I-901 Fee receipt
  • Financial documentation (optional)
  • Evidence of your study at Haverford - for example, your admission letter, and /or transcripts
  • Emergency contact details for Haverford College - Natasha Weisz, DSO (215-307-7789) and Haverford College’s Campus Safety Office (610-896-1111)

Post-Completion OPT & OPT STEM Extension

Once you have graduated, you are required to show these documents in order to re-enter the U.S. in F-1 status:

  • Valid I-20 - Page two should list your employer's information and there should be a travel endorsement on page 2 that is less than 6 months old
  • Valid F-1 Visa
  • Valid Passport
  • Valid Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
  • Evidence of a job offer or resumption of employment. If you are returning to the U.S without evidence of employment, you may be questioned at the port of entry.

Questions? Please contact hc-isso [at] haverford.edu (ISSO).