International Student and Scholar Services | Getting a Travel Signature
Before you travel outside of the United States, you need to obtain endorsement for travel on the reverse side of your I-20/DS-2019 document, often referred to as a ìtravel signature.î Please drop off the appropriate document for endorsement at the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office at least two weeks before your travel date. This will ensure that the travel signature is obtained and any additional documents needed to facilitate your return are prepared in a timely manner. To qualify for a travel signature you need to be continuously maintaining your F-1/J-1 status. The ISSS director will contact you if the travel signature cannot be issued to you. Depending on the nature of the violation of your status, you may need to apply for ìreinstatement.î
It is your responsibility to incorporate into your travel plans the time needed to obtain travel signatures from the ISSS director in a timely manner prior to the end of each semester. Each semester the ISSS director establishes a schedule for issuing travel signatures and sets aside certain days where travel signatures are quickly available. Additionally, the ISSS director establishes a cut-off date after which the director can no longer guarantee signatures in time for travel. Plan to obtain your travel signatures in advance of your travel.