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General travel advisory

Updated: 7/16/25

ISSS recognizes and respects the many personal and professional reasons why individuals may decide to travel. Given the current administration’s strict vetting and enforcement activities, ISSS is providing the following information as an additional resource to consider when assessing the risks associated with travel. This resource contains several considerations but is not exhaustive and is not to be construed as legal advice. Executive actions and policy changes can be swift. It is always at the discretion of the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the port of entry to admit or not admit someone who is not a U.S. citizen.

General Considerations

Prior to traveling, consider the following questions while assessing the risk associated with traveling at this time.

  • Is there a U.S. entry restriction for citizens of your country?
    • Entry restrictions could be imposed for citizens of any country at any time.
    • If an entry restriction is put in place while you are outside the U.S., it could prevent you from being able to reenter the U.S.
      • If that happens, the CU system administration, CU Boulder, and ISSS do not have the authority to influence government officials to admit international students and scholars impacted by any possible travel ban(s).
  • Is there an alternative way to accomplish the objective associated with your travel?
  • If you are detained or unable to re-enter the U.S.:
    • Would you still be able to complete your educational or research endeavors?
    • Do you have a plan for:
      • Managing your personal and financial affairs in the U.S.
      • Caring for dependent children

While recent lawsuits led to the reinstatement of some student SEVIS records that were terminated, U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) is continuing to build a policy for SEVIS record terminations. The following factors could be among those considered by the current administration in determining the validity of your status in and admissibility to the U.S.

Travel within the U.S.

Be prepared—

Other resources—

Travel Outside the U.S.

U.S. immigration policy remains unpredictable and subject to rapid change and the university cannot guarantee your re-entry to the U.S. Prior to travel, consider the risks and possible impacts for yourself and your family.

Confirm passport validity, visa validity and admissibility—

  • Check your passport validity. You must have a valid passport to re-enter the U.S.
     
  • Check your visa expiration date. You must have a valid visa or qualify for the Automatic Visa Revalidation exception to re-enter the U.S.

    • Under new guidance, the Department of State will conduct expanded screening of all student and exchange visitor visa applicants, including reviewing online presence. Visa applicants will be instructed to adjust the privacy settings on all their social media profiles to “public.”

  • Check your visa status on the Department of State website.
    • Select “Nonimmigrant.” Select the consulate that issued your current visa. Enter the 14 digit “control number” from the upper right corner of your visa (XXXXXXX XXX XXXX). Enter the passport number indicated on your visa.
       
  • Determine if there are any factors that make you inadmissible to the U.S.
     
  • If you are authorized for post-completion OPT or a STEM extension of OPT:
    • Check your SEVP portal to confirm your information is accurate and up to date.
    • Confirm you have not exceeded the unemployment accrual limit.
      • Post-completion OPT unemployment accrual limit: 90 days
      • STEM OPT extension unemployment accrual limit: 150 days cumulative during the post-completion OPT and STEM extension authorization periods
      • If you have not entered employer information in the SEVP portal and it is beyond the unemployment limit, SEVP will terminate your SEVIS record.
    • Complete the Post-Completionor STEM OPT Employment Info Update e-form to report employment to ISSS (Training & Employment-Related Forms in MyISSS portal).
      • If you are unable to enter your employment in the SEVP portal, ISSS can update it based on the submission of this e-form.
      • If you require a new I-20 with your employer information, request one on the e-form.
    • Travel with your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) and job offer letter

Confirm you have a valid travel signature—

A travel signature is valid for re-entry to the U.S. for up to one year from the date that it is provided or until the end of your program, whichever occurs first. If you are on Optional Practical Training (OPT), a travel signature is only valid for re-entry to the U.S. within 6 months of the signature date.

F-1/F-2 Status

  • Travel signatures are provided at the bottom of page 2 of your I-20
  • To request a travel signature, complete the I-20 Reprint Request e-form (available in MyISSS portal). A new I-20 with a travel signature will be emailed to you.

J-1/J-2 Status

  • Travel signatures are provided in the lower right-hand corner of your DS-2019
  • To request a travel signature, complete the DS-2019 Reprint Request e-form (available in MyISSS portal). A new DS-2019 with a travel signature will be emailed to you.

Be prepared—

Share your travel itinerary and flight information with a trusted person in the U.S. so they can follow up with ISSS and authorities if they cannot reach you and you do not return when expected.

Be prepared for heightened scrutiny from government officials when leaving or returning to the U.S.

Other resources—

Connect with ISSS

ISSS is closely monitoring news and policy changes that impact international students and scholars. Stay in the know by reviewing our Immigration Alerts & FAQs and reading ISSS emails and ISSS News.

Add our contact information to your cell phone for emergency situations:

Connect with us in an advising appointment, on Instagram, at a program, or by providing a suggestion.