You must report your travel to ISSS every time you depart the U.S.  Complete a Travel Information Record in the ISSS Portal 2 weeks before you leave the U.S.  All students must return to UConn by the start of Fall term.  We recommend returning to campus no later than August 29, 2026, so that you have time to move back into your housing and get settled prior to the first day of classes.     

Valid Travel Signature
All students and scholars need a valid travel signature before you depart the U.S.  The “Travel Endorsement” section on page 2 of your Form I-20 for F-1 students or the “Travel Validation” space on page 1 of your Form DS-2019 for J-1 visa holders should contain a signature from our office, not more than one year old as of the date of your return to the USA. If you need a travel signature this summer, see the steps below.

All Students/ All Campuses – 1) Complete a Travel Information Record in the ISSS Portal. 2) Download and print the updated I-20/DS-2019 with travel signature and sign page one or pick up your documents at your campus ISSS before departing the U.S.

Valid Visa Stamp
You must have a valid visa stamp in your passport to enter the U.S.* (with possible exception for short trips to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands**). If your visa stamp has expired or will expire before your planned return to the U.S., you must make a non-immigrant visa appointment at a U.S. Consulate in your country of residence. If you need a new visa stamp, we recommend that you schedule your visa interview appointment as early as possible as there may not be enough time to secure your visa and return in time for the start of fall term, if you wait too long. Be aware that U.S. Consulates are busy this time of year and will be closed for U.S. and local holidays. As always, the issuance of visa stamps is at the discretion of the Consular Officers.  Students from countries impacted by the presidential Travel Bans should not depart the U.S. unless you already have a valid F-1 and J-1 visa, as you will not be able to renew your visa at this time.

*Canadian citizens are exempt from the visa requirement.  ** Please contact your ISSS advisor if you have questions about automatic visa revalidation.

 Restrictions on Working Abroad
As a reminder, F-1 and J-1 students are not permitted to engage in remote employment while outside of Connecticut, this includes GA or TA work performed from abroad.  Students engaged in student labor on-campus employment may not continue working from abroad when traveling home.  Graduate Assistants appointed as RAs or TAs should plan to use time off and may not perform any GA duties unless their department has secured approval of an exception in advance from graduatedean@uconn.edu and potentially from UConn’s Export Control officer as well.

Graduating Students

Graduation – A big congratulations to all our graduating international huskies!  Look for ISSS staff at the graduation ceremonies.  We’d love to meet your families and say hi.

Students Departing CT or the U.S. – Are you moving home after graduation?  Do you have any household items that you cannot bring home with you, but that you want to donate to new international students arriving for Fall 2026?  Feel free to drop off clean, working household items that you want to donate to incoming international students (laundry baskets, cookware, clothes hangars, winter coats, small appliances, graduation regalia and robes) at the CISS in Storrs.  Contact international@uconn.edu for more information.

Post-Completion OPT – If you are graduating in spring and have not yet applied for OPT, you still have time! Visit our website for information.  As a reminder, an OPT workshop is required before applying, if you plan to apply soon and have not completed the workshop requirement, there are only a few opportunities remaining before the semester ends. Dates are here.

Returning for Fall Semester – Prepare for Reentry to U.S.
Every time you travel abroad and reenter the U.S. the CBP officers at the port of entry will evaluate your request to reenter the U.S. as an F-1 or J-1 visa holder. Be sure to travel with all the documentation we recommend in our Travel Advisory (passport, visa, paper copy of form I-20 with travel signature for F-1 visa holders, paper copy of form DS-2019 with travel signature for J-1 visa holders, proof of funding, official UConn transcript, class schedule for spring term, proof of teaching or research assistantship, proof of participation in UConn athletics, proof of employment or invitation to UConn for J-1 scholars).  Don’t give the port of entry officers any opportunity to question your legitimacy as a UConn student.  This means arriving on-time for the start of the semester and traveling with all your required documentation.  This means traveling only during vacation periods, not when school is in session. When possible, try to schedule your flight to arrive Monday – Friday from 7:00 am – 4:00 pm, this way the ISSS will be open should the CBP officer call. If you arrive after hours and the CBP wants to call the ISSS they should call the UConn Police at 860-486-4800

Download the myUConn App and Connect with ISSS
Follow these instructions to download the myUConn app and “Opt In” to communications from International Student and Scholar Services. If there are any urgent notifications we need to communicate, ISSS will push a notification through myUConn with instructions on how to get more information or what steps you need to take.

Thank you for reading this important information. If you have travel or visa-related concerns or questions after reviewing the above information, please email international@uconn.edu and an advisor will be in touch with you.  We wish you a safe and warm winter season.

Best regards,

Arthur

Arthur Galinat (pronounce my name)

(he/him/his)
Director, International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS)
UConn Global Affairs
Center for International Student & Scholars (CISS)