Travel and Re-Entry
International Travel Document Checklist
Students in F-1 Visa Status
Students in F-1 visa status should obtain the following before leaving Portland:
- Form I-20 with travel signature (page 2), dated within one year for enrolled students or within six months for students on OPT. SEVP guidance allows for electronic issuance of the form I-20. Contact ISS for document updates and signatures.
- Valid Passport
- F-1 Visa valid for return dates (not applicable for Canadian passport holders)
- I-94 Admission Record (retrieve and print after each re-entry to the US)
- See "Additional Considerations" below for more information about the I-94 and its purpose
- Students on Post-Completion OPT must also carry a valid OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- Recommended but not required:
- Current Students: Copy of course schedule (from IRIS) or a transcript
- OPT Students: Proof of employment (i.e. offer letter, pay stub, or employment ID)
Domestic Travel Document Checklist (within the U.S.)
While travelling within the United States, students and scholars, should carry printed photocopies of the documents listed above as evidence of your nonimmigrant visa status in the US.
Learn more about obtaining an Oregon State ID or Driver's Liscense for domestic US travel.
Additional Considerations
- Save scanned copies of your travel documents in a secure cloud storage folder so that you can reference them quickly in case or lost or stolen documents.
- Most Recent I-94 is the US arrival record for international visitors to the US. It is also the "evidence of registration document" and students should retrieve the I-94 after every international arrival, and retain easy access to this document when off-campus.
- Visit the U.S. Customs and Border Protection site to learn what items are restricted from entering the US. The Don't Pack a Pest site helps travellers determine which items to avoid packing and what should be delcared upon arrival at Customs.
Visa Considerations
- Reed College FAQ on Federal Policy Changes Impacting Higher Education - see "Travel Considerations" section
- Plan ahead to acquire visas that might be required by the countries you will travel to or through.
- The United States and most countries require travellers to possess a passport with validity dates at least six months into the future.
- Many of Reed’s international students travel to or through Canada at some point during their stay at Reed. Learn more about the process for obtaining a visa to visit Canada.
Resources
- US Customs and Border Protection: Border Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry
- American Civil Liberties Union Resources:
- NPR (29 March 2025): "What Green-Card and Visa Holders Should Know Before Traveling Abroad"