To travel outside the United States and return, a student needs a:

• Valid passport
• Valid visa
• Properly endorsed DS-2019 or I-20. This means that Deb Goens needs to sign the Form I-20 prior to the student leaving the country. If the student's I-20 is lost, stolen, or damaged, they will need to get a new one. Students should go to the Center for International Programs for assistance in this process. Always keep all copies of the I-20 or DS-2019 forms. Do not throw old copies away.
  

If an international student wishes to leave the United States temporarily and then return to continue his/her studies, it is important to find out whether or not the visa will be valid for reentry into the United States. If the visa is not valid for more than the original entry, or if its period of validity has expired of will expire before the student returns, he or she will need to secure a new visa from the American consulate abroad. Students from certain countries are required to obtain a new visa only from the American consulate in their own country. For more information, please visit http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/travel/faq_f.htm

To visit Canada or Mexico and some contiguous islands:

Many international students at Ball State University want to visit Canada or Mexico while they are studying abroad. To do so, the student will need a valid passport, a visa and an endorsed Form I-20. In addition, students from some countries may need a Canadian entry visa. Please click here for the country list.

Important Reminder: Before a student travels outside of the United States, they need to bring his/her I-20/DS-2019 to the Center for International Programs to be signed. Do not go to Canada even for a short stay without a signed I-20/DS-2019, passport, I-94 and visa.

Option Two

When traveling outside the United States, you need to have in your possession the proper documents to return and resume your studies. These documents are:

• valid passport
• valid F-1 visa stamp in your passport
• Form I-20/DS-2019 authorized for travel by an RCIP immigration counselor

If one or more of the above documents are not valid, you should contact the RCIP reception desk by phone (285-5422) or visit the RCIP office during walk-in times to inquire about the procedures to follow.

If you are subject to USCIS special registration you need to follow the instructions given by the USCIS concerning departure from the US.

If you need to apply for a new F-1 visa abroad, please submit updated financial information so that a new Form I-20/DS-2019 can be issued to you to present to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

Please plan ahead when traveling out of the U.S. End of semester periods can be busy at RCIP with many travel and other types of requests.

Please talk to a RCIP Immigration Counselor before applying for a visa.

Visa Appointments in Canada and Mexico

If you are traveling from the United States to apply for a non-immigrant visa at the U.S. Embassy or a U.S. Consulate in Canada, or at a U.S. Consulate in Mexico located along the U.S./Mexico border, you must have an appointment for an interview. You may either schedule an appointment via Internet or phone:

• Internet-based appointment system
• Phone-based appointment system:
  • from Canada, the number is:1-900-451-2778
  • from the U.S., the number is: 1-900-443-3131 or 1-888-840-0032 (if using a credit card)

Only applicants with appointments will be interviewed.

Canadian Landed Immigrant or Mexican Citizens:

If you are a Canadian Landed Immigrant in the U.S. and wish to make application in Canada, or if you are a Mexican citizen in the U.S. desiring to make application in Mexico, you do not need to make a visa appointment.

For more information about visiting Canada, please go to: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/index.html