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Travel Guidance & Maintaining Status

ISSP and IFSS advise caution with international travel. Review detailed guidance regarding travel and re-entry:

Carry your immigration documentation for any travel. It is strongly recommended that all international students, scholars, and employees carry with them and keep in their possession printed copies of the identity page of their passport, Form I-94, and their immigration document (F-1 I-20 or J-1 DS-2019), or H1-B I-797 approval form.  The originals should be kept in your normal place of residence when you are in the Santa Cruz area. We recommend bringing your original documents with you when traveling outside of Santa Cruz, either domestically or internationally. 

Additional travel guidance:

• After returning to the U.S., check your I-94 form within 48 hours to make sure there are no errors. Contact your advisor if there are errors.
• Your electronic devices and social media may be checked at the U.S. border or when renewing your visa. 
• Some U.S. consulates may ask for your birth certificate when applying for a visa. Check with the consulate where you are requesting your visa for confirmation.
• Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond current program or employment end date unless your country is exempt from this rule. This is an existing rule, not a new policy.
• If your passport has expired, will expire soon, or you would like to renew, contact your consulate in the U.S. immediately to:
  • Understand the steps to apply for a passport renewal. If needed, apply to expedite your passport renewal application.
  • Inquire how long it will take to receive your new passport
• Update your U.S. residential address with ISSP and IFSS via iGlobal within 10 days if you move. Not sure if you need to update?  Log in to iGlobal and review your current address on file. On the menu, select ‘Update Personal Information,’ then ‘(2) Update Residential US Address.’  H-1B employees should update their address directly with USCIS.

Registration Requirement

Most non-immigrant students, researchers, employees, and their children are not impacted by the following rule and do not need to take any action, as they already meet registration and fingerprinting requirements obtained through the visa and entry process. However, some individuals crossing Canadian land borders and dependent children who have turned or are turning 14 while in the U.S. may be impacted.

The Rule:  On March 12, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published an Interim Final Rule that becomes effective on April 11, 2025, that amends DHS regulations to designate a new USCIS alien registration process for certain nonimmigrants to comply with required “registration” and fingerprinting provisions.

Am I already registered or do I need to re-register? Do my child dependent(s) need to register or re-register?
If you or your dependents were issued a non-immigrant visa prior to arrival and/or you have a valid I-94 and were legally admitted to the US, your I-94 is evidence of your “registration”.  See the USCIS Alien Registration FAQ for a list of aliens who are considered already registered.

If you have questions about whether this requirement applies to you or your children, or how to complete the form, you should consider consulting an attorney.

Gender-Related Changes

We are beginning to observe how the Federal Government is interpreting and implementing the Executive Order: Defending Women From Gender Ideology Extremism And Restoring Biological Truth To The Federal Government.  Specifically, visas are being issued based on one’s sex assigned at birth and not the gender identified in the passport or immigration document (I-20 or DS-2019).  If these changes could potentially impact you, and you have international travel plans in the future, we encourage you to speak to an ISSP or IFSS advisor before undertaking any travel.

Protest Activities

In connection with this Fact Sheet and Executive Order: Measures to Combat Anti-Semitism,, several government agencies, including the Department of State, Department of Justice, and Homeland Security, may seek out and cancel the visas of individuals who participate in protest activities related to the Israel-Hamas conflict.  Additionally, you should be aware that DHS and other federal agencies may use social media or other publicly available information on decisions related to entry, visas, USCIS adjudications, as well as for the basis of enforcement actions.

Prudential Visa Revocations

Prudential Visa Revocations refer to situations where the Department of State may revoke a visa if an individual will not meet certain requirements for admission, such as violating a visa status or US laws or policies.  If your visa is revoked, it will impact your ability to return to the U.S. after international travel.

ISSP and IFSS advise you to consult an advisor and/or an attorney before undertaking any travel outside the US if you believe that you could potentially be impacted.  Consult an immigration attorney if you have been previously arrested for any reason.  Individuals in such situations may have their visas revoked and may not be aware of the revocation until they attempt to return to the US, only to find out that their visa is no longer valid.

News Reports of Proposed Legislation

At various times, proposed legislation targeting nationals of specific countries comes to the attention of the public.  While what is available in the news media may or may not be accurate, it must also be understood that not all proposed legislation ever gets passed into law.  The best source of credible information will be an immigration attorney who is familiar with your specific circumstances. 

We respect our international community and value your presence at UC Santa Cruz. ISSP and IFSS will continue to serve as your advocate, and source of information and support.  Please do not hesitate to reach out to your ISSP or IFSS advisor should you have any questions about the information shared in this message or email.

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