May 28, 2025 Update
As of May 27, new F and J U.S. visa interview appointments are temporarily paused. We understand this may be challenging. Note that any interviews already scheduled are proceeding as planned. We are monitoring the situation carefully. Do not hesitant to Contact Us with questions. To be sure you are ready to schedule a visa appointment as soon as they become available, we recommend using this time to review your documentation and prepare thoroughly for your interview:
Complete the DS‑160 Form
Prepare to Apply for a Visa
Attend a Visa Preparation Webinar
Newly admitted students: Join our Friday Q&A sessions with questions.
Current students and scholars: Before travelling outside the U.S., confirm that you have a current F or J visa stamp in your passport as you will not be able to re-enter without one.
Changes such as visa issuance delays, increased scrutiny at U.S. Ports of Entry, evolving immigration policies, government staffing adjustments, and expanded interview requirements may affect travel plans. We advise international students, scholars, and their dependents to carefully assess and reconsider any international travel.
We offer regular Travel Talks webinars for all students and scholars on the latest immigration policies and travel implications:
Tuesday, June 3, 3:00pm
Wednesday, June 25, 12:00 pm
Wednesday, July 23, 12:00pm
Wednesday, August 6, 12:00pm
Before making travel arrangements, we strongly recommend contacting your OISS adviser to discuss your travel plans and assess potential re-entry challenges. Stay informed by regularly checking our website for important travel updates.
Student Travel
We understand that you are likely to travel throughout your time at WashU. Therefore, It is important for you to stay informed about regulations and ensure you have a valid travel signature on your I-20 or DS-2019.
Scholar & Employee Travel
You may travel on your own or even for WashU during your stay. Therefore, it is important for you to stay informed about travel regulations related to your immigration status.
WashU has an international travel policy that applies to all university-related travel. If you are traveling abroad for business, research or study, you must register your travel information in the MyTrips International Travel Registry.
Entry to the U.S.
It is your responsibility to be informed about travel regulations.
Your passport, visa, and other immigration documents must always be valid when entering the U.S. Due to possible delays, we advise that you apply for a visa well in advance of the date you wish to travel to the U.S.
Remember to carry your immigration documents on your person when traveling. Do not pack them in your checked luggage!
Visa timeline, delays & denials
Visit the Department of State website for visa appointment and processing wait times and information regarding administrative processing.
Visa revocation
Visit our Visa Revocation page for more information if you are arrested or convicted of an offense and your visa is revoked.
If you have issues at the U.S. port of entry
During regular business hours (M – F, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.):
Contact OISS by email at OISS@wustl.edu or by phone at 314-935-5910.
After hours, weekends or holidays:
- Danforth Campus students and employees should contact WashU PD at 314-935-5555.
- Medical Campus students and employees should contact WUSM Protective Services at 314-362-4357.
In both instances, they will contact OISS staff.
A Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer might also ask for your OISS/WashU contact information so that they can reach out to us directly. Please have the CBP officer use the same information listed above.
Travel outside the U.S.
If you are planning to visit a country outside the U.S. which is not your country of citizenship or legal permanent residence, be sure to determine whether or not you will need a visa to enter that country. There are circumstances when your U.S. visa might allow you entry to a third country outside the U.S., but more often than not you might need to obtain a visa directly from that third country’s embassy/consulate. For information on gaining entry into specific countries, consult the embassy of the country you would like to visit:
- U.S. Department of State list of Foreign Consular Offices
- Embassy: list of websites of foreign embassies in the U.S.
- Canadian Embassy
- U.S. Department of State list of U.S. embassies and consulates in other countries
Nonimmigrants wishing to apply for a visa (for the first time or as a renewal) in a country other than their country of citizenship are referred to as “Third Country Nationals” (TCNs).
Travel within the U.S. (domestic travel)
Exercise normal precautions when traveling within the U.S. Bring the following documents with you in your carry-on luggage:
- Two forms of photo identification (including your passport with most recent visa stamp)*
- Printed form I-20/DS-2019 (for students and exchange visitors)
- A printed copy of your transcript (for students)
- Printed I-797 approval notice (for employees)
- Printed appointment or employment letter (for scholars and employees)
You do not need an additional visa stamp or travel signature to travel within the U.S. That includes Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
*Note: By May 7, 2025, you must be Real ID compliant to board domestic flights. A passport is an acceptable form of identification and may be used in lieu of a REAL ID Drivers License or ID to board domestic flights.
Avoid using Global Entry and Nexus
International students and scholars should avoid using Global Entry and Nexus when entering the U.S. for several reasons:
- Global Entry and Nexus are designed for frequent travelers and may not account for the specific requirements and restrictions of student (F-1, J-1) or scholar visas (J-1, H-1B, E3, TN, O-1). Using Global Entry and Nexus could lead to misunderstandings about the purpose of your visit.
- The I-94 record, which details your entry and exit dates, is critical for maintaining your visa status. Using Global Entry and Nexus might result in incorrect or incomplete I-94 information, potentially causing issues with maintaining your legal status.
- International students and scholars often need to go through additional screening to verify their visa status, SEVIS records, approval notices and other documentation. Global Entry and Nexus kiosks do not provide this level of scrutiny, which could result in being sent to secondary inspection.
- CBP officers need to manually check immigration documents like the Form I-20 (for F-1 students), DS-2019 (for J-1 students and scholars) and USCIS Approval notices. Global Entry and Nexus kiosks bypass this important step, leading to potential complications.
- Incorrect entry processing can lead to long-term legal status issues, affecting your ability to study, work, or travel. You may be required to leave and re-enter the U.S. if your I-94 record cannot be corrected due to Global Entry and Nexus use.
Best Practice
- Manual Entry Processing: By going through the standard entry process, international students and scholars ensure that their documents are properly reviewed and that their entry is correctly recorded via the I-94 record, preserving their visa status and avoiding potential legal issues.