F-1 Students and F-2 Dependents

Traveling While Currently Enrolled at UNLV

Students that travel internationally while currently enrolled at UNLV must present the following documents to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer upon arrival to the U.S.:

• Passport

  • Must be valid for at least 6 months after your return to the U.S.

• Valid F-1 visa

  • If your F-1 visa will expire before your return, make sure that you have enough time to renew your F-1 visa before traveling back to the U.S.

• Most recent I-20 with current travel signature

  • Travel signatures are valid for TWELVE MONTHS from the signing date.

  • Travel signatures can be requested in the Request tab in the International Student and Scholar Services Portal.

Students may also want to have the following documents on hand just in case the CBP Officer asks for them:

• Proof of student status (copy of transcript, enrollment verification, etc.)*

• Proof of financial support*

*DO NOT pack these items in your checked luggage

Upon re-entry to the U.S., please download your updated I-94 and upload it to your International Student and Scholar Services Portal.

Traveling While on Optional Practical Training or Optional Practical Training STEM Extension

Students that travel internationally while currently enrolled at UNLV must present the following documents to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer upon arrival to the U.S.:

• Passport 

  • Must be valid for at least 6 months after your return to the U.S.

• Valid F-1 visa

  • If your F-1 visa will expire before your return, make sure that you have enough time to renew your F-1 visa before traveling back to the U.S.

• Most recent I-20 with current travel signature

  • Travel signatures are valid for SIX MONTHS from the signing date.

• Employment Authorization Document (EAD) Card

• Letter from your employer on company letterhead showing that your supervisor knows that you will be out of the country and when they expect you to return

  • If traveling between jobs, you can use your employment offer letter if it has an employment start date.

Upon re-entry to the U.S., please download your updated I-94 and upload it to your International Student and Scholar Services Portal.

H-1B Scholars and H-4 Dependents

H-1B employees and their H-4 dependents should have the following documents during international travel:

• Original I-797 approval notice of H-1B status (most recent version if more than one)

• Valid passport with minimum 6+ months validity beyond date of entry to the U.S.

  • (IMPORTANT NOTE: Be sure to check your passport expiration date and compare it to your H-1B status end date. If your passport expires before your H-1B end date, Custom and Border Protection (CBP) may only grant you entry to the U.S. through the expiration date of your passport.

    For example, if your passport expires Dec. 1, 2025, and your H-1B status ends Dec. 1, 2026, CBP may only grant entry through December 1, 2025 because this is the date your passport expires. If this is you, consider renewing your passport prior to international travel so that your passport expires after your H-1B expires.

    Remember, having a valid a passport at all times is a condition of maintaining your lawful H-1B status.)

• Valid H-1B visa stamp (Canadian citizens are visa-exempt)

• Recommended: copy of the H-1B petition filed by UNLV on your behalf

• Recommended: proof of your continued H-1B employment at UNLV, such as a verification letter from your supervisor at UNLV and/or recent payslips from Workday.

Other Visa Types

O-1/E-3/TN documents for travel:

• Similar to H-1B travel documents listed above, as applicable. Contact ISSS to discuss prior to your travel. Additional documents may include:

  • TN status: most recent I-94 copy showing period of TN admission (note that TN visa holders might not have an I-797 approval notice or a visa stamp). Please contact ISSS to discuss. TN employees are also recommended to bring a copy of the original employer support letter for TN status and proof of your employment credentials

  • O-1 status: verification of employment letter

  • E-3 status: verification of employment letter