Travel Information & Documents to Carry During Travel

When off of the MassArt campus and out locally, you are required to carry:

• Nonimmigrants in valid status are required to carry "evidence of [immigration] registration" (Form I-94) at all times. You should carry this evidence even when you are on campus. You can get your most recent I-94 here. (Click on "Get Most Recent I-94" and then print a hard copy). The document you print must show your most recent entry into the U.S.

We recommend you carry:

• Image/copy of your valid passport

• Image/copy of your most recent I-20 (signed)

All F-1 international students should carry the following documents when traveling outside the Boston area:

• Valid passport (with at least 6 months future validity). If your passport is nearing its expiration date, be sure to plan in advance to meet this requirement by contacting your country’s embassy about wait times to get a new passport. 

• Printed copy of your current I-94 record showing your most recent entry into the U.S. (Click on "Get Most Recent I-94").

• Printed and most recently issued original I-20 document. Must be signed on the bottom of page 1 by student and by International Student Advisor.

• Proof of current, full-time enrollment obtained via the MassArt Registrar. (Click on “Enrollment Verification”).

F-1 students on Post-Completion OPT & STEM OPT should also carry

• their Employment Authorization Document (EAD)

• a letter from their employer verifying their employment status and that their work is directly related to their major/educational program.

International travel carries with it some risk, and we cannot guarantee that travel permissions will not change after you have left the United States and potentially affect your re-entry. Remember, each time you leave the U.S., Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will determine your eligibility to re-enter. When you cross a border to enter the United States, your person, all of your baggage, and all electronic equipment is subject to search. You may also be asked to log into personal accounts and social media. Be prepared and have the following documents with you each time you re-enter:

• Valid passport (with at least 6 months future validity). If your passport is nearing its expiration date, be sure to plan in advance to meet this requirement by contacting your country’s embassy about wait times to get a new passport. 

• Valid F-1 visa

• Printed and most recently issued original I-20 document (If traveling internationally, it is recommended that you carry all I-20’s issued to you). The travel signature on page 2 must be fewer than 12 months old for reentry into the U.S. You should also confirm that you have signed the I-20 at the bottom of page 1.

• All previously issued I-20 documents (in case they ask to see them)

• SEVIS fee receipt (showing your paid SEVIS fee)

• Proof of financial support (varies by student but may include personal or family bank statements, copies of your scholarship letter, or a copy of your Declaration of Finance form)

• Proof of current, full-time enrollment (unless you are on post-completion OPT) obtained via the MassArt Registrar. (Click on “Enrollment Verification” and be sure to include your name, Student ID, and where you need the verification sent). You may also consider bringing a copy of your transcript showing continuous enrollment at MassArt.

• F-1 students on post-completion OPT (including STEM OPT) should also carry the following:

  • Employment Authorization Document (EAD). 

  • Proof of employment, such as a contract or letter from their employer verifying their employment status and that their work is directly related to their major/educational program.

  • Most recent I-20 with a travel signature that is not more than 6 months old.