Travel Information & Risks

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For F-1 International Students

In addition to info provided in this section, you should ensure you are Maintaining F-1 Status by reviewing this information regularly and following all rules.

See Also Documents to Carry

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Travel Within the U.S.

Important Considerations for Travel within the United States:

Customs and Border Protection inside the US: CBP is allowed to search for people without immigration documentation within 100 air miles of any US border.
- Federal Regulations state that Immigration Officers, without a warrant, may search for non-citizens in any vessel within the territorial waters of the United States and any railcar, aircraft, conveyance, or vehicle.
- Border Patrol Agents do not have carte blanche to automatically search persons and their vehicles. To conduct a legal search, the agents must have probable cause, developed from agent observations, records checks, non-intrusive canine sniffs, and other established means, to conduct a lawful search. Motorist's may consent to a search but are not required to do so. You can read more about it here.
Documents to Carry

Travel Outside the U.S. / International

Important Considerations Before Traveling Internationally

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.
US F-1 Visa Renewal - you should never plan to travel outside the US for the sole reason of renewing your F-1 visa stamp. You are not required to have a current F-1 visa stamp in order to be in legal F-1 status.
Entry to the U.S. is (and always has been) at the discretion of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and is never guaranteed, even if you hold a valid entry visa.
- Electronic Devices: When you cross a border to the United States, your person, all of your baggage, and all electronic equipment is subject to search.
- Social Media: You may also be asked to log into personal accounts and social media.
- Admissibility: It is CBP's job to determine whether someone is admissible to the United States based on the evidence & documentation provided.
  - F-1 Admissibility is determined by successfully "maintaining status" and following all rules of the status for which you were admitted, some of which include, but are not limited to:
    - Nonimmigrant intent: just as nonimmigrant intent was required at the time of you applied for your F-1 visa, it is also required for the duration of your studies in the US
    - US Laws & MassArt Community Standards: following all US Federal Laws and MassArt Community Standards for the duration of your studies in the US
Travel Bans: for a detailed list of all existing travel bans and restrictions, please refer to NAFSA’s Travel Ban and Restriction section.
Process Questions: If you have any specific questions related to processes regarding your return to the United States, we advise you to consult with an immigration attorney prior to traveling. Please note: to view list of attorneys, you must be logged in to MassArt Connect
Documents to Carry

Travel Information & Risks

Body

For F-1 International Students

In addition to info provided in this section, you should ensure you are Maintaining F-1 Status by reviewing this information regularly and following all rules.

Travel Within the U.S.

Travel Outside the U.S. / International

Details

Details