It’s important to have the correct documents if you are making a trip outside the U.S. during your program.
If your travel outside the U.S. will be more than a few weeks, you will need to fill out and submit an Out of Country form before you leave and you must take your J-2 dependents with you. Contact the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) prior to leaving the country in order to facilitate this.
Please note that if you will be participating in your program at a different lab, university, or location within the U.S. then you must contact the CGE before your participation at the other work site is finalized. Moving work sites requires prior permission.
Travel Outside the U.S.
If you travel outside the U.S. while participating in the exchange program, you will need the following to re-enter the U.S. in J status:
Current A/RO travel signature on your DS-2019
Valid J visa stamp
Valid DS-2019 (your program end date cannot have passed)
Valid passport
Travel Inside the U.S.
You can travel inside the U.S. (domestic travel) without special papers or authorization. For any travel, however, you should always carry with you your valid passport, valid DS-2019, J visa, and current I-94.
Travel to Canada & Mexico
You may still be able to re-enter the U.S. with an expired J visa if your visit to Canada or Mexico is less than 30 days, and you are not a citizen of the following countries: Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, or Syria. This is a process called Automatic Visa Revalidation. Please note that you must still meet Canadian or Mexican visa requirements for entry into Canada and Mexico. This process does not provide a new visa in your passport.
A current signature (less than one year old) from an A/RO in the Travel Validation section of your DS-2019 is required to return from all travel outside the U.S., regardless of visa validity, travel destination, and length of time outside the U.S. Please make an appointment to get the signature as soon as you make travel plans.