Travel Information
Visits To Mexico and Canada
Before leaving the US to travel to Mexico or Canada determine that you have the proper documents to travel in those countries, and the proper documents to return to the US. Necessary documents include a valid passport, I-94 form with D/S, and the I-20 or DS-2019 form recently signed for travel. I-20 or DS-2019 forms without the red entry stamp will be stamped at the border, and a fee of $6 will be charged. If your form needs to be stamped, plan for additional time to complete your re-entry to the US.
To determine if persons from your country need a visa to visit Mexico, check with the Mexican Consulate in downtown San Diego. To verify visa requirements for Canada check with the Canadian Consulate in Los Angeles.
Automatic Visa Revalidation
Generally, it is not necessary to have a valid US visa for re-entry to the US if your stay in Mexico or Canada is 30 days or less. The visa is considered automatically revalidated, as long as you have a valid passport, I-20 or DS-2019 form with recent signature, the I-94 form and a visa stamp in your passport. It is absolutely essential that you have the I-94 form. Without it, you are not eligible for the automatic visa revalidation. Students planning to use the automatic visa revalidation should talk with an ISC International Student Advisor before visiting Mexico.
Traveling Home or Abroad
F-1 students planning to return home or to visit another country should make sure their I-20 form is valid, has been signed on the back by the International Student Advisor within the past 12 months and that their visa is valid. If your visa is not valid, you will need to renew it at a US Embassy or Consulate abroad.
J-1 students traveling abroad should make sure the DS-2019 form is valid, that it has been signed for travel, and that your visa is valid. Students with a sponsor other than SDSU should plan in advance to mail their form to their sponsor for a travel signature. If your visa is expired, you will need to renew it at a US Embassy or Consulate abroad.