|
|
|
|
SUBSCRIBE The leading Copyright |
Travel Tips for International Students: Spring 2002
INTRODUCTION: This is an edited version of the electronic publication "Spring 2002 Travel Extra" published in April 2002 for international students and scholars at Binghamton University, State University of New York. The Travel Extra is published twice a year by Binghamton's Office of International Student and Scholar Services. Each edition reflects the latest information available on immigration regulations. The Spring 2002 edition has been updated to reflect travel realities post-September 11, 2001 and features a table of contents for easy access to the material. We have prepared this general version in the hope that the information may be useful to international students and scholars at other colleges and universities in the United States. To learn more about our programs and services for international students at Binghamton, we invite you to visit our web site, http://isss.binghamton.edu CONTENTS:
Many students think that their passport and visa documents are only needed when traveling abroad. WRONG! If you are planning a trip within the United States by car, bus, train or air plane, to U.S. cities near or far, it is essential that you have your passport and visa documents with you. Since September 11, there has been heightened security not only at all border crossings, but also at bus terminals, train terminals, and airports throughout the United States. Police from multiple agencies; federal, state and municipal, are patrolling these areas. People may be stopped and questioned randomly. Therefore, students are urged to be sure to have their passport, visa documents (I-94 card and I-20 or IAP-66), and BU student ID card with them for ALL distance travel, even travel within New York State. In addition, be sure that the back page of the I-20 or IAP-66 has a current authorizing signature. If you are applying for a change of non-immigrant status, visa petition or EAD card, be sure to carry your INS receipt notice as well, which proves that you have an application pending with the Immigration Service. A person without valid travel documents can be arrested, threatened with deportation and taken into INS custody. 2. TRAVEL TO CANADA OR MEXICO For travel to Canada or Mexico, first check to see if a tourist visa will be required to enter either country. You will need to have your passport and visa documents (I-94 card and I-20 or IAP-66) with you when you travel, and be certain that the back page of the I-20 or IAP-66 has a current authorizing signature. The U.S. Department of State has announced new rules for non-immigrants who use the "automatic revalidation of visa" benefit [22 CFR 41.112(d)] to re-enter the United States after a 30-day or less visit to a "continguous territory" (Canada, Mexico, and, in the case of F and J non-immigrants, the "adjacent islands other than Cuba") without having to obtain a new visa prior to re-entry. There are two major changes that took effect April 1, 2002. First, citizens of "state sponsors of terrorism" (as designated in the State Department's annual "Patterns of Global Terrorism" report) will no longer be eligible for the automatic revalidation of visa benefit. The most recent State Department report (year 2000) was released on April 30, 2001, and lists the following countries as state sponsors of terrorism: Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba. Prior to this rule change, only citizens of Iraq were excluded from the automatic revalidation of visa benefit. This means that a person who is a citizen of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, or Cuba in the United States in any non-immigrant classification can only enter Canada and return to the United States IF they have an unexpired multiple-entry U.S. visa in their passport for their current status. The second change will affect individuals who choose to apply for a new U.S. visa while in Canada or Mexico. Under the new rule, ANY non-immigrant (not just someone from the 7 countries listed above) who chooses to apply for a new visa while in Canada or Mexico will no longer be eligible for the "automatic revalidation" benefit during the course of that trip, but will have to wait until the visa is approved in order to re-enter the United States. So, if the U.S. visa application is denied, that individual will not be permitted to re-enter the United States. See Section 8 of this article, "Applying for a New U.S. Visa at a Consulate Abroad" for additional information on the visa application process. However, non-immigrants traveling to Canada or Mexico for less than thirty days and returning to the United States (other than citizens of Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba) who do not intend to apply for a new U.S. visa can still make use of the automatic revalidation benefit, and re-enter on their expired U.S. visas, as long as they have a valid, unexpired passport, their I-94 card, and a valid and signed I-20 or IAP-66. SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT I-94 DEPARTURE CARDS: F-1 and J-1 students with expired U.S. visas who are traveling to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands for up to 30 days, who will not be applying for a new U.S. visa while there, AND who will be resuming their studies upon their return should NEVER surrender their I-94 card. Canadian or Mexican nationals returning to their home country should surrender their I-94 card as they enter their country, and obtain a new I-94 card the next time they enter the United States. Canadian nationals should be sure to carry with them their financial documentation that verifies the information on their I-20 when getting ready to return to the United States. 3. TRAVEL ABROAD
SHOULD I TRAVEL ABROAD? Males between the ages of 16 and 45 from Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen who will need to renew their U.S. visas while abroad will be required to undergo FBI security checks that may lengthen the processing time for their visa applications by as long as thirty days. Any student in this category should apply for a new visa as early as possible upon their return home to allow ample time for the longer process. While there is currently legislation before the U.S. Congress that deals with border security, it had not been approved at the time this article was published (mid-April 2002). However, the Executive Branch of the Federal Government (which includes the Department of State and the Immigration and Naturalization Service) can put in place new regulations without Congressional approval. If your college or university has been providing updates to students via e-mail or on the internet, try to stay up-to-date on immigration news by checking these resources periodically. 4. DOCUMENT REVIEW
PASSPORTS
I-20 OR IAP-66
I-94 ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE CARD
U.S. VISA
COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY ID CARD
LETTER OF CERTIFICATION
MAINTAINING STATUS
SCHOOL TRANSCRIPT
FOREIGN VISA
FINANCIAL DOCUMENTATION
PRACTICAL TRAINING 5. U.S. VISA POSTS AND SECURITY CONCERNS Any student who is traveling outside the United States whose U.S. visa has expired will need to renew it at a U.S. visa issuing post abroad before the student can return to the United States. In most cases, the visa application will be filed in your home country. Its important to note that the summer period is an extremely busy time at visa issuing posts due to large numbers of travelers and reduced staff who may be taking vacation. Also, in the event of any protests, threats, or terrorist attacks that are judged to be threatening to U.S. embassy or consulate personnel, government officials at those posts may temporarily close or alter their operational hours. It is advisable to check with the U.S. consulate or embassy, or its web site link: http://travel.state.gov/links.html for the most current information, although keep in mind that information on the web site might not necessarily be up-to-date. Some visa issuing posts have stopped accepting non-immigrant visa applications filed in person, and will only accept them by mail or through an approved "drop-off" facility. Drop off or mailed visa applications will always add to the processing time. 6. WATCH YOUR WORDS! Last Fall, two international students from Syracuse University were escorted off an airplane at Hancock Airport in Syracuse and were closely questioned by legal authorities. Passengers became concerned and notified security officials when the students began to ask questions about the flight time, the engine, and other matters about the flight. It turned out that one of the students suffers from motion sickness and was worried about the possible turbulence in this type of aircraft, and how long it would be in the air relative to his medication for air sickness! They were both quite "innocent," and allowed to continue their trip. However, it caused a serious delay in the travel plans of all the passengers, and great anxiety, as you can imagine, for the students and all the passengers. These students were NOT part of any particular ethnic, cultural or religious group which would have 'targeted' them, so one cannot look at this situation as discrimination or "racial profiling." People around them who overheard their questions of the flight attendants were just frightened, and the airplane personnel had to respond. This incident is a good example of why it is best to be cautious and discrete in your conversations while traveling. 7. U.S. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS IF YOU ARE LEAVING BINGHAMTON PERMANENTLY International student advisors are often asked what the immigration requirements are if a student will no longer be continuing at his or her current school, either because the student is returning to his/her home country, or is beginning Practical Training, or because the student is going to begin study at a new school. Regardless of your plans, retain your old I-20s (or IAP-66s)! These forms represent your immigration history in the United States and should be kept in a safe place as you would any important document. In addition, be sure to let your current school's international student office know that you are leaving. The U.S. Immigration Service process for transferring your F-1 status from your current school to a new school is the responsibility of the new school's International Student Office. Therefore, it's important that you follow your new school's instructions for reporting to the International Student Office at the beginning of your semester there. Students who will be ending their studies in May but have no plans to apply for practical training (F-1), academic training (J-1) or continue at a new school or in a new field or level of study, or seek a change of non-immigrant status must depart the United States within sixty days of completion of their academic program if they are in F-1 status, or within thirty days if they are in J-1 status. 8. APPLYING FOR A NEW VISA AT A U.S. CONSULATE ABROAD Remember when you applied for your U.S. visa the first time? Applying for a new visa to replace the one that has expired in your passport requires you to present similar documentation.
GENERAL INFORMATION
VISA APPLICATION FORMS The State Department has also prepared two information sheets about student visas on its web site which may be useful to you as an international student. They may be obtained at http://travel.state.gov/foreign_student_visas_handout.html and http://travel.state.gov/what_consuls_look_for.html
SECURITY CONCERNS FBI security checks are now required for males between the ages of 16 and 45 from Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The FBI security checks are likely to lengthen the processing time for visa applications by as long as thirty days. Students who are from countries that have been determined by the U.S. Secretary of State to be sponsors of international terrorism; Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Syria, Libya, Sudan and Cuba should anticipate extremely close review of their visa documents and a high likelihood of visa denial.
VISA APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS You will also need to show proof of financial support, binding ties to your home country which you have no intentions of abandoning, and that you plan to return to your home country upon the conclusion of your studies. Some U.S. consulates will ask you how you plan to use your U.S. education in your home country. Many consulates will ask you to present copies of your academic transcripts to prove that you have been maintaining student status in the United States. and that you have been making satisfactory progress in your program. Plan to have copies with you, but do not present it to a consular officer unless specifically asked to do so.
WHERE AND WHEN TO APPLY There have been significant staff reductions and increased work loads at many U.S. consulates abroad. The Summer is also a peak travel period. Some consulates may be temporarily closed or have undertaken heightened security measures due to concern over terrorist threats. It is possible that some U.S. consulates may chose not to accept visa applications except from residents of that country. Therefore, you may wish to contact the specific consulate you plan to visit PRIOR to your departure from the United States, to be sure that they will accept an application from you. In ALL cases, apply for your visa AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE! Consult the appropriate consulate by phone, fax or web site to ascertain visa application procedures and requirements and approximate processing time.
VISA APPLICATIONS IN CANADA OR MEXICO 9. STRATEGIES FOR A SUCCESSFUL RE-ENTRY INTO THE UNITED STATES You should expect to go through both U.S. Immigration and U.S. Customs at the U.S. port of entry. You may also be required to go through a pre-inspection procedure at certain airports abroad. When you give your documents to the INS inspector at your U.S. port of entry or pre-boarding checkpoint, you should initially present only your passport, I-94 card (which was distributed on the airplane), and signed I-20 or IAP-66. Your school ID card and other materials are meant to be used only for "supporting documentation" purposes, if you are asked additional questions or asked to produce additional documentation. A U.S. immigration official who is presented with more documents than is customarily required might become suspicious, so you are well advised to show only your passport, I-94 and I-20 or IAP-66. Then you have the comfort of knowing that you have additional supporting documentation with you if needed. Expect close scrutiny of your documents. Answer all questions politely and briefly. Do not offer any information that goes beyond the scope of the question asked you. In certain cases, if there is some problem with your documents, you may be issued a 30-day entry on your I-94 card and issued a form I-515, usually with instructions to see your international student advisor. Examine your I-94 card carefully as you leave the immigration booth. F-1 students and J-1 students should have their I-94s marked "D/S" which means Duration of Status, along with a stamp indicating the date you entered the United States. If an expiration date is written on the I-94 instead of "D/S," and you are in F or J status, go to your school's international student office as soon as possible. Anyone who is denied admission at a U.S. port of entry should be very cautious about arguing with the immigration official. You may risk being issued "expedited removal," which now entails a five-year bar on admission to the U.S. If you are denied admission, first try to contact your school's international student office for assistance, but also make it known to the Immigration Official that you are willing to withdraw your application for admission to the country rather than be subject to expedited removal. 10. STAYING INFORMED WHILE YOU TRAVEL Much is being reported in the national and international media regarding the aftermath of September 11, and proposed federal laws and regulations that may have an impact on foreign nationals coming to the United States. If your college or university has been providing updates to students via e-mail or the internet, try to stay up-to-date on immigration news by checking these resources periodically. 11. KEEPING YOUR VALUABLES SAFE WHEN YOU TRAVEL The following information on laptop computer security is also applicable for other items of value such as briefcases and carry-on bags while you are in domestic or international travel status: Items left unattended for even a very brief period have become a premium target for theft. Every traveler should remain on constant alert as they traverse through all airports. Here are some common examples of methods used by thieves to separate you from your belongings. One method involved the use of security x-ray machines. The first thief precedes the traveler through the security check point and then loiters around the area where the carry-on luggage had already been examined. When the traveler places his laptop computer or bag onto the conveyer belt of the x-ray machine, the second thief steps in front of the traveler and sets off the metal detector. While the traveler is being delayed, the first thief removes the traveler's laptop computer or bag from the conveyor belt just after it has gone through the x-ray machine and quickly disappears. Another method of theft can occur while the traveler is walking through a crowd of people in the airport terminal. The traveler, who may have a laptop computer or small bag on top of his or her roll bag, is preceded by the first thief. Just as the traveler gets around the crowd of people, the first thief stops abruptly, causing the traveler to stop abruptly. When they stop momentarily, a second thief, who had been following just behind them, quickly removes the traveler's laptop computer or small bag from the roll bag and disappears into the crowd. All travelers, both international and domestic, are urged to be alert to the above methods used in stealing valuable items and always be mindful of any abrupt diversions during your travels. Report any losses immediately to the authorities. Keep serial numbers, make, and model information of your laptop computers, or of any items of value, separate from the item so you can give precise information to authorities if the items are stolen. 12. SALES TAX REFUNDS? Students sometimes ask if it is possible for them to receive a refund of the sales tax they paid for goods and services in the United States upon their departure. In the U.S., sales tax on goods and services is set by each of the fifty states, and state entities (such as cities and counties), not by the U.S. government. Each state and state entity determines what the sales tax will be (always a percent of the purchase price) and what items will and will not be assessed a sales tax. Therefore, it is not possible for an overseas visitor to obtain a refund of the sales tax for a purchase made in the U.S. upon their departure. The best "official" explanation comes from the U.S. Customs Service, which is reprinted below. Go to: http://www.customs.gov/travel/visi.htm# for additional information. "Foreign visitors to the United States frequently confuse the state sales tax with the value-added tax (VAT). The state sales tax is a small tax on purchases or services, calculated at the time of purchase, which individual states assess and which the U.S. federal government neither determines nor receives. The VAT, on the other hand, is a national tax commonly applied in foreign countries that is included in the actual sales price rather than at the time of purchase. The United States does not have a VAT, and the federal government cannot refund state sales taxes. State taxes are generally not charged to diplomats or employees of some international organizations who have been issued a tax-exemption card. This card must be presented at the time of purchase in order for sales taxes to be waived. Also, many states do not charge tax on items shipped out of state. Ask about state sales-tax policies in the state where you make your purchases." About The Author Ellen H. Badger has been the Director of the Office of International Student and Scholar Services at Binghamton University, State University of New York since 1986, where she supervises programs and services for more than 900 international students and scholars. The author acknowledges the following individuals whose information has been included in this and previous editions of the Travel Extra:
Patricia Burak, Syracuse University The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the opinion of ILW.COM.
Copyright © 1999-2002 American Immigration LLC, ILW.COM
 Share this page | Bookmark this page | Print this page |  Add to del.icio.us
The leading immigration law publisher - over 50000 pages of free information!
© Copyright 1995-2008 American Immigration LLC, ILW.COM |