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Traveling as an International Student

Relevant information and resources to travel.

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Entering the U.S.

Always Hand-Carry Your Documents 

Do not store your passport or DS-2019 or other immigration documents in your checked luggage.

You will be unable to present the needed documents at your port of entry if your luggage is lost or delayed. As a result, you may not be able to enter the United States. 

As You Arrive at the Port of Entry

All visitors entering the United States must state their reason for wishing to enter the country. You will be asked to provide information about your final destination. It is important for J-1 Visa holders to tell the CBP Officer that they will be an exchange visitor. Be prepared with the name and address of the school program where you will enroll/participate.

Once your inspection is successfully completed, the inspecting officer might stamp your passport with date and port of entry information.

Secondary Inspections Requirements

If the CBP officer at the port of entry cannot initially verify your information or you do not have all of the required documentation, you may be directed to an interview area known as “secondary inspection.” Secondary inspection allows inspectors to conduct additional research in order to verify information without causing delays for other arriving passengers 

Answer all questions the CBP officer asks. Remember to remain calm. Secondary inspection is a normal process. 

The CBP officer will first attempt to verify the status of J-1 visa holders by using the Student and Exchange and Visitor Information System (SEVIS). In the event that the CBP officer needs to verify your admission/participation with your sponsoring school or program, the school may be called.

Under certain circumstances, the CBP officer may issue a “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor” Form (I-515A), which authorizes temporary admission into the United States. If you are admitted with the Form I-515A, bring this to the attention of the Office of International Programs International Student Advisor so that proper documentation can be submitted by the deadline.

I-94

The I-94 is the Arrival / Departure Record serves as an official record of where and when non-U.S. citizens entered the country. It also gives the classification and the date by which the visitor may stay.  Most Arrival/Departure records are electronically created and must be printed by the foreign visitor after arrival. Visitors can go to the Customs and Border Protection site to access their I-94 Arrival Record . For more information, please visit the Customs and Border ProtectionI-94 Instructions site.

Getting to the University

Memphis International Airport in Memphis, Tennessee, is the closest International Airport to the University of Mississippi. Incoming students, researchers, faculty, and staff should make plans to arrive at the Memphis International Airport (Airport Code MEM). 

See Transportation below for information about getting from the airport to the university, driving directions and other options for travel within the U.S. Incoming students should also watch for emails about airport pick up day.

 

International Student and Scholar Services is located on the 3rd floor of the Martindale-Cole Student Services Building.

 

Street Address:

Martindale-Cole

617 All American Drive

University, MS, 38677

 

The office is open:

Monday through Friday

8 a.m. until 5 p.m.

 

See the Campus Map

 

 

 

 

Transportation to Oxford

 

Directions by Car

 

From Memphis, Tennessee via I-55
From Memphis, TN take I-55 south for 63 miles. Take the Batesville/Oxford exit off I-55. Merge into MS-6 and proceed east toward Oxford, MS for 26 miles. Once in Oxford, take the second exit marked Coliseum Drive onto campus.

 

From Memphis, Tennessee via Hwy 78
From Memphis, TN take US-78 for 52 miles. Exit US-78 at the Holly Springs/Oxford exit. From Holly Springs, take MS-7 south for 31 miles. Once in Oxford, take the 4th exit onto MS-6 and proceed west. Take the 3rd exit marked Coliseum Drive onto campus.

 

From Jackson, Mississippi
From Jackson, MS take I-55 North for 150 miles. Take the Batesville/Oxford exit off I-55. Proceed east on MS-6 toward Oxford, MS for 26 miles. Once in Oxford, take the second exit marked Coliseum drive onto campus.

 

From Tupelo, Mississippi
From Tupelo, MS take MS-6 west for 52 miles. Once in Oxford, take the 6th exit marked Coliseum Drive onto campus.

Outreach Events & Services provides a fee-based shuttle service to and from the Memphis Airport. You are asked to give notice of at least 6 business days and pre-pay by Visa or MasterCard for all reservations. Please read more information or book a shuttle through the Outreach website.

Memphis Airport Shuttle: $95 one way or $145 round trip (all prices per person)

  • Home Safe Taxi 662-832-0205
  • Oxford Executive Transportation  662-262-1005  www.oxfordlimo.net
  • Oxford Taxi  662-701-7310

In addition to private taxi companies, many students utilize apps such Uber and Lyft.

Traveling as Student

Many students travel within and outside the U.S. during holidays and breaks. We encourage travel as part of the experience of being an international student. Please read the instructions before setting off on your adventures.

 

Within the U.S.

 

Travel within the United States for any international student or scholar on a non-immigrant visa does not require any special documentation, letters, or any signatures from International Student and Scholar Services. Still, anyone on a non-immigrant visa should be able to present proof of their legal status within the United States at any time.

 

It is recommended that for travel outside of Oxford you take your passport and at least a photocopy of your accompanying documentation (i.e. I-20, DS-2019). Also, it is recommended that you keep photocopies of your main passport page, visa page, and any other visa documentation with you at all times even when not traveling.

 

 

Outside the U.S.

 

Visa Requirements for Other Countries

 

Traveling to another country may involve obtaining an entry visa to that country. It is best to check the consulate website of the country you wish to visit to get the current visa procedures.

 

To find visa requirements for another country, you should visit that country’s consulate or embassy website..

Approval Signatures

To be able to travel outside of and return to the United States in F status, you will need to have a valid signature from either the Primary Designated School Official (PDSO) or the Designated School Official (DSO) on the last page of your F-1 or F-2 I-20 document. In International Student and Scholar Services both International Programs Advisors are DSOs.

Anyone in F-1 or F-2 Status must visit International Student and Scholar Services at least one week before any travel out of the U.S. One week is necessary to allow the International Programs Advisor to sign your documents and to be able to process any changes to your I-20 before your travel.

Your I-20 must still be valid, meaning your program end-date must not have passed in order to be able to re-enter the U.S.

A travel signature is a signature from an ISSS adviser on page 2 of your I-20. You must have a travel signature to return to the U.S. after travel abroad. It is valid for one year (F-1 students on OPT: the travel signature is valid for six months). If it expires before you will return to the U.S., you must get an updated one.

Passport

Additionally, F-1 students seeking to re-enter the U.S. must have a valid passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date you intend to return to the United States. If your passport is expiring, you should make plans to renew or extend your passport before your travel.

Traveling to Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean Islands

With the exception of Canadian citizens and any F-1 or F-2 holder visiting Canada, Mexico, and the adjacent Caribbean islands for less than 30-days [22 C.F.R. § 41.112(d); 8 C.F.R. § 214.1 (b) (1)], a valid US F-1 or F-2 visa stamp in your passport is needed for return to the United States. The F-1 and F-2 Visa Stamps cannot be obtained within the United States. Visa appointments must be made with a consulate or embassy outside of the United States for the renewal or initial F Visa.

It is recommended that students obtain a “Letter of Good Standing” from the Office of the Registrar before departing the country. This letter will confirm your enrollment with the University of Mississippi and confirm your expected graduation date.

In summary, you will need to

  • Check your I-20 end date. If you need to extend your I-20, make sure you complete an I-20 extension request.
  • Check your I-20 for a travel signature. If you need a new travel signature, bring your original I-20 to the ISSS office.
  • Check that your visa and passport are valid. Your visa must be valid to re-entry the U.S. after travel abroad. The expiration dates on your visa and passport are different from the end dates on your I-20
  • Check Covid-19 Vaccination and Testing requirements! Check requirements from:

Approval Signatures

To be able to travel outside of and return to the United States in J status, you will need to have a valid signature from either the Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) on the front page of your J-1 or J-2 DS-2019 Document in the Travel Validation Section.

Anyone in J-1 or J-2 Status must visit International Student and Scholar Services at least one week before any travel out of the United States. One week is necessary to allow the International Programs Advisor to sign your documents or to make any changes to your DS-2019 before your travel.

Your DS-2019 must still be valid, meaning your program end-date must not have passed in order to be able to re-enter the United States.

A travel signature is a signature from an ISSS adviser on the front page of your DS-2019. You must have a travel signature to return to the U.S. after travel abroad. It is valid for one year. If it expires before you will return to the U.S., you must get an updated one.

Passport

Additionally, J-1 students seeking to re-enter the United States must have a valid passport. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after the date you intend to return to the United States. If your passport is expiring, you should make plans to renew or extend your passport before your travel.

Travelling to Canada, Mexico, and Caribbean Islands

With the exception of Canadian citizens and any J-1 or J-2 holder visiting Canada, Mexico, and the adjacent Caribbean islands for less than 30-days [22 C.F.R. § 41.112(d); 8 C.F.R. § 214.1 (b) (1)], a valid US J-1 or J-2 visa stamp in your passport is needed for return to the United States. The J-1 and J-2 Visa Stamps cannot be obtained within the United States. Visa appointments must be made with a consulate or embassy outside of the United States for the renewal or initial J Visa.

Letter of Good Standing

It is recommended that J-1 Students obtain a “Letter of Good Standing” from the Office of the Registrar before departing the country. This letter will confirm your enrollment with the University of Mississippi and confirm your expected graduation date. J-1 Scholar Researchers/Professors can obtain a letter for travel from the International Programs Advisor for faculty and scholars. The letter for Researchers/Professors will confirm affiliation with the University of Mississippi.

In summary, you will need to

  • Check your DS-2019 end date.
  • Check your DS-2019 for a travel signature. If you need a new travel signature, bring your original DS-2019 to the ISSS office.
  • Check that your visa and passport are valid. Your visa must be valid to re-entry the U.S. after travel abroad. The expiration dates on your visa and passport are different from the end dates on your DS-2019
  • Check Covid-19 Vaccination and Testing requirements! Check requirements from:

You must obtain a signature for travel from the institution that issued your DS-2019 or I-20 in order to comply with Department of Homeland Security regulations. You should plan obtain signatures from your DSO/PDSO or RO/ARO well in advance of your intended travel, to allow enough time send your documents to your institution and for your DSO/PDSO or RO/ARO to mail your documents back to you. You should also inform the University of Mississippi, International Student and Scholar Services of any plans to travel.

Visas to Other Countries

Goverment of Canada

Mexico - Secretaría
de Governación