Traveling Abroad: Can You Go With A Us Visa?

If you have a U visa and are planning to travel outside the country, it is important to talk to an immigration lawyer with experience in U visas before you go. If you leave the U.S., you will need to go to a consulate to get an actual U visa to re-enter the country. This can be very difficult to obtain without an attorney. You may also need to wait outside the U.S. for a long time before you can obtain the visa to travel back. If you re-enter the U.S. illegally, you could be detained, deported, and/or criminally charged. If you are a U.S. citizen, you may need a visa to enter a foreign country.

What to do if you have a U visa petition approved

If you have a U visa petition approved, you can travel outside the country, but there are certain requirements and procedures you must follow to do so. Firstly, you must obtain a travel authorisation from USCIS before leaving the country. This is known as 'Advance Parole' and is only issued in cases of emergency or humanitarian circumstances. You must submit an application and wait for approval before leaving the United States.

It is also important to maintain your legal status. If your U visa expires while you are outside the United States, you may be denied entry upon your return.

Additionally, even after being granted U status, you must continue to cooperate with law enforcement officials and other government officials. Travelling outside the United States might jeopardise your status, as USCIS could determine that you are unable to adequately help law enforcement if you are out of the area for an extended amount of time.

Risks of travelling outside the U.S. with a U visa

Although it is possible to travel outside the U.S. with a U visa, there are several risks to consider. Firstly, you must obtain a travel authorisation, known as 'Advance Parole', from USCIS before leaving the country. This is only issued in cases of emergency or humanitarian circumstances, and you must wait for approval before departing.

Secondly, if your U visa expires while you are outside the U.S., you may be denied entry upon your return. Additionally, leaving the country could trigger inadmissibility for unlawful presence, and lengthy absences might make you ineligible to adjust to permanent resident status.

Furthermore, if you are a U visa applicant or recipient, travelling abroad might convince U.S. immigration authorities that you are no longer eligible for the visa. This is because one of the main eligibility requirements for a U visa is that you are actively providing helpful information to law enforcement officials to assist in investigating and prosecuting the criminals who victimised you. If you are out of the country for an extended period, USCIS could determine that you are unable to adequately help law enforcement, jeopardising your status.

Therefore, while it is possible to travel outside the U.S. with a U visa, it is important to carefully consider the risks and requirements involved.

How to obtain a visa to travel back to the U.S

If you have been granted U visa status in the U.S., you will need to obtain an actual U visa to re-enter the country. This is not automatically granted when you are approved for U visa status. It is recommended that you talk to an immigration lawyer with experience in U visas before travelling, as it can be very difficult to obtain the visa from the consulate without an attorney.

To obtain a visa to travel back to the U.S., you can apply in a third country, but you will not be able to return to the U.S. until the Department of State (DoS) issues your visa. This could take several weeks if a background check is required. If your visa is denied, you will not be able to return to the U.S.

If you are visiting the U.S. for tourism or business, you may need a visitor visa, also known as a tourist visa. However, if your country participates in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), you can get a waiver and will not need a visa. If you qualify for a waiver, you will still need to get approval to travel to the U.S. through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA).

To apply for a visitor visa, you will need to bring a passport issued by your country of citizenship. You may also need to provide proof of home ties, such as property or close relationships in your home country, to show that you intend to return. You will also need to prove that you have no previous criminal record or convictions. In some cases, you may need to provide other case-specific documents if the embassy requests them.

Visa requirements for U.S. citizens travelling abroad

U.S. citizens don't need a U.S. visa to travel abroad, but when planning travel abroad, they may need a visa issued by the country they wish to visit. While not all countries require visas for American travellers, many do. As of 2025, holders of a United States passport may travel to 186 countries and territories without a travel visa, or with a visa on arrival. The United States passport ranks 9th in terms of travel freedom, according to the Henley Passport Index.

If you have been granted U visa status in the U.S. and you leave the country, you will have to go to a consulate to get an actual U visa to re-enter the U.S. You are not automatically granted this visa, which is a sticker in your passport needed for travelling. It is very hard to get the visa from the consulate without an attorney who knows about U visas. If you leave the U.S., you may need to wait outside of the U.S. for a long time before you can obtain the visa to travel back to the U.S. Once you have U visa status, if you leave the U.S., you should never re-enter the U.S. illegally. If you come back into the U.S. without permission, you could be detained, deported, and/or criminally charged and you would risk not being able to get back your U visa status.

To find out if you need a visa to enter a foreign country, you can look up your destination using the U.S. State Department's Learn About Your Destination search tool. On the country's information page, you will find entry, exit, and visa requirements, as well as travel advisories and a link to the country's embassy. You can also apply in a third country for a visa, but you will not be able to return to the United States until DoS issues your visa. In some cases, this could take several weeks if DoS requires a background check.

What to do if you have an expired visa

If you have a U visa and you leave the U.S., you will need to go to a consulate to get an actual U visa to re-enter the country. It is very hard to get this visa without an attorney who knows about U visas. If you come back into the U.S. without permission, you could be detained, deported, and/or criminally charged and you would risk not being able to get back your U visa status. It is therefore extremely important that you talk to an immigration lawyer with experience in U visas before travelling to determine if you can safely travel outside of the U.S.

If you have an expired visa, you will need to apply for and obtain a new visa stamp in your passport before you can re-enter the U.S. Renewal applications cannot be done in the U.S. If you are planning international travel to a third country, you may be required to show evidence that you have a valid U.S. visa stamp for re-entry to the U.S. You can apply in a third country for a visa, but you will not be able to return to the U.S. until the Department of State issues your visa. In some cases, this could take several weeks if a background check is required. If the Department of State denies your visa, you will not be able to return to the U.S. It is strongly advised that you do not travel outside the U.S. until your SEVIS record shows that you are in active status.

If you are a U.S. citizen planning to travel outside the U.S., you may need a visa to enter a foreign country. While not all countries require visas for American travellers, many do. You can look up your destination's visa requirements using the U.S. State Department's Learn About Your Destination search tool. On the country's information page, you will find entry, exit, and visa requirements, as well as travel advisories and a link to the country's embassy.

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