Duke Trotter
If you're an F-1 student, you may be wondering if you can travel to different countries while on OPT. OPT stands for Optional Practical Training, which is temporary employment that directly relates to an F-1 student's major area of study. The good news is that you can travel internationally with an approved OPT application and your EAD card. However, there are a few things to keep in mind, such as making sure you have the necessary documents and understanding the potential impact on your travel plans. In this article, we will explore the requirements and considerations for travelling to different countries while on F-1 OPT.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| OPT application status | OPT application has no impact on travel, regardless of whether it’s pending or approved |
| Travel before OPT is approved | Not recommended |
| Travel after OPT is approved | Allowed, with EAD card |
| Travel to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean | Allowed for 30 days or less with an expired F-1 visa |
| Returning to the US without employment | An officer can legally refuse your entry |
| Returning to the US in another status | Invalidates F-1 status and OPT authorization |
What You'll Learn
Travel before OPT is approved
It is not recommended to travel internationally before your OPT is approved and you have your EAD card. Your OPT application has no impact on your travel, but if you return to the US in another status, such as a tourist, it will invalidate your F-1 status and your OPT authorisation.
If you have a pending OPT STEM Extension application, you should wait until your request is approved and you have received your new Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) before travelling abroad. If you are only travelling to Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent Caribbean islands for 30 days or less, you may be able to re-enter the US even with an expired F-1 visa.
If you have an approved OPT application and your EAD card, you may travel internationally and request entry into the US in F-1 status when you return, both before or after the start date on your EAD card. You will need the following items with you when you return: an I-20 with OPT recommendation and an unexpired travel signature (signature valid for six months when on OPT).
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Travel with an approved OPT application
If you have an approved OPT application, you may travel internationally and request entry into the US in F-1 status when you return, both before or after the start date on your EAD card. However, it is recommended that you do not travel internationally before your OPT is approved and you have your EAD card. If you are travelling on an OPT STEM extension, you must have a valid F-1 visa that permits multiple entries and a current Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility endorsed for re-entry by the DSO within the last six months.
If you are returning to the US in another status, such as a tourist, it will invalidate your F-1 status and your OPT authorization. If you are only travelling to Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent Caribbean islands for 30 days or less, you may be able to re-enter the US even with an expired F-1 visa. If you have no employment to return to, an officer can legally refuse your entry to the US.
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Travel with an unexpired travel signature
If you are an F-1 student with OPT, you can travel internationally, but you must have an approved OPT application and your EAD card. You will also need an I-20 with OPT recommendation and an unexpired travel signature (valid for six months when on OPT). You can learn how to get a travel signature online.
It is recommended that you do not travel internationally before your OPT is approved and you have your EAD card. If you are only travelling to Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent Caribbean islands for 30 days or less, you may be able to re-enter the US with an expired F-1 visa. However, if you return to the US in another status, such as a tourist, it will invalidate your F-1 status and your OPT authorisation.
If you are a student on a STEM OPT extension, you may travel abroad and seek re-entry to the US in F-1 status during the extension period if you have a valid F-1 visa that permits multiple entries and a current Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility endorsed for re-entry by the DSO within the last six months. You should not travel until you receive your STEM OPT EAD card.
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Travel to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean
If you are travelling on an F1 OPT visa, you can travel internationally, but you must have an approved OPT application and your Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) card. You will also need to bring an I-20 with OPT recommendation and an unexpired travel signature (signature valid for six months when on OPT). If you are travelling to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean, you may be able to re-enter the US with an expired F-1 visa, as long as your trip is 30 days or less. However, if you have no employment to return to, an officer can legally refuse your entry to the US.
It is recommended that you do not travel internationally before your OPT is approved and you have your EAD card. If you are a student on a STEM OPT extension, you may travel abroad and seek re-entry to the US in F-1 status during the extension period, as long as you have a valid F-1 visa that permits multiple entries and a current Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility endorsed for re-entry by the DSO within the last six months. If you need to apply for a new F-1 entry visa sticker at a US Embassy or Consulate while abroad, you should not travel until you receive your STEM OPT EAD card.
If you return to the US in another status, such as a tourist, it will invalidate your F-1 status and your OPT authorisation. When you return to the US, you will need to request entry in F-1 status, both before or after the start date on your EAD card. You will also need to bring a job offer letter or communication about interviews with you, and review potential CDC requirements with your airline carrier.
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Returning to the US in another status
If you are returning to the US in another status, such as a tourist, your F-1 status and OPT authorisation will be invalidated.
If you are returning to the US in F-1 status, you will need to have an approved OPT application and your EAD card. You will also need an I-20 with OPT recommendation and an unexpired travel signature (signature valid for six months when on OPT). If you are on a STEM OPT extension, you will need a valid F-1 visa that permits multiple entries and a current Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility endorsed for re-entry by the DSO within the last six months.
If your F-1 visa has expired, you will need to apply for a new one at a US embassy abroad before you can return to the US. If you are only travelling to Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent Caribbean islands for 30 days or less, you may be able to re-enter the US even with an expired F-1 visa.
It is recommended that you do not travel internationally before your OPT is approved and you have your EAD card.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, you can travel internationally with an approved OPT application and your EAD card. However, it is recommended that you do not travel before your OPT is approved and you have your EAD card.
You will need an I-20 with OPT recommendation and an unexpired travel signature (signature valid for six months when on OPT). You will also need to review potential CDC requirements and bring a job offer letter or communication about interviews with you.
Yes, students on STEM OPT extensions may travel abroad and seek re-entry to the United States in F-1 status during the extension period if they have a valid F-1 visa that permits multiple entries and a current Form I-20 Certificate of Eligibility endorsed for re-entry by the DSO within the last six months. However, it is recommended that you wait until your request is approved and you have received your new Employment Authorization Document (EAD) before travelling.
