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Travel While on a J-1 Visa

International airport terminal

Trips outside of the U.S. must be preapproved by the Cal Poly International Center. Trips longer than 30 days are not permitted. 


You must have the following if you are leaving and then re-entering the United States:
  • A valid passport, good for six months after your entry date.
  • A valid J-1 visa. Be sure to check your J-1 visa in your passport. If it has expired, you will have to apply for a J-1 visa renewal. You will not be able to re-enter the U.S. in J-1 status without a valid, current J-1 visa.
  • A current, valid DS-2019 with a current travel signature. Your DS-2019 must be current and must have a travel signature that is not older than 6 months. Only Cal Poly International Students and Scholars staff may provide a travel signature. Email intlservices@calpoly.edu to request a travel signature. You cannot enter the U.S. with an expired DS-2019 or with a DS-2019 that does not have a current travel signature. Travel signatures are valid for one year.
If you are applying for a new visa while traveling outside of the U.S., please stop by the International Students and Scholars office to obtain a letter verifying that you have been maintaining status as an Exchange Visitor in the U.S., and that you are needed at Cal Poly and are expected to return.

Approval of a new J-1 visa is not guaranteed. Exchange visitors from some countries may be subject to a security clearance which can delay visa issuance for a month or more. 

If you do not have a J-1 visa in your passport, you must make an appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate office in your home country. The exception is for Canadian citizens who do not need a J-1 visa. In some countries, you may not be able to get an appointment for several months. Check your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate for more information on visa interview appointments.


Traveling within the U.S.

President Trump’s Executive Order 14159 set forth registration requirements for non-U.S. citizens over the age of 14. J-1 and J-2 visa holders are automatically registered when they enter the U.S. and their I-94 is generated (find more information on the USCIS website under "How to Determine if You are Already Registered").  However, the Executive Order requires J-1/2 visa holders to carry a paper copy of their I-94 with them at all times. 


How to access your I-94: 
  1. Visit the DHS I-94 webpage 
  2. Click the Get Most Recent I-94 tab 
  3. Fill in your information from your passport and download a PDF copy of your I-94 
  4. Print it out and keep it in your wallet
  • NOTE: The I-94 is different from the Travel History. The Travel History shows multiple entries to and departures from the U.S. and is not an accepted proof of registration. The I-94 will look like this image and only show your most recent entry to the U.S.   
The executive order also imposes penalties for failing to register a change of address within 10 days. If you have moved since you checked in with the International Center, please email the International Center with your new U.S. address. 

Contact the International Center if: 
  • You have dependents who have turned 14 since arriving in the U.S. or will turn 14 during your stay,
  • You are unable to access your I-94, or 
  • The I-94 is inaccurate (eg. does not show your most recent date of entry) 
We also strongly recommend that you keep digital copies of your DS-2019 in the cloud so you can access it on your phone if needed.