All international students in possession of an F or J visa, who wish to leave the United States temporarily and return to the University of Hartford to continue studies, must secure the necessary documents to permit entry to another country and re-entry into the United States.

Entry into Another Country from the United States

Students who are in F or J status and wish to visit their home country of citizenship or permanent residence, or, who wish to travel to a third country (one in which they are not a citizen or permanent resident), should be in possession of the following documents: 

• A valid passport.

• Immigration form I-94.

• Evidence of return transportation to the U.S.

• Sufficient funds for the duration of their stay outside the U.S., particularly if they are traveling to a third country.

• An original I-20 or DSP-2019 form, properly endorsed by the International Center.

• Depending upon the country that is to be visited, students may be required to obtain an entry visa. Visas may be obtained through consular offices located in New York City, Boston, or Washington, D.C. Addresses and phone numbers are available from the International Center.

• Evidence of full-time student status in the form of a Transcript (this may be obtained from the Registrar's Office
   

Re-entry into the United States

Students in F-1 status must present the following documents to a U.S. port of entry officer upon their re-entry into the United States following a temporary absence: 

• A valid passport and visa (unless exempt from passport or visa requirements).

• A properly endorsed I-20 or DSP-66 form .

• Financial support documentation.

• Evidence of full-Time student status in the form of a Transcript (this may be obtained from the Registrar's Office
   

Visa Revalidation

To re-enter the U.S., students must be in possession of a valid F or J  visa stamp in their passport (exceptions may be made for students re-entering the U.S. from Canada, Mexico, or some Caribbean islands, or, if they are exempt from visa and passport requirements). Consequently, students who entered the U.S. in another nonimmigrant visa classification and have changed status to that of an F or J student must obtain an F or J visa before re-entering the U.S. It is not possible to obtain an F or J visa inside the United States (see "Advance Notification" below). F or J students must apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad if they need to obtain a visa in order to enter the U.S. after a temporary absence. You MUST notify the international Center if your visa is expired.  The Center must notify the U.S. State Department of your intention to secure a new visa. Without the Center's notification your visa request will be denied.

While it is possible for international students to secure an original or renewal of an F-1 visa in a foreign country other than their own, they may face more stringent requirements than those imposed by U. S. consular officials in their home country of residence. In addition to proving eligibility for an F or J visa, you may have to convince the consular official that there is a legitimate reason for making the application outside your home country. In some instances, the consular official in the third country will find it necessary to check with a consular official in the student's place of residence to insure his or her eligibility for a nonimmigrant visa. This can be time-consuming and can result in a financial charge to the student if information is requested by cable rather than diplomatic mail. Students are advised to make travel plans which allow for possible delays. Depending on your country, appointments to obtain a visa may take up to several months.

The documents needed for visa revalidation include: 

• A valid passport.

• A current photograph.

• A valid I-20 or DSP-66 form with a current endorsement from the International Center

• Proof of financial support

• A Transcript of your academic record at the University

• At the discretion of a consular official, further documentation may be required.
   

Advance Notification

Under certain circumstances, an F or J student who has an expired visa and intends to pay a temporary visit abroad can request the U.S. Department of State to pre-authorize a new visa. This pre-authorization procedure involves a notification from the Department of State to the U.S. consulate or embassy that a student will be applying to for a visa and that they have no objection. This process can expedite visa requests for those students who believe they will have difficulties renewing their visas, either in their home country of residence or in a third country. Only students meeting specific guidelines, as outlined by the Department of State, qualify for this type of service: 

• The student is going home for a few days on account of a verifiable family emergency.

• The student is planning to travel to a third country for a brief period to participate in a conference or seminar.

• The student is planning to travel to a third country for a short time as a member of a tour group.  

Pre-authorization of visas for F and J students is a limited and highly defined service. Students wishing to utilize this service are requested to contact the International Center for further information regarding qualification and request procedures.

Note:

International students should not leave the United States for travel abroad without first discussing their travel plans with a staff member from the International Center. This should be done at least two weeks before departure. If a student leaves the U.S. without a current or properly endorsed  I-20 or DSP-2019 form, he or she may be denied re-entry into the United States