Traveling Abroad During OPT

F-1 students who have applied for OPT are able to travel overseas and return to the U.S. in F-1 status as long as they have the required documents for re-entry.

We do not recommend students to travel abroad until they have received their OPT application I-797 Notice of Action Receipt Notice from USCIS.

Before OPT I-20 End Date

The following documents are required for re-entry to the U.S. in valid F-1 status before a student’s program completion date (as indicated on their OPT I-20):

• Valid passport
• Valid F-1 visa (Canadian citizens exempt)
• Endorsed OPT I-20 (each travel authorization signature is valid for 1 year from the date it was last signed, and must be valid at the time of re-entry to the U.S.

After OPT I-20 End Date

The following documents are required for re-entry to the U.S. in valid F-1 OPT status after a student’s program completion date (as indicated on their OPT I-20):

• Valid passport
• Valid F-1 visa (Canadian citizens exempt)
• Endorsed OPT I-20 (each travel authorization signature is valid for 6 months from the date it was last signed, even though the I-20 says one year, and must be valid at the time of re-entry to the U.S.; it is highly recommended that you request an updated I-20 indicating your OPT employment information (as indicated in the SEVP Portal) if you have received your EAD card and started OPT employment).
• Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card
• Proof of Employment or Job Offer Letter