Travel and Re-entry to the U.S.

If an international scholar/visitor sponsored by Sanford-Burnham plans to travel outside the U.S. during their stay, the International Office will issue a Travel Letter for this purpose. The scholar/visitor is asked to complete and return a Travel Letter Request Form at least 7 to 10 business days before their planned departure from the U.S. This will allow International Office Staff to review the traveler's immigration documents before they travel to facilitate a smooth re-entry into the United States. If the traveler will be applying to renew their visa during their trip, we request that they schedule an appointment to speak with an Advisor in the International Office at least a month in advance to review their immigration documents and current visa processing times.

Travel out of the U.S.

The international scholar/visitor should check that their immigration documents are valid prior to travel and that they will be valid upon re-entry to the U.S. Please note that a person's passport should be valid at least 6 months in the future from the date they plan to re-enter the U.S. If it is valid less than 6 months the U.S. Customs Officer at the port-of-entry may at their discretion limit a person's stay in the U.S. to the expiration date of their passport.

• When re-entering the U.S. the international scholar/visitor will be issued a new I-94 arrival card (white card in passport). It is important that they check that the validity date on the I-94 card correctly matches their immigration status, as the I-94 card is the document that determines a person's immigration status and length of that status in the U.S. Upon returning to the Institute the international scholar/visitor is requested to forward a copy of their new I-94 card (front and back) to the Sanford-Burnham International Office for review to make sure they have been correctly readmitted to the U.S. and their immigration status remains valid at the Institute.
• If an international scholar/visitor is traveling out of the U.S. and does not have a valid visa stamp in their passport or if they have changed their immigration status while in the U.S., they will need to apply for a new visa during their trip at a United States embassy or consulate outside of the United States. A valid visa stamp is required for re-entry to the U.S. In this case you will want to allow extra time for your visa appointment and processing. International scholars/visitors should contact the Sanford-Burnham International Office if they will need to apply for a visa. *Canadian citizens in most cases are exempt for applying for a visa renewal although they must present proper documentation of their immigration status when entering the U.S.
• If traveling to a country outside the U.S. other than your own, please check with that country's embassy to see if they first require you to apply for a visa for entry into their country.
• Also, as a reminder when you travel, please keep your immigration documents together and available to present when re-entering the U.S.

Travel in the U.S.

While in the U.S., please carry the following immigration documents, whichever is applicable to your current immigration status:

• Valid Passport (should be valid for six months into the future)
• Valid or expired visa stamp in your passport
• Form I-94 card arrival/departure card
• Valid J-1 Form DS-2019 or F-1 Student Form I-20
• Valid Form I-797 Receipt Notice or Approval Notice (if in H-1B or O-1 status or if you have changed or extended immigration status in the U.S.)

As a reminder, the documents above are the only documents that show your legal immigration status in the U.S. and should be carried at all times.

If there are any questions about traveling in or outside of the U.S. and the documents required while sponsored by the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, please contact the Sanford-Burnham International Office.