Current Travel Guidance

Procedure for Outside Law Enforcement Presence on Campus

If you encounter immigration enforcement (ICE), ask the officer or agent for their credentials and then ask them to wait.

Then, please immediately contact the Yale Police Department (YPD) at (203) 432-4400. YPD is prepared for calls from the university community on these matters.

The Public Safety page provides information about YPD policies and procedures for outside law enforcement presence on campus. This page also provides detailed guidance on what to do when you encounter law enforcement. Please see Guidance for Contacts with Law Enforcement.

Protocols for Travel Emergencies

Travel Signatures: If you are in F-1 or J-1 status, you need to ensure that your I-20 or DS-2019 has a valid travel signature to re-enter the U.S. Please remember that travel signatures are only valid for one year, but good for multiple entries. Travel signatures can be found on the second page of your I-20 or the first page of your DS-2019. If you are an F-1 or J-1 student and need a travel signature, please contact your designated OISS adviser, and they will electronically send you a new I-20 or DS-2019 with a travel signature. If you are a J-1 scholar and need a travel signature, please follow these directions to request a new electronic travel signature.

Encounters with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): If you encounter issues at the U.S. border and the CBP officer has questions that can be answered by OISS, please ask the officer if they would like to call OISS for confirmation. During office hours, OISS can be reached by calling our front desk at (203) 432-2305, and you or the federal agent/officer will be connected to an OISS adviser. After hours, please call Yale Security at (203) 785-5555; they will immediately contact the OISS director or associate director.

Carry Your Immigration Documents at All Times

While Traveling Locally (In and Around New Haven)

You do not need to carry all your original immigration documents while in New Haven, but we recommend you carry printed copies of all your immigration documents. Please have printed copies of:

  • Most recent I-94 arrival and departure record (NOT the travel history)
  • F-1 Form I-20 or J-1 Form DS-2019
  • Passport bio page
  • Visa issued by the U.S. consulate (Canadian citizens do not need a visa)
  • I-797 Approval notice (for those in H-1B or O-1 status)
  • EAD card (for those who are currently on F-1 OPT or STEM OPT)

While Traveling Outside of New Haven

You should carry all your original documents:

  • Valid passport
  • Most Recent I-94 record
  • Form I-20 or DS-2019 for those in F-1 or J-1 status respectively
  • I-797 approval notice for those in H-1B or O-1 status
  • EAD card (for those who rae currently on F-1 OPT or STEM OPT)

Make Copies & Securely Share

In addition to the guidance above about carrying your immigration documents at all times, we also recommend that you make copies of all of your immigration documents and keep them in a separate safe place where someone else you trust can access them. Make sure to share the location of the copies of your documents with this trusted person so they know where to find them in case of an emergency.

General Travel Guidance

Before You Leave the U.S.

Check Your Immigration Documents

Pack all your immigration documents in your carry-on. Please review all the documents you must carry and ensure they are valid for travel before you leave the U.S. (See detailed guidance for F-1/J-1 student travel or J-1/H-1B scholar travel).

Note: Additional considerations and documents are required to travel after graduation under F-1 OPT.

Valid Passport

Your passport must be valid for a minimum of six months into the future at the time of re-entry to the U.S. Some countries have an agreement with the U.S. that exempts their nationals from the six-month rule for U.S. entry purposes only.

Valid Visa

You also need a valid visa to re-enter the U.S. (except for Canadian citizens, who do not need one). Please check the visa's expiration date in your passport. If your visa has expired, apply for a new one by submitting the online non-immigrant visa application (DS-160).

Important Note: The Department of State has implemented enhanced social media vetting for F-1, J-1, and H-1B visa applications, which may delay issuance of a visa. In addition, as we have observed over winter break, scheduled visa interviews might be rescheduled with minimal or no notice. 

Valid Travel Signature (For F-1 and J-1)

If you are in F-1 or J-1 status, you must also ensure that your I-20 or DS-2019 has a valid travel signature to re-enter the U.S. Please remember that travel signatures are only valid for one year but are suitable for multiple entries. Travel signatures can be found on the second page of your I-20 or the first page of your DS-2019. If you need a new travel signature, please contact your designated OISS adviser, who will electronically send you a new I-20 or DS-2019 with a travel signature.

Assess Your International Travel Risk

We have created a general guide to evaluate your risk level when considering international travel. Please note that this guide does not constitute legal or immigration advice. Additional factors and other personal circumstances can change your risk levels. For more personalized and detailed guidance, contact your designated OISS adviser.

While Outside the U.S.

Check Recent Immigration Actions and Updates

OISS is closely monitoring recent executive orders and their potential impact. Stay up-to-date with the latest immigration actions, updates, and OISS guidance, including new FAQs. Check back often for new information to help you navigate these policy changes. Although new executive orders or immigration policy changes that impact your ability to re-enter the U.S. could be announced, we do not know what the scope of these orders might be, what exceptions they might include, or when they would take effect.

Use Yale’s International Travel Resources

Register your travel with Yale. In the event of a significant emergency, Yale will be able to contact you. We will not know whether you are in a location affected by a major emergency unless you have registered your travel.

In an emergency, contact International SOS Global Travel Assistance. All members of the Yale community are automatically enrolled in International SOS (ISOS), which provides pre-travel consultations and 24/7/365 domestic and international emergency medical, security, and travel assistance for Yale travelers and accompanying family while more than 100 miles from home.

While Re-Entering the U.S.

Follow the Protocols for Issues at the U.S. Port of Entry

If you encounter issues at the U.S. border and the CBP officer has questions that OISS can answer, please ask the officer if they would like to call OISS for confirmation. During office hours, OISS can be reached by calling our front desk at (203) 432-2305, and you or the federal agent/officer will be connected to an OISS adviser. After hours, please call Yale Security at (203) 785-5555; they will immediately contact the OISS director or associate director. See our current Travel Guidance page for more details.

Understand What It Means to Be Sent to Secondary Inspection

Most of you will clear U.S. immigration after your documents are reviewed by a CBP officer. However, a few of you may be referred to another officer to verify your student or employee status or for additional questioning. This is referred to as “secondary inspection”. Although a referral to secondary inspection can lead you to think there is a problem, there is usually little cause for alarm. Some inspections will only last a short time, but some of you might need to wait a while to complete the process. If the CBP officer has questions that OISS can answer, please follow the protocols outlined above.

Educate Yourself About Searches of Electronic Devices & Practice Digital Hygiene

International travelers face added scrutiny and enhanced screening at the U.S. ports of entry. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued updated information (last modified January 7, 2025) on conducting border searches of electronic devices. Please note that CBP officers may ask individuals to provide access to phones, tablets, laptops, and other electronic devices, as well as social media profiles, email, and similar accounts when entering or exiting the U.S. Please refer to Yale Information Security’s general advice about traveling securely with electronic devices, which includes borrowing a Yale loaner device, and the University Privacy Office’s suggestions about protecting your privacy and managing your digital footprint.

You should evaluate your social media presence and digital footprint to determine what, if any, action you should take before traveling. If you are seriously concerned about your social media or internet presence, you should speak to an experienced immigration attorney to help you consider your travel plans. Some helpful resources to consider are listed below:

After You Arrive in the U.S.

Check Your I-94 Record

I-94 is your arrival and departure record that is automatically created online upon your entry to the U.S. After you re-enter the U.S. at the end of summer, please check your I-94 record and make sure you have been admitted in the correct visa status and the proper duration (i.e., for D/S, duration of status, if you are in F-1 or J-1 status). If you see an error in your I-94 record, please contact your OISS adviser.

Visa Interview Logistics 

Unless you are a Canadian citizen, you must have a valid visa to enter the U.S. You should apply for a visa well in advance of your travel date to the U.S., as the wait times for visa interviews, social media screening post-interview, potential administrative processing of your visa application, or even the processing time for visa issuance at certain U.S. Embassies and Consulates can be substantial.

Visa Interview Wait Times

To get a sense of how long it might take to schedule your visa interview, check the Department of State's Global Visa Wait Times page, which shows wait-time estimates for different visa types in months. Some estimates for certain visa types remain unavailable.

Visa Interview Waiver Policy

In a news item published on September 18, 2025, titled Interview Waiver Update, the Department of State announced changes to its policies on eligibility for the in-person visa interview requirement waivers. The update rescinds prior expansions of interview waiver authority, for example, reinstating the statutory 12-month post-expiration period for applicants who previously held a visa in the same category. This marks a shift from the previous policy, which allowed interview waivers for applicants whose prior visa had expired within the past 48 months.

Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Applications in a Third Country

Effective September 6, 2025 (updated on December 12, 2025), the Department of State (DoS) announced that non-immigrant visa (NIV) applicants, including those for F-1, J-1, H-1B, E-3, O-1 visas, and their dependents, should schedule visa interviews at a U.S. embassy or consulate in their country of nationality or residence. This update significantly restricts the processing of “third country nationals” (TCNs), a practice that has become more common since the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing applicants to apply for visas outside their home country.

Despite the advisory nature of the language (“should” instead of “must”), the announcement implies that TCN applicants applying outside their home country “might find it more difficult to qualify for the visa.”

Additionally, nationals from countries where the DoS does not conduct routine visa services must apply at designated locations unless they reside in another country. Please check the link above for designated locations for non-immigrant visa processing of certain nationals.

Additional Visa Scrutiny for Chinese Nationals

Chinese Institutions and Funding 

Presidential Proclamation 10043 (May 29, 2020) remains in effect and may delay or prevent visa issuance and/or entry to the United States for an individual from the People's Republic of China (PRC) seeking to enter the U.S. on an F or J visa. Proclamation 10043 may be applicable to an individual who “…receives funding from or who currently is employed by, studies at, or conducts research at or on behalf of… an entity in the PRC that implements or supports the PRC’s 'military-civil fusion strategy'” or in the past “has been employed by, studied at, or conducted research at or on behalf of… an entity in the PRC that implements or supports the PRC’s 'military-civil fusion strategy.'” Please contact your OISS adviser if you have any questions.

Travel Related Health Guidance

Guidance on Measles

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an official Health Advisory on June 21, 2023, and provided guidance for people planning international travel. Measles (rubeola) is extremely contagious; one infected person can infect 9 out of 10 unvaccinated close contacts. To prevent measles infection and spread from importation, CDC recommends that all international travelers be up to date on their MMR vaccinations, especially before travel, regardless of destination. Other recommendations include:

  • Plan to be fully vaccinated (two doses) at least 2 weeks before you depart.
  • After international travel, watch for signs and symptoms of measles for 3 weeks after you return to the United States. If you or your child has a rash and a high fever, call your doctor. Tell them you traveled abroad and whether you or your child has received the MMR vaccine.
  • Before your next trip, check your destination and CDC’s Global Measles Travel Health Notice for more travel health advice, including where measles outbreaks have been reported.

Proof of Vaccination

As of May 12, 2023, noncitizen nonimmigrant air passengers no longer need to show proof of being fully vaccinated with an accepted COVID-19 vaccine to board a flight to the United States. 

Yale's Vaccine Requirement

The above is related to federal travel requirements. Yale also strongly encourages all students, faculty, and staff to be fully vaccinated for Flu and COVID-19.