Traveling in O-1 Status
Below are some basic guidelines for travel. However, it is recommended that you check with your adviser [1] before you travel.
Passports
All international scholars and family members planning to depart temporarily from the U.S. and return to the Yale area must have a valid passport in order to exit the U.S. The passport must also 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 automatically extends passport validity for 6 months [2], for U.S. entry purposes only.
Visa Stamps
Except for Canadian citizens, all international scholars will also need to have a valid O-1 visa stamp in their passport issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate. Visa stamps cannot be obtained or renewed within the U.S.
Visa Documents:
The visa document for the O-1 is called the Notice of Action Form I-797.
I-94 Record
Every nonimmigrant entering the U.S. on a sponsored visa will have what’s called an I-94 record created by the authorities upon entry. It is the responsibility of international students, scholars and family members to look up their I-94 record [3] after entering the U.S. to ensure there are no errors.
Third Country Visits:
When planning to visit a country outside the U.S. which is not your country of citizenship or legal permanent residency, be sure to research whether or not you will need a visa to enter that country [4].
Canada, Mexico and contiguous islands:
If you are traveling to Canada, Mexico or the contiguous islands for less than 30 days, you may be eligible for a visa renewal exemption [5].
Travel Checklist:
- Valid I-797 Approval Notice for Yale University
- Copy of all supporting documents issued to you in the OISS approval package (Form I-797 approval notice, I-129, and the Labor Condition application)
- Copy of most recent payroll from Yale
- If this will be your first O-1 visa application, it is recommended that you bring a copy of the entire application
- If this is not your first O-1 visa stamp, just bring a copy of the Yale support letter
Travel During Change of Immigration Status
Scholars are advised not to travel outside the U.S. during a pending change of status petition (e.g., those who are changing from an F-1/J-1/Other to O-1.) Please contact your OISS adviser for further details.
Travel During Extension or Change of Employers
If you have any plans to travel outside the U.S. during the O-1 extension process, you should speak to your OISS adviser as soon as possible. If you plan to return to the U.S. before the expiration of your current approved O-1 status and with a valid O-1 visa stamp, there may not be any difficulty. However, in many cases the action of departing from the U.S. during the extension process can make the new O-1 extension inactive, or void.
If you plan to leave the U.S. and your current O-1 status has expired, you cannot return to the U.S. until the extension application is approved, and the approval notice is sent to you. Finally, you would have to apply for a new O-1 visa stamp with a consulate or embassy before you can return to the U.S.
After you have received the new, extended O-1 approval notice, you may travel outside the U.S. once again. However, while outside the U.S. you will have to obtain a new O-1 visa stamp at a U.S. embassy or consulate. It is not possible to obtain visa stamps inside the U.S.