Before Holiday Travel, Get the Signature: F-1 Students Should Ask Their DSO Two to Four Weeks Ahead
With Thanksgiving and the winter break approaching, many international students are planning trips abroad. Study in the States, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's official platform for international students, reminds F students who intend to travel outside the United States to confirm that their Form I-20 is up to date and to request a travel signature from their designated school official (DSO) at least two to four weeks before traveling; returning to the United States without a valid endorsement can cause problems at the port of entry.
The same official guidance lists several basics for the term: contact your DSO once you arrive in the United States, since they are the main resource for questions about status, compliance and school policies; report any change in email, phone number or physical and mailing address to the DSO as soon as possible; enroll in a full course of study each term, and speak with the DSO before dropping a class or reducing a course load; and keep documents such as passport, Form I-20 and visa valid, stored securely, with copies made.
On employment, F students who hope to work in the United States must follow the work authorization process and obtain authorization from the DSO before accepting any job. Handling these items early makes holiday travel, and the return to campus, much smoother. (Source: Study in the States, U.S. Department of Homeland Security)
Source: Study in the States, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图片来源：大学校园景色（Germanna Community College 摄，Wikimedia Commons，CC BY 2.0） / Image: 大学校园景色, by Germanna Community College, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
