Planning to Travel Abroad? International Students Should Request a Travel Signature Two to Four Weeks Ahead
International students who intend to travel outside the United States should confirm their Form I-20 is up to date and request travel signatures from their designated school official (DSO) at least two to four weeks before traveling, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Study in the States platform said in back-to-school guidance published August 17, 2026.
The guidance also flags a rule change already in effect: on July 17, 2026, DHS published a final rule establishing a fixed time period of admission and an extension of stay procedure for F students and other nonimmigrants, and the rule took effect on September 15, 2026. Students and DSOs are directed to the rule's quick facts page to understand how the changes may affect F students.
The start-of-term basics are listed as well: contact the DSO after arriving in the United States; report changes in email, phone and physical or mailing address as soon as possible, with an email address that is regularly monitored; enroll in a full course of study each term and speak with the DSO before dropping a class or reducing a course load; keep passport, Form I-20 and visa valid, stored securely with copies made; and follow the work authorization process and obtain authorization before accepting any employment.
Deadlines bind the school side too: DSOs must complete SEVIS registration no later than 30 days after the start of a school session and update school and student records in SEVIS within 21 days of a change in information, while confirming each student's program end date is accurate. For questions, the DSO remains the student's main resource. (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：大学生在校园里行走。Wikimedia Commons 图片。 / Photo: Students walking through a university campus. Image via Wikimedia Commons.
