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Office of International Services

Travel on OPT

OIS recommends speaking with an OIS advisor prior to making international travel arrangements while applying for OPT and/or during the OPT authorization period. Please also review our updated Immigration and Travel page.

Documents for Travel During OPT

After your OPT has been approved, during your OPT period, OIS recommends that you bring the following documentation: 

Required: 

  • Valid passport
  • Valid visa
  • I-20 with travel signature (issued within 6 months of entry)- we recommend traveling with an updated I-20 showing “approved” status on page two of your OPT I-20. 
  • EAD card

Highly recommended: 

  • USCIS Receipt Notice (I-797C) and/or Approval Notice (I-797A)
  • Proof of employment, such as a job offer letter (especially if your OPT start date has passed)
  • Proof of an active search for employment (if you don’t have proof of employment)

Important note for students with a pending H1-B: If you have a pending H-1B application, please check with the employer who filed your H-1B for more information regarding your travel eligibility.

What if my OPT application is still pending? Can I travel internationally?

Traveling internationally and re-entering the U.S. with a pending OPT application can be risky and you should consider the specifics of your situation and your own tolerance of risk before making a decision to travel. Please consider the following scenarios and the documentation needed for each one.

Required Documents:

  • Valid passport
  • Valid visa
  • Most recently issued I-20 with a travel signature
  • I-797 receipt notice from USCIS

If you are entering before the I-20 program end date, you only need the above documents regardless of the status of your OPT application. Remember that you must wait until you receive the USCIS receipt notice (I-797C) after filing your OPT application before departing the U.S. You have to physically be present in the U.S. to be eligible to apply for OPT.

Required Documents:

  • Valid passport
  • Valid visa
  • Most recently issued I-20 with a travel signature dated within the last 6 months
  • USCIS receipt notice for your OPT application (I-797C)

Highly Recommended Documents:

  • Proof of employment, such as a job offer letter
  • Proof of an active search for employment (if you don’t have proof of employment)

Important note about applying for OPT and your grace period: If you depart the US during your 60-day grace period without applying for OPT, you will no longer be eligible to return to the US in F-1 status and no longer be eligible to apply for OPT. The 60-day grace period is only valid if you are planning to remain in the US.  Travel outside the US does not stop the accrual of time towards unemployment.