Exchange Visitor Travel

Exchange Visitors must have a valid travel endorsement on their DS-2019 before leaving the country. While we can sign and mail the DS-2019 (at the J-1’s expense), we prefer that Exchange Visitors take care of this necessity before leaving the country. Federal regulations prohibit the faxing or e-mailing of any DS-2019. DS-2019’s that have been signed within 6 months of the Exchange Visitor’s return to the U.S. are valid for re-entry. In other words, Exchange Visitors do not need to secure a travel signature each time they leave the country. Also, the DS-2019 does not need to be signed every six months if the Exchange Visitor will remain in the U.S. The signature is only an endorsement for travel.

Exchange Visitors from: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen are subject to Special Registration requirements. They must complete exit registration before leaving the U.S. If leaving through LAX, this is done on the arrival level of the Tom Bradley International Terminal.* OIS has provided some very useful information regarding Special Registration here. For more information on Special Registration, please see the U.S. Immgraition and Customs Enforcement website. Exchange Visitors from other countries may also be asked to complete Special Registration upon arrival to the U.S. If this is the case, these Visitors must also complete exit registration when leaving the country.

If the J-1 visa will not be valid at the time of re-entry, it will need to be renewed while outside of the U.S. J-1 visas cannot be renewed while in the United States. For more information, please see the OIS website Student Visas section.The Department of State website also has very usful Visa information as does www.unitedstatesvisas.org.

*INSPASS Enrollment Center

380 Word Way Arrival Level
Los Angeles, CA
(310) 568-7500