The U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have increased the level of review that international visitors face at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad, at airports, and at border crossing posts with Canada and Mexico. Ultimately, each individual must decide for him or herself whether or not to travel abroad.
The International Scholars Office's (ISchO) advice to scholars and their family members has not changed. We recommend that you visit our office with your passport and immigration documents at least 30 days before the date you plan to travel. We will review your documents, provide you with up to date travel advice, and sign your travel document (if necessary). More information and advice
- Always consult with an ISchO advisor prior to travel (at least 30 days prior to your departure date).
- Always carry your passport and valid immigration documents for domestic or international travel; passports should be valid for at least six months into the future.
- Always carry proof of MIT employment or appointment such as an updated appointment letter or an invitation letter, and/or recent MIT paycheck stubs.
- Be honest, patient, and courteous with all government officials even if they are not so with you.
- Departing the U.S.: If you have a paper I-94 card that was marked by an immigration inspector when you entered the U.S. or that was issued to you by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), be sure to surrender it* when you leave the United States.
*Some exceptions may apply to short trips to Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands. Details
As of late April/early May 2015, arrival procedures at U.S. airports and sea ports of entry have changed. In most cases, international travelers will no longer be given a paper Form I-94 upon arrival to the United States. Instead, they by will be given an admission stamp in their passports by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and will be instructed to print a copy of their electronic Form I-94. Please make sure your admission stamp is marked by the immigration inspector with the correct notation, and contact the ISchO if you have any questions.
Arrival procedures at U.S. land ports of entry have not changed. International travelers making an initial entry to the U.S. through a land port of entry continue to be given a paper Form I-94. If you are given a paper Form I-94, please make sure it is marked by the immigration inspector with the correct notation, and contact the ISchO if you have any questions.
- You should consult the DOS website for appointment scheduling and visa processing information for any U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Be aware that Consulates may require in-person interviews before issuing visas.
- Expect changes in visa processing at some U.S. Embassies and Consulates, including mail-in or "drop box" service for visa applications.
- You may experience delays at U.S. Embassies and Consulates due to special processing requirements that have been imposed on non-immigrant visa applicants (particularly for certain nationalities, including Cuba, Syria, Sudan, and Iran). This may lead to a delay from several weeks to several months in visa issuance. See the DOS notice .
- The cost of the machine-readable visa stamp is $160 for B-1/B-2, F-1/F-2, and J-1/J-2 visas and $190 for H-1B and H-4 visas. You will be required to pay this fee along with the reciprocity fee for your country.
- New F-1, J-1, and M-1 visa applicants must pay a SEVIS fee . However, if you are applying for a visa extension, you are not required to pay this fee.
- All nonimmigrant visa applicants must complete and submit the online DS-160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application form. More information. An additional security clearance may be conducted following review of the form that may take one to several months.
- For scholars conducting research in certain technologically sensitive fields, on the Technology Alert List, DOS is required to conduct a security clearance prior to issuing an initial U.S. entry visa or extension of visa through a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad. Clearance may take one to several months. More information .
- If you believe there is a possibility that a security clearance will be conducted, we recommend that you submit a letter from your faculty sponsor, along with a copy of your CV and list of publications, with your visa application. When in doubt, we suggest that you submit the letter. We recommend that the letter include the following information:
- A detailed description of your research, in language a non-scientist can understand
- If applicable, the fact that you are conducting basic or unclassified research
- The fact that you are expected to return to MIT to resume your research
Please direct your letter writer to the ISchO's instructions .
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