Current International Students

• An identification with picture (driver’s license, passport, state ID card, etc.) is required if traveling by plane
• It is recommended that you carry copies of your current passport and I-20 or DS-2019 with you at all times

Required documents:

• A valid I-20 or DS-2019 signed for travel—recommended that signature date is within past six months (six month requirement for students on OPT). Make sure to obtain a travel signature from the GEC at least one week before traveling.
• A valid passport (should be valid for at least six months after reentry to the US).
• If you are traveling while on OPT, your Employment Authorization Document (EAD) is required, and evidence that you will be returning for employment (contact the GEC for details is traveling while on OPT).
• A valid US visa (exceptions listed below)
  • Students from Canada do not require a US visa
  • Students who travel to Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent Caribbean islands for 30 days or less may re-enter the United States with an expired US visa under the Automatic Visa Revalidation provision. To reenter under this provision, students should not surrender the I-94 card at the time of departure. Students from Iran, Syria, Sudan, and Cuba are not eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation.

Recommended documents:

• Travel letter from the GEC.
• Evidence of financial resources.
• University transcript (recommended if applying for a new visa).
• Emergency contact information and health insurance card.
• If you are traveling while on OPT or during your grace period (after program end date but before OPT begins), we strongly recommend that you bring proof of employment, such as a letter from your employer. 
• If you changed status in the US, bring a copy of your change of status approval notice. You will need a student visa to return to the US if returning in F-1 or J-1 status.
• F-2/J-2 dependents, if traveling separately from the F-1/J-1 visa holder, should bring a copy of the primary visa holder’s immigration documents (passport, visa, I-20 or DS-2019).

• If your US visa has expired and you require a visa to return to the US, be sure to plan time accordingly. See Visa wait times.
• Bring all required documents with you to your visa interview. Check the website of the US Embassy or Consulate where you will apply for your visa to see what documents are required. You may need to bring some of these from the US, so be sure to plan ahead.
• Answer all questions clearly and truthfully, and be prepared to answer questions about your studies in the US. Remember that as a non-immigrant visa applicant, you must also demonstrate that you have a residence in your home country that you do not intend to abandon. It is suggested that you bring documentary evidence that proves this to be true. 
• Additional information is available on the Department of State website.

• If you are traveling to another country, check to see if you will need a visa (or transit visa) to enter that country. Visa requirements are generally listed on the country's embassy website.
• If you are bringing food or money back into the US, in some cases they must be declared at customs. For more information about entry into the US, visit the Customs and Border Protection website.
• Carry the documents listed above in your carry on luggage, as you will need them to get through customs upon entry into the US. If you forget your documents and are issued a form I-515 for temporary entry into the US, please schedule an appointment immediately with the GEC so we can assist you in resolving this.
• Continue to check your Hamline email account while you are out of the country. Important information, including information that could affect your immigration status, will be communicated via email.  

Students with F-1 or J-1  status may work a maximum of 20 hours per week on campus during the school year, and may work full time during official break periods. Please note that summer is not an official break period for students in the MBA program. 

It is Hamline's policy that any student who is registered less than half time is not eligible to work on campus (even if the student have immigration approval for a reduced course load). Please contact the Human Resources office if you have questions about this policy.

International students interested in working on campus should follow these procedures:

• Request a Certification of On-Campus Employment Eligibility form.  Request online or in person at the GEC office.
• The student will receive an email when the form is approved (generally within two to three business days). The student may go to the Payroll office, located in Manor Hall, to receive the Hamline Student Work Eligibility card. 
• After receiving the work card, the student may seek employment on campus.
• After acquiring employment, the student will need to apply for a Social Security Number if the student do not already have one. The GEC office can help with this process.
• If the student is a J-1 student, cannot work until the SEVIS record has been updated with the details of the on-campus employment. The student should make an appointment with the GEC to complete this process.

If the student is a J-1 visiting scholar, they should refer to the J-1 Research/Scholar Employment section of our website as work authorization differs by category.

All off-campus employment must be authorized in advance. Working off campus without prior approval is a violation of F-1/J-1 status.

Academic Training

J-1 students may be eligible for authorization to pursue off-campus employment which is directly related to the program of study.

Curricular Practical Training (CPT)

F-1 students who require off-campus work authorization to complete an internship, field work, etc. may be eligible for CPT. The work must be directly related to the degree program, and must be required for the program, be part of a course, or be credit bearing. Application and eligibility information is available on the CPT page of our website

Optional Practical Training (OPT)

Upon completion of degree, F-1 students may apply for OPT to pursue one year of employment related to their program of study. Application and eligibility information is available on the OPT page of our website. Certain students with approved majors in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, or math) field may be eligible for an additional 24-Month STEM Extension of OPT.

Economic Hardship Authorization

F-1 students who have encountered a severe and unexpected change in financial situation since acquiring F-1 status may in some cases be eligible to apply for work authorization through USCIS. Students must complete the Economic Hardship Application for F-1 Students. Since this process requires an application fee and significant documentation, you should consider all other options for financial aid as well. Additional information about aid for international students is available on the Financial Aid website.