Travel

If you plan to travel outside of the U.S. for the holidays, check in advance with the International Services Office (ISO), located in Room 101 Hatcher Hall. Bring your passport and visa documents with you, and the staff at the ISO can check travel requirements for you. The following are items you will need to have:

1. Your visa type (F-1, J-1, F-2, J-2)

2. A valid passport;

3. A valid visa stamp in your passport (valid beyond the date you plan to re-enter the U.S.), except if you are traveling to a contiguous territory (see section on contiguous territories).

When traveling, you should carry all your travel documents with you. Travel documents include your visa papers (I-20 or IAP-66), an I-94, and any other letters you will need to present to an American Embassy or Consulate, and/or to the Immigration Inspector upon your re-entry into the U.S. If you are applying for a new visa, be sure to take documents showing your financial support (letters from your department, bank statements, etc.) and a transcript with your signed I-20. As always, if you have any questions about taking a vacation over the holidays, please go to the ISO. Remember, bring your passport and visa papers with you to make it easier for the staff to answer your questions.

F-1 Students

In order to re-enter the U.S. with a valid F-1 visa, you will need your passport and an I-20 signed by the ISO before you leave. You should request this 2-3 weeks in advance. You do not need to go to the American Embassy or Consulate in your home country if the F-1 visa stamp in your passport is valid. If you do not have a valid F-1 visa stamp, you will need your passport and a signed I-20 from the ISO before you leave. You must request this 2-3 weeks in advance. You must go to the American Embassy or Consulate in your home country to re-apply for a new F-1 visa stamp in your passport.

J-1 Students

If you have a valid J-1 visa, you will need the pink copy of your IAP-66 signed by your sponsor (you must request this in advance from the ISO or your sponsor) and your passport. You do not need to go to the American Embassy or Consulate in your home country, if you have a valid J-1 visa stamp in your passport. If you do not have a valid J-1 visa in your passport, you will need a new IAP-66 from your sponsor (you must request this very much in advance) and your passport. We suggest you also take a copy of your LSU transcripts. You will need to go to the American Embassy or Consulate in your home country to re-apply for a J-1 visa.

Spouses/Children Traveling

F-2 and J-2 visa holders must follow the same procedures as F-1 and J-1 visa holders. The same documents are needed, with the spouses and/or children's names noted on the form. Visa stamps and passports must also be valid.

Contiguous Territories

To travel to Mexico, Canada or the Bahamas, which are considered contiguous territories, you do not have to have a valid F-1, J-1, J-2, or F-2 visa to re-enter the U.S. Your visa stamp is considered automatically revalidated when you return from these countries from a stay of less than 30 days.

Other Countries

If you are traveling outside the U.S., you may also need a tourist visa for each country you visit. Check with your travel agent, Consulate or Embassy of the country you wish to visit. The ISO has addresses and phone numbers of the foreign Consulates in the U.S.

F-1 Transfer Students

If you plan to transfer to another university next semester, you must have an I-20 from that school. If you plan to travel abroad before you transfer, use the I-20 from your new school to re-enter the U.S. If you do not go abroad, take the new I-20 to the International Student Office of your new school immediately upon arrival.

I-94's

An "I-94" is the white DEPARTURE card usually stapled in your passport above your visa stamp. This is your official identification as an international student in the U.S. When you depart the U.S. you must give this card to an airline official. SOME AIRLINES WILL NOT LET YOU DEPART IF YOU DO NOT HAVE THIS CARD! When you re-enter the U.S. you will be given a new I-94. If you are traveling in the U.S., you should take this card with you. If you have any questions call the ISO at 578-5350.

Forms listed below are available from the Office of Student Services (Room 228) or from the Graduate School. Graduate School forms are available at: http://appl003.lsu.edu/educ/oss.nsf/$TextOnly/Forms?OpenDocument  and may be completed online and printed. Obtain appropriate signatures and return to the Graduate School by the deadline posted.

Request for Transfer / LSU Extension or Nondegree Work to be Applied to the Master's Degree -- This form is required to transfer coursework to the Master's degree. The student must have completed nine hours of graded coursework and be in good standing when requesting the transfer.

Request for Change in Program of Study for Doctoral Degree -- This form is required to make changes in the doctoral program of study after it has been approved by the Graduate School.

Request for Change of Department -- This form is required to change your degree program to another department. You must be accepted by the new department.

Request for Dual Degree -- This form is necessary to pursue a dual degree. Each department must agree to the pursuit of two degrees.

Record of Qualifying Exam -- This is a form used exclusively in the School to document that a doctoral student has passed the qualifying exam.

Application for Degree Updated Information -- This form is required if the student filed an "Application for Degree" in a previous semester but failed to graduate because of a missed deadline.