WEEKLY UPDATE – Dec. 2

As you wrap up your fall courses, please make sure you have the most current travel information and feel confident in what you need for departing and re-entering the U.S. If you are already outside of the U.S. or decide to travel home this winter, please read the information below for guidance on what to expect and what documents you need to re-enter the U.S. As always, please email our office with any questions or concerns. Wishing you the best of luck as you prepare for your final exams! 

It's important to be mindful of the travel restrictions of countries you enter or pass through. Travel requirements can change, so please do your research before you travel. 

Do you have a valid travel signature on your most recent I-20? Before you request a new travel signature, be sure to log into your MyISSS account and view your most recent I-20. Please note that travel signatures can be found on page 2 of your I-20 and they are valid for one year from issuance (six months for students on OPT). If you already have an I-20 with a valid travel signature in your MyISSS account, you can download, print, and sign this document. Students are issued new I-20s for many request types including CPT, OPT, and reduced course load (RCL). Please review all of the requests in your profile to find your most recent I-20. Reference the MyISSS Student Handbook for additional information related to navigating the student portal. 

Get a Travel Signature by Submitting an I-20 for Travel/Update Request: If you do not have a valid travel signature on your most recent I-20, you can request one from our office by submitting a request via MyISSS. Please note that our office processing time is 10 business days, and once we complete a travel signature request, we will upload a new I-20 onto your account. From there, you can download, print, and sign your document and carry it with you when you travel. Please keep the processing timeline in mind as you plan for your upcoming travel. Please note that students need a valid travel signature to re-enter the U.S., but you do not need it to leave the U.S.

Required Documents for Travel: All international students leaving the U.S. need to be in possession of the following upon re-entry:

For more information on additional items to carry, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) search procedures, and renewing your U.S. student visa, please visit our website »

For students traveling during the winter holiday, ISSS will be holding Travel Signature Days between Nov. 27 – Dec. 4, during which any submitted travel signature requests will be processed by the end of the day on Dec. 10. 

Changes to immigration and travel policies have not been made by the new presidential administration at this time but students who want to avoid potential travel interruptions may want to re-enter the U.S. by Jan. 19. Refer to the New Presidential Administration Travel Considerations section of our Travel Signature email for more information and check our International Student Support web page for updates.

Congratulations to the upcoming fall 2024 grads! Commencement ceremonies will be held on Friday, Dec. 13, in person and streamed virtually on USF's website and  YouTube. Please note that guests are required to have a ticket in order to attend the Commencement ceremonies.

For international students wanting their families from back home to attend Commencement, the ISSS office provides an Invitation Letter template for you to create your own letter to help your family verify their intentions to visit the United States and support their tourist visa.

Learn more about USF Fall 2024 Graduation » 

        Tuesday, Dec. 3, 5–6:15 p.m.       McLaren Complex 252

Join the artists for a panel discussion about their work presented in Imagined Vessels. Facilitated by students in the MA Museum Studies Curatorial Practicum, artists will discuss their studio practices, influences, inspirations, and how their use of clay investigates and celebrates cultural hybridity.

Dec. 6–12

As we enter the final examination period, remember to check when and where your exams will take place. Additionally, Gleeson Library offers study rooms where you can quietly study or collaborate with others. Reserve a room, use your resources, and best of luck on your finals!

The ISSS Office will also be closed from Tuesday, Dec. 24 – Wednesday, Jan. 1, for winter break. The submission deadline for requests to be processed before winter break is Friday, Dec. 13, at 4 p.m. If you submit your request after Dec. 13, it is not guaranteed that your request will be processed before the break.

If you are requesting an immigration document or letter from our office, remember that we request ten business days to process requests. Make sure you plan accordingly so you have enough time to receive your document before you need it. All ISSS requests should be submitted through the MyISSS student portal (log into your MyISSS account, go to Requests & Documents, and select the appropriate icon on the right side of the page). You can view our MyISSS Student Handbook for assistance with your submission.

Click the Chat with ISSS button on the bottom, right corner of any ISSS webpage, and the ISSS team can assist you with your inquiry.

Appointments can be made online. Appointments are booked in 20-minute increments.

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Thank you for reading the weekly ISSS newsletter! To submit content for future newsletters, please complete the ISSS Newsletter Intake Form by 10 a.m. on the Monday of the week before the newsletter's release. While all submissions will be reviewed, inclusion in the newsletter is not guaranteed.