Travel in H-1B Status
International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) is unable to predict travel restrictions that may be in place in the future and cannot provide any guarantees to those planning to travel. If you are considering international travel, please be aware of the following:
International travel always carries some risk.
Immigration Policy and Practice can change and there may be speculation and public discourse about possible changes. ISSS has published a website with current Immigration Updates
There may be unknown risks related to future international travel.
ISSS advisors are available to meet with H-1B employees by appointment.
Traveling Outside the US
Before traveling outside the US, consult our Immigration Updates page for any relevant updates on travel outside the US and re-entry.
When planning travel outside the US in H-1B status, consider the necessary documentation, such as your H-1B visa and passport, as well as any pending USCIS applications and travel advisories.
Necessary Documentation
Original Form I-797 (H-1B Approval Notice from the USCIS). This was given to you by CGE when your H-1B petition was approved.
Copy of Form I-129 (the H-1B visa petition). This was given to you by CGE when your H-1B petition was approved.
Copy of the LCA (Labor Condition Application). This was given to you by CGE when your H-1B petition was approved.
Recent letter from hiring department verifying your current and continuing employment. The letter should include your title and salary. (Please note that an offer letter does not verify your current and continuing employment.)
Highest level diploma (original if possible, but photocopy will probably be accepted). If diploma is from a non-US university, also carry a copy of your degree evaluation.
Valid H-1B Visa
Check the expiration date of your H-1B visa to be sure that it will still be valid upon your anticipated return to the US. If your visa is expired or will have expired prior to your return, apply for visa renewal before returning to the US.
Check to be sure that your visa allows for multiple entries. For a small handful of countries, the number of entries to the US on a visa are limited.
If you initially entered the US in another status (such as F-1 of J-1), changed your status to H-1B within the United States, and you do not have an H-1B visa stamped into your passport, you must apply for an H-1B visa in order to return to the US.
If you are traveling to Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days, you may be able to re-enter the US without renewing your expired visa under the automatic revalidation provision. More information is available from the Department of State here: Automatic Revalidation.
Valid Passport
Your passport must be valid, with at least six months' validity into the future, at all times.
When traveling outside the US, please check your passport expiration date carefully. If your passport expires prior to the expiration of your H-1B end date on the I-797 approval notice, your ‘admit until’ date on your new I-94 arrival record will not extend past your passport expiration date.
For example, if your H-1B approval end date is 07/31/2026, and your passport expires 12/31/2025, upon re-entering the US, your new I-94 admit until date would 12/31/2025 even though your approval would normally extend past that time.
Once you have renewed your passport, you will need to travel outside the US and return in order to update your admit until date. If you are unable to travel outside the US, your department will need to file an extension request with ISSS to extend the I-94 admit until date.
Travel While USCIS Applications are Pending
Departing the US while USCIS is reviewing an I-129 petition can interrupt and impact the petition. Plan travel while H-1B requests are pending carefully and in conjunction with the ISSS office.
Tracking Time Spent Outside the US
Time spent outside the United States while in H-1B status does not count towards the six year H-1B limit and can potentially be reclaimed in a future H-1B petition. To facilitate the reclaiming of any time spent outside the United States, keep documents related to travel, such as boarding passes, and confirm that your departure and arrival dates were properly recorded in your travel history with US Customs & Border Protection here: I-94 Official Website - Home Page.
Upon Returning to the United States
After arrival in the United States, always check your I-94 record to verify your status and admit until date. Check your record here: I-94 Official Website - Home Page. Contact ISSS with any questions or discrepancies.
Traveling Inside the United States
NAFSA Recommendations for Immigration Documents to keep with you while inside the U.S.
Keep a scan of your important immigration documents with you at all times. This includes a scan of your current I-797 approval notice, a scan of your passport, visa (if you have one), and Form I-94. All these documents must be immediately accessible. It is best to keep a paper copy with you if possible. If you do not have a paper copy, please be sure that an e-copy is stored on your device. If you are traveling outside of the Knoxville area, remember to take your passport with you as well. Remember that it is your responsibility to keep a file and backup copies of your important immigration documents.