Travel
The International Offices provide general guidance regarding U.S. visa applications and travel into the United States. Since U.S. visa applications are personal submissions, we cannot advise on specific applications.
U.S. Visa Basics
A valid U.S. visa is required every time you enter the United States*. Processes, documents, and guidelines can change per consulate. Always review the U.S. embassy or consulate's website before starting the process.
*Canadian citizens are exempt from the U.S. visa requirement. Citizens of Bermuda are also visa exempt under certain circumstances.
Where to Apply
You can apply for a visa at any U.S. embassy or consulate. Applying within your home country is recommended. Review visa appointment wait times to help inform your decision.
How to Obtain a Visa
- The International Offices at Caltech and JPL will send you an immigration document when it is ready.
- Print a hard copy.
- Sign (DS-2019 and I-20 only).
- If you an Initial DS-2019 or I-20, you must pay the SEVIS fee.
- Complete Form DS-160.
- Answer truthfully to the best of your knowledge.
- The International Offices at Caltech or JPL cannot provide advice on completing the DS-160.
- Refer to your pre-arrival instructions for further guidance. Contact the U.S. embassy or consulate with any questions.
- Schedule your appointment using U.S. Visa Info or U.S. Travel Docs.
- Review the U.S. embassy or consulate's website for further information.
- Passport valid for at least six months beyond the date of entry to the United States
- DS-160 confirmation page
- Immigration document issued to you by International Offices at Caltech or JPL
- Caltech/JPL Admission Letter/Appointment Letter
- SEVIS Fee Receipt (if J or F)
- Financial documents (if J or F) issued within the past 3 months
- Any other documents listed on the U.S. embassy or consulate website
- Dependents will also need proof of relationship (marriage or birth certificate)
- Bring all required documents.
- Answer briefly and honestly.
- Refer to any guidance in your pre-arrival email.
- Your visa issuance may take days or weeks.
- Review visa to ensure all information is correct. Contact the U.S. consulate or embassy with any questions or issues.
- If you are referred for administrative processing, review Visa Delays below.
Visa Waiver
The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows citizens of certain countries to enter the United States without a visa, as a business visitor or tourist. Visa waiver visitors must register with the Electronic System for Travel Authorization Web Site (ESTA) before traveling to the United States.
Confirm with the International Offices at Caltech or JPL before using ESTA for your visit to Caltech or JPL. ESTA cannot be used for employment, student degree, or student nondegree programs.
Visa Delays
Caltech or JPL students and scholars sometimes encounter security-check delays in the visa acquisition process. These delays may happen because your name is a common name, your field of study warrants a closer look, or your country of citizenship or birth raises a security concern. These security delays are not unusual and seldom have anything to do with you personally. They are, however, extremely inconvenient.
If your application is subject to a security check, your case is sent to Washington, DC for "administrative processing." There are a number of government agencies that may be interested (FBI, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Department of Commerce, etc.). These agencies coordinate their scrutiny and then send the ok-to-process message to the U.S. embassy or consulate where you applied. As you might imagine, these agencies are not open to inquiry about the progress of a case. It does not help to have your Caltech or JPL supervisor call the U.S. Consulate.
Not directly. At your request, your international advisor can file an inquiry with our U.S. Congressional Representative. While this does not expedite the processing of your case, it can uncover whether or not your case is simply lost in the bureaucratic shuffle. It can help keep visa delays on the minds of our Congressional Representatives.
- Notify your Caltech or JPL supervisor about the delay.
- Notify the International Offices at Caltech or JPL so we can make an inquiry through our Congressional Representatives.
- Provide all requested supplementary documentation/information to the U.S. embassy or consulate. Review the Department of State information regarding further administrative processing.
- Check the call number or website to follow the status of your pending application.
- Contact the International Offices at Caltech or JPL once you have received your visa.
Visa applications that undergo administrative processing are considered "refused" under Section 221(g) until the visa is issued. A 221(g) refusal is not permanent but is considered a refusal for future visa applications. However, failure to disclose a previous 221(g) refusal of an application that was ultimately approved should not affect eligibility for further visa applications.
Automatic Visa Revalidation
Automatic Visa Revalidation (AVR) allows certain temporary visitors holding expired nonimmigrant visas who seek to return to the United States to be admitted at a U.S. port-of-entry by CBP, if they meet certain requirements. The expired U.S. visa is considered to be automatically extended to the date of reentry.
Note: You may require a visa to enter Canada or Mexico. For information on travel to Canada and Mexico, please visit their respective consulate websites.
- Travel must be to Canada, Mexico or adjacent islands (for F an J) for 30 days or less.
- Your visa has not been cancelled.
- You are not a citizen of a country designated as State sponsors of terrorism.
- You have not applied for a new visa.
- Passport with expired visa
- Unexpired status documents (I-20, DS-2019, I-797, I-94)
- Eligible F and J nonimmigrants may depart the United States for travel to Canada, Mexico, or an adjacent island for 30 days or less. For a list of adjacent islands, visit ICE.gov.
- Eligible non-F or non-J status holders are allowed to use AVR for travel to Canada and Mexico ONLY.
Visa Applications in Mexico or Canada
A Third Country National is a citizen of a country other than Mexico or Canada who applies for a non-immigrant visa with their non-Mexican or non-Canadian passport. See the U.S. Department of State website for more information. Check the U.S. embassy or consulate's website for current eligibility. Read current travel advisories for Mexico and Canada posted by the U.S. Department of State. You must have a visa to enter Mexico, some people require a visa for Canada.
- U.S. Visa Delay/Administrative Processing. If your U.S. visa is delayed due to a security check, you will not be able return to the United States until the visa is issued. This could be weeks or months.
- U.S. Visa Denial. If your U.S. visa application is denied, you will not be able to return directly to the United States. You will have to travel from Mexico or Canada to your home country. In Mexico, most international flights depart from Mexico City. It is important to have an idea about how to travel from where you apply to Mexico City.
