Requesting Your Travel Signature

First, please check the section below titled ‘Do I already have a valid travel signature?‘ Then, if you know you need a new travel signature and your CSU eID is still active, you can log into your WorldRams account and submit your request by clicking the link below:

Travel Signature Request E-form

The link above doesn’t work for me

If you’ve graduated and your eID has expired, use a Limited Access Portal & PIN, below, to access your WorldRams account. If you save this PIN, you can use the same PIN to log in to your account in the future.

• Step 1: Request your Limited Access PIN
  • You will receive an email with your PIN
• Step 2: Log into the WorldRams Limited Access Portal
  • It will ask you for your ‘University Identification Number.’ It’s your 9-digit CSU Student ID starting with ‘8.’

Do I already have a valid travel signature?

Graduated F-1s on OPT:

• Check page 2 of your most recent I-20.
• Under ‘Travel Endorsement,’ is there a signature? If not, you need a travel signature.
• If there is already a signature here, will the date be 6 months old or older upon your next re-entry to the U.S.?
  • If not, you don’t need a new travel signature.
  • If so, you will need a new travel signature.
• For example: a travel signature issued Dec 31st allows re-entry to the U.S. up to Jun 30th.

Active F-1 students and dependents:

• Check page 2 of your most recent I-20.
• Under ‘Travel Endorsement,’ is there a signature? If not, you need a travel signature.
• If there is already a signature here, will the date be 1 year old or older upon your next re-entry to the U.S.?
  • If not, you don’t need a new travel signature.
  • If so, you will need a new travel signature.
• For example: a travel signature issued Dec 31st of this year allows re-entry to the U.S. up to Dec 30th of the following year.

J-1 students and dependents:

• Check page 1 of your most recent DS-2019, a box on the right.
• Under ‘Travel Validation by Responsible Officer,’ is there a signature? If not, you need a travel signature prior to return to the U.S.
• If there is already a signature here, will the date be 1 year old or older upon your next re-entry to the U.S.?
  • If not, you don’t need a new travel signature.
  • If so, you will need a new travel signature.
• For example: a travel signature issued Dec 31st this year allows re-entry to the U.S. up to Dec 30th the following year.

Failure to have a travel signature can result in complications such as receiving an I-515 or being denied entry to the US.

How will I receive my Travel Signature?

I-20 Travel Signatures

Our office will email you an I-20 with a new travel signature. We must email this to the email address on your SEVIS record.

DS-2019 Travel Signatures

If you have a J Visa status and need a travel signature on your DS-2019, please submit a Travel Signature Request E-form. Our office will email you an DS-2019 with a new (digital) travel signature. We must email this to the email address on your SEVIS record.

Processing Time

The average processing time for travel signatures can be 2-3 business days, with additional time needed at high volume times. Our office is busiest at the beginning of each semester and around the holidays. Pro tip: if you book your flights a month or more before your travel dates, check your travel signature as you book your flights!

Remember: you only need a valid travel signature for re-entry to the U.S. You don’t need it prior to departure.

For example, if you leave the U.S. on May 15th, but will return to the U.S. on August 1st, you need the travel signature before August 1st, not before May 15th.

If you need a travel signature, submit the Travel Signature Request eForm.

If your return to the U.S. is a few days from now, please email our office to let us know about your situation and your return date/time so we can prioritize the request.

The updated I-20/DS-2019 with travel signature will be emailed to you as soon as possible.

• A valid I-20 or DS-2019 with a valid travel signature
• Passport that is valid for more than 6 months upon your return to the US
• A valid F-1 or J-1 visa
• If on OPT:
  • Required – Your current EAD card
  • Optional – A letter from your employer confirming your employment and approved vacation days

Please consider how filing an I-140 immigrant petition may affect your ability to re-enter the U.S. in your current status before travel.

J-1 Scholars

J-1 Scholars should get a travel signature before traveling out of the U.S. either by emailing that request to their scholar advisor or submitting the Travel Signature Request E-form on the first tab. 

H-1 B Scholars

H-1B scholars traveling out of the U.S. for the first time since changing status to H-1B should plan on scheduling a visa appointment.  Traveler should carry original H-1B approval notice, a copy of the petition, and recent pay statements.

TN Status Holders

Individuals in TN status should consider whether they need to extend their I-94 upon re-entry.  Traveler should carry a copy of your employment letter and an updated letter from host department confirming the TN occupation in which you work.

International Students and scholars who will be leaving the US to study or perform research abroad need to complete an Research/Study Abroad Out of Country Request and make sure that their immigration document has a valid travel signature for their scheduled return.

The Final Departure eForm is not for temporary travel.

The Final Departure eForm informs our office that you no longer need your immigration record at CSU which can result in its completion, deactivation, transfer, or termination. Please review the Final Departure eForm page for more information.