What international students need to know before traveling for the holidays
by Dahye Kim
“I didn’t have a valid travel signature.”
Yuna Kim, a senior at Boston University’s College of Communication, still remembers the panic just before returning from Canada.
“I thought the I-20 didn’t apply to travel within North America, so I didn’t bring my document before going to Canada.”
Kim also said she had not expected to need her I-20 for travel to Canada, employing that unlike Korean airlines, which routinely check documents before boarding, no one asked for immigration documents when she flew out of the U.S. to Canada.
It was not until the day she was set to return that a friend asked whether she had the right paperwork.
“That’s when I realized I was totally unprepared,” she said.
“I contacted ISSO immediately, but it was Thanksgiving break, and they were overwhelmed with student requests while operating with reduced staff. I had to call and basically beg for help. I ended up being connected to someone higher up who pushed it through.”
Looking back, she said the experience made her take immigration paperwork more seriously.
“Usually things move really slowly in the U.S., but this time they acted fast. That’s when I realized how serious this stuff can get.”
For many international freshmen adjusting to life in Boston, immigration requirements are not always top of mind.
Between orientation events, course registration, and adjusting to campus life, early administrative deadlines can easily be missed.
But missing just one form like updating your SEVIS address or retrieving your I-94 arrival record can have real consequences, especially during the holiday travel season.
Under the reinstated Trump administration, immigration enforcement has intensified. Federal agencies like USCIS now have expanded authority to directly investigate and prosecute visa related violations.
For students, this means even oversights could lead to major disruptions.
Boston University’s International Students and Scholars Office outlines several required steps international students must complete early each semester.
These include retrieving an updated I-94 record, updating the SEVIS U.S. address through Student Link, and securing a valid travel signature on their I-20 if they plan to travel internationally.
What students should know
According to ISSO, here is what international students should do each semester:
1. Update SEVIS U.S. address through Student Link within 10 days of moving.
Most students are expected to update it at the beginning of the semester once they settle into housing.
2. Check your I-94 arrival record at i94.cbp.dhs.gov/home
It should match your latest entry date and visa status. If something looks wrong, students are encouraged to contact ISSO right away.
3. Get a valid I-20 signature if you plan to travel internationally.
The signature is valid for 12 months for enrolled students. It must be signed by an ISSO advisor and appear on page two of your I-20.
While these instructions are posted online and often sent via email, they are not always clear and highlight its importance.
“I checked my travel signature this time,” said Seohyun Um, another senior at BU’s College of Communication who is currently planning a trip to Europe over Thanksgiving.
“But I sometimes forget to check. Even after seven years in the States, it is still confusing to deal with these documents. Now I am expected to handle I-94 and all the other things too.”
Even students who are well informed can feel overwhelmed.
Wail Rebouh, a freshman at Questrom School of Business from Algeria, said that although he was familiar with immigration requirements from high school, there is still stress.
“I double checked all the ISSO emails,” he said.
“But the SEVIS system and the I-94 website were a little confusing at first. I still worry I might do something wrong.”
Rebouh added that BU’s orientation could be improved.
“BU could make it more interactive, especially for students new to the U.S. They should show us real examples of what the forms look like and walk step by step through deadlines.”
With Thanksgiving and winter break approaching, ISSO advisors are urging students to double check their documents now.
A missing signature or outdated address is not just a simple mistake. It can delay your return to campus or prevent reentry altogether.
Proactive planning is not just helpful. It is essential.
