Travel Outside the United States - University of Houston
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Language and Culture Center

Travel Outside the United States

An F-1 student who is going to travel outside the United States and then return to the Language and Cuture Center needs to speak with the Director and obtain a travel signature on the Form I-20 prior to traveling.

Travel Signature

Before traveling, email the Director at lcc@uh.edu and request a travel signature on your Form I-20. In the email, include your full name as it appears on your passport, your myUH ID, and a copy of your flight itinerary issued by the airline.

The signature indicates that you are enrolled full time in the LCC and you are eligible to return to the LCC. This will aid your re-entry into the United States.

Travel After Completing a Semester

  • Do not leave the United States until you have attended the LCC Final Student Conference on the final day of the semester.
  • Return to the United States before the first day of class.

Travel During the Semester

The LCC advises you not to travel outside the United States until you have completed the semester. If you have to travel during the semester, please do the following:

  • Contact your instructors immediately. Explain why you need to travel and let them know your departure and return dates. The instructors are required to mark you absent for the days you miss classes. Once you have accumulated 40 hours of absence, you may be dropped from the LCC and your F-1 status would be terminated. 
  • Email the Director at lcc@uh.edu and request a travel signature on your Form I-20. In the email, please include your full name as it appears on your passport, your myUH ID, and a copy of your flight itinerary issued by the airline.
     

Return to the United States

Keep all documents below in your carry-on luggage:

  • Form I-20 recently signed by the Director
  • passport. Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in the United States unless exempt by country-specific agreements.
  • a valid F-1 visa
  • proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition and living expenses during the period of intended study, such as a bank statement issued recently or a valid Financial Guarantee

Depart the United States

The purpose of the travel signature is to aid an F-1 student's re-entry into the United States in order to resume studies in the LCC. If you will not return to the LCC, you will not obtain a travel signature on your Form I-20.

  • Levels 1 to 5 students: Email the Director at lcc@uh.edu and depart the United States within 15 days of your last day of attendance in the LCC. In the email, please include the following:
    • full name as it appears on your passport
    • myUH ID
    • a flight itinerary issued by the airline
    • a statement that you will not attend the LCC for the next semester
  • Level 6 graduates: Depart the United States within 60 days of the final day of the semester.