International Travel
If you plan to travel out of the United States, you must first check your immigration documents to ensure you have everything needed to reenter.
If you are traveling to a country not your own, be sure to contact the Consulate or Embassy of that particular country to plan your visit and apply for a visa if you need one.
Canada is the closest country to us and therefore is a popular destination for all Suffolk students. If you would like to travel to Canada, please be sure that you check to see if you are required to obtain a visa to enter. You may also want to check with Canada Border Services to ensure that you follow appropriate rules around travel between the United States and Canada.
Please note: You do not need a valid U.S. visa to return to the U.S. after travel to Canada as long as:
- You are entering in the same category for which you have an expired U.S. visa
- You have not traveled out of Canada to a third country
- You have been in Canada for no more than 30 days
Shipping Form I-20's
The International Student Services Office (ISS) at Suffolk University is pleased to make available DHL and FedEx Express mailing of immigration documents (I-20 or DS-2019) to students that have forgotten to get a valid travel signature before leaving the U.S.
ISS has begun using an express mail service that will allow you to receive your documents through DHL or FedEx. This service is not required if you would like to have your document sent by regular, US first class mail.
To request express mailing of your documents, go to the following secure website:
(works best with Internet Explorer & Mozilla Firefox browsers)
You must use the website provided above – do not go through the DHL or FedEx website directly. If you choose this option, please do not respond to this e-mail. All communication will go through the eshipglobal service, who will notify us that you are requesting your I-20 to be sent by express mail.
If you use this service, you will be required to create your own user name and passwordin order to create an account. To request shipment, you will need your Suffolk Student ID number, mailing address, e-mail address, phone number and credit card information.
You may request shipment either to your foreign address, or to a U.S. contact address. If your I-20 will be sent to a U.S. contact address, please include the name of the person who lives at that address. Please pay close attention to the information submitted, as errors in the credit card information or submitting incorrect or incomplete address information will result in a delay in the mailing of your I-20. If you experience any difficulty in registering and processing the shipment, please use the “Help” link in the site for step by step instructions. If you have additional questions, please contact isso@suffolk.edu.
Reentering the United States
Unless otherwise noted, all international students are required to have a valid U.S. visa in their passport upon return to the United States. If you do not have a valid visa, you may be denied entry. Find the U.S. Consulate or Embassy closest to you.
If you are traveling on an F-1 or J-1 visa, your Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 should have been signed within the past 12 months. If it has not been you may be denied entry or allowed to enter temporarily. If you have been given a temporary admission to the U.S. please see us immediately.
