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Entering the United States Travel Guidance During Immigration Policy Uncertainty

Be Prepared for Screening at U.S. Borders and Ports of Entry

It is important to note that incoming travelers, including U.S. citizens, have limited protections during immigration inspections at the ports of entry. All incoming international travelers, regardless of citizenship status, are subject to inspection by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) when arriving at U.S. ports of entry by land, sea, or airplane. CBP officials conduct screenings of all incoming international travelers to enforce laws and determine whether travelers can enter the United States.

International travelers should be aware that AU does not provide legal counsel in circumstances where travelers are detained or denied entry at U.S. Borders and Ports of Entry. AU’s ability to assist under these circumstances is limited to instances where a CBP officer asks questions that ISSS may be able to confirm, for example, travel signatures for J-1 and F-1 visa holders.

If You Encounter Challenges at U.S. Borders and Ports of Entry:  

  • Do not make false statements or provide false documents.
  • Contact a family member and/or your immigration attorney, if you have one.
  • Contact Human Resources and your supervisor or the Office of the Dean of Students if circumstances impact participation in work or academics.

If You Are Traveling On Official University Business or in a Sponsored Academic Program:

  • For 24-hour emergency assistance and to notify the University of difficulty re-entering the country, contact AUPD at 202-885-2527 to be connected to a member of the Global Safety team.  
  • CBP officials may ask about your travel and search your personal belongings.
  • CBP officials retain broad authority to search electronic devices at the U.S. borders and ports of entry. In certain cases, officials may access your social media accounts, email or text messages, or copy data from your personal electronic devices, including sensitive personal or work-related information.
  • Failure to cooperate with CBP officials may result in entry delays, seizure of devices or personal belongings, detention, or denial of entry (for non-U.S. citizens).
  • Have hard copies of your immigration documents with you. Make sure documents are up to date. See section on Appropriate Documentation for more information.
  • Anticipate delays and leave extra time between connecting flights, CBP inspections may involve extended screening.
  • You may be asked about your personal beliefs, behavior (including on social media), field of study or research, travel patterns or criminal background.
  • Protect sensitive information. You should consider measures to minimize the amount of sensitive personal or institutional information data on electronic devices which you will take with you. If you do not want a device to be searched, consider leaving it behind and using a backup or temporary device. See section on Prepare Your Technology for International Travel.
  • Have a backup plan for where to go and what to do in case your return is delayed or you cannot return to the US as planned. Inform a trusted family member, friend, or attorney of your plans, as necessary.
  • Consider providing copies of your important documents to a trusted friend or family member, as well as the contact information for your family members and immigration attorney, if you have one. 
  • Consider memorizing  contact information that you want to have, in the event your electronic device is lost, confiscated or stolen.

Know Your Rights

For more information regarding incoming international travelers’ rights at U.S. borders and ports of entry, review the information contained in the links below. 

Carry Appropriate Documentation

Remember to always carry appropriate identification and immigration documentation.

  • U.S. citizens should carry a valid U.S. passport for international travel.
  • All travelers should ensure that they are carrying a valid passport with at least 6 months validity remaining. Make sure your passport will not expire while you are overseas.
  • If you are a visa-holder, confirm that your visa will not expire while you are overseas. 
  • If you are a visa-holder who needs to renew a visa while you are overseas, we recommend that you make an appointment at the appropriate U.S. consulate before you leave the U.S.
  • Non-U.S. citizens should carry documentation that verifies their identity,  immigration status and your continuing ties to the US. Consider carrying the following documents in your personal luggage/carry-on and having these handy when seeking entry:
    • Legal permanent residents should carry their Green Card
    • Non-immigrant visa holders should carry their valid and unexpired entry visa in your passport (H-1B/ F-1, J-1, O-1 etc.)
    •  Non-immigrants visa holders should carry the original valid Form I-797 Approval Notice and copy of your petition (H1B/O1/TN etc.). Faculty and staff should carry documents such as their employment contract, appointment letter, current employment verification letter, current pay advice, and a copy of your lease. See below for information on how to obtain an employment verification letter.
    • International students and scholars under J-1 and F-1 should carry valid travel signatures. I.e., DS-2019 or I-20 forms, respectively, and visit ISSS’s Travel & Re-Entry to find more information about documents to carry for re-entering the United States. Students should carry proof of enrollment, see below how to request record from the Office of the University Registrar (OUR).
  • Employment Verification Letter: To obtain an employment verification letter AU employees may contact HR at least 48 hours before your planned travel departure.  AU staff may contact  Yolanda Francis at yfrancis@american.edu. AU faculty may contact Merlyn Ruiz McClure at mmcclure@american.edu.  Also consider asking your Dean or department head to provide a more detailed letter which specifies the services you provide. For example, “Professor X is employed by the School of Y at American University as an Assistant Professor. Professor X teaches four classes taken by 300 undergraduate students and provides academic advising to 75 undergraduate School of Y majors, as well as providing service to the university community through participation in a variety of university committees and graduate student advising.”
  • Proof of Enrollment: Students should carry proof of enrollment, such as a current transcript or enrollment verification letter from the Office of the University Registrar (OUR). Please provide a minimum of 48 hours prior written notice to OUR to allow time for production of enrollment verification letter.

After You Are Admitted Back into the U.S.

  • Non-U.S. citizens should take the extra step after they return to verify that the entrance information entered by CBP matches the information on their related immigration documents. For example, the expiration date on your I-94 should correlate to the expiration date on your visa. You may access your most recent I-94 record online.  

Travel Guidance