Travel Advisory

As always, any international student, faculty or staff member traveling abroad should bring in their travel documents for review before leaving the United States. These include passport, U.S. immigration forms (I-20, DS-2019 [IAP-66], I-797, etc.) and I-94. Those whose nonimmigrant visa stamp has expired must apply for a new visa to re-enter the United States.

In November 2001, third-country national (TCN) visa processing was stopped temporarily. In December 2001, it was resumed. In March 2002, it was announced that effective April 1, 2002, there would be new restrictions placed on third-country nationals who re-enter the United States from Canada or Mexico after applying for U.S. visas there. Details are still being worked out on how this will affect TCNs going to Canada or Mexico for U.S. visas. In October 2002 this was again stopped, however, since that time according to the U.S. Consulate in Juarez, Mexico TCN visa processing is still allowed only in certain circumstances. Please access the U.S. Consulate Juarez, Mexico for the latest information.

If you must travel to Canada or Mexico or neighboring Caribbean islands (except Cuba) as a TCN for reasons other than applying for a U.S. visa, you can do so with an expired U.S. visa as long as you have a valid I-94 card, I-20, or DS-2019 [IAP-66] signed for travel. Please note that if you are from a Muslim country, you cannot do this. Please read information about the changes concerning automatic revalidation of visa validity carefully! You can click here for more information from the NAFSA website offering advisories on automatic revalidation.

SMU International Student and Scholar Services has been notified of several updates concerning visa issuance for international students, scholars, and visitors traveling abroad. The most significant is that the U.S. State Department has announced that all men between ages 16 and 45 from certain Arab and Muslim countries will be subject to a waiting period for nonimmigrant visa applications that will add an additional period of up to 20 working days to the application process.

The move, confirmed by Secretary of State Colin Powell, is intended to allow the State Department more time to process the applications. Secretary Powell said he hoped the measures would be temporary.

Applicants subject to the new security screening will also be required to complete a new background questionnaire form that will cover previous military service and weapons training, previous travels, and whether the applicant has previously had any other passports.

The list of countries reportedly includes the following but is not limited to: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Remember: If your visa stamp in your passport has not yet expired, you will not have to apply for a new one at the U.S. Embassy abroad.

In addition, the Embassy in Paris has requested that we pass along the following information: Visa applications at the U.S. Embassy in Paris will only be processed by mail at this time. Students who plan to travel to France over the upcoming holiday break and who need to renew their visas must mail their applications to the U.S. Embassy at the beginning of the break to allow time for processing. The same will be true of H, L, and E applicants who can no longer rely on next day service as they have in the past. The Embassy has changed its operations significantly. Please check their Web site at www.amb-usa.fr/ for current updates. Many other U.S. Embassy or Consulate posts since this have started similar policies due to increased security concerns. Please access the State Department's homepage that provides links to individual Embassies or Consulate homepages worldwide sorted by country for the latest information.

As stated in earlier International Student and Scholar Services communications, it is imperative for anyone traveling out of the United States who will need a visa to check with a U.S. consulate or embassy concerning processing times and procedures. Find information on the Web by accessing the URL address at: travel.state.gov/links.html.

In addition, please be aware of long delays at border crossings in Mexico and Canada when returning to the United States, and at ports of entry for international flights.

Please make sure your friends at SMU are receiving our e-mail. If they are not, have them send their e-mail address corrections to smuint@mail.smu.edu.

International Office
Southern Methodist University
PO Box 750301
Dallas TX 75275
Phone: 214-768-4475
Fax: 214-768-1051
www.smu.edu/international
smuint@mail.smu.edu
For appointments: 214 768 4475
Office walk-in hours: 
11 a.m. to noon and 3-4 p.m.

Last Updated 12/13/02