9 Ways to Prepare for International Holiday Travel

The end of the year is a busy time, with many foreign national employees traveling in and out of the U.S. for the holidays. Follow these tips to best prepare for the hectic holiday travel season to ensure a smooth experience.

1. Due to the holiday season, U.S. consulates abroad are busy; be aware of potential delays and factor in additional processing times for visa issuance.
2. Seek any necessary approval for international travel from your employer and notify immigration legal counsel before and after international travel for communication on any delays due to visa issues and contingency planning for your absence.
   1. This also means that visa appointments should be booked well in advance, as end-of-year slots fill up quickly.
   2. Consider using “third-country national processing” at U.S. consulates which may issue visas at their discretion. Confirm with U.S. consulate prior to your travel and visa appointment.
3. Remember to remain flexible regarding any international travel. Procedures change periodically and we always encourage you to visit the appropriate U.S. Consulate’s website to determine the current application procedure, required documents, and timeframes.
4. Check passport expiration dates prior to any international travel. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your authorized period of stay in the United States. If not, if possible, renew your passport prior to travel.
5. Ensure that your visa stamp is valid prior to any international travel. If your visa stamp has expired, make appropriate plans to obtain a valid visa stamp.
6. Travel with the following, in addition to your valid passport and valid visa stamp:
   1. Original approval notice issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
   2. Complete copy of the petition filed on your behalf
   3. Recent signed employment letter
   4. Two or three recent paystubs
7. Review your immigration cases with your employer and legal counsel prior to any international travel to confirm any effect on your non-immigrant status or green card processing.
8. Check I-94 status via U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) website, upon arrival at your destination to confirm current class of admission and expiration date to ensure status has been extended properly
9. Do not forget to send your new I-94 and visa stamp to your employer and to your legal counsel