{"id":207321,"date":"2018-06-12T16:58:06","date_gmt":"2018-06-12T20:58:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/?page_id=207321"},"modified":"2026-02-25T08:11:57","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T13:11:57","slug":"travel-in-h-1b-status","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/university-counsel\/international-employment\/h-1b-status\/travel-in-h-1b-status\/","title":{"rendered":"Travel in H-1B and H-4 Status"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>International travel can be daunting, especially when it involves a visa application. This page describes the processes and documents needed to apply for or renew an H-1B or H-4 visa and pass through Customs to enter the U.S., in hopes of making all of it a bit easier. In addition, please be sure to refer to the university\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/immigration-daca\/\">Immigration-DACA page<\/a> before traveling.<\/p>\n<h3>Travel Bans<\/h3>\n<p>As per NAFSA: Association of International Educators:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>A pair of presidential proclamations function to restrict entry to the United States by nationals of certain countries.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Presidential Proclamation 10949 of June 4, 2025<\/strong>:\u00a0<em>Restricting The Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the United States from Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats<\/em>\u00a0established a &#8220;full&#8221; travel ban on 12 countries and a &#8220;partial&#8221; travel ban on 7 countries, became effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 9, 2025. Read:\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/06\/restricting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-united-states-from-foreign-terrorists-and-other-national-security-and-public-safety-threats\/\">Proclamation 10949 published on whitehouse.gov<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Proclamation 10949 of June 4, 2025 published in the Federal Register at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2025-10669\">90 FR 24497 (June 10, 2025)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/fact-sheets\/2025\/06\/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-restricts-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-united-states-from-foreign-terrorists-and-other-national-security-and-public-safety-threats\/\">White House Fact Sheet on Proclamation 10949<\/a><\/li>\n<li>See\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nafsa.org\/regulatory-information\/proclamation-june-4-2025-travel-ban-effective-june-9-2025\">NAFSA&#8217;s page on Proclamation 10949<\/a>\u00a0for details<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Presidential Proclamation 10998 of December 16, 2025<\/strong>, also titled<em>\u00a0Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States,\u00a0<\/em>modified the lists of countries identified in Presidential Proclamation 10949, and becomes effective at 12:01 a.m eastern standard time on January 1, 2026. Read:\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/presidential-actions\/2025\/12\/restricting-and-limiting-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states\/\">Proclamation 10998 of December 16, 2025 published on whitehouse.gov<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Proclamation 10988 published in the Federal Register at\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.federalregister.gov\/d\/2025-23570\">90 FR 59717 (December 19, 2025)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/fact-sheets\/2025\/12\/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-further-restricts-and-limits-the-entry-of-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states\/\">White House Fact Sheet on Proclamation 10998 of December 16, 2025<\/a><\/li>\n<li>DOS News Alert:\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/News\/visas-news\/suspension-of-visa-issuance-to-foreign-nationals-to-protect-the-security-of-the-united-states.html\">Suspension of Visa Issuance to Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States<\/a>\u00a0(February 2, 2026)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><strong>Whenever you will travel outside the U.S. and reenter in H-1B status, please carry the following documents in your carry-on bag:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Form I-797 Approval Notice (with I-94 card if you have not previously departed the U.S.)\u00a0for the H-1B petition<\/li>\n<li>Full copy of your most recent H-1B petition (contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/profilepages\/view_profile.php?username=gille\">Elizabeth Gill<\/a> if you need one)<\/li>\n<li>H-1B visa (If you do not have an H-1B visa, please see the \u201cApplying for an H-1B or H-4 Visa\u201d section below.)<\/li>\n<li>Passport should be valid for 6 months at time of entry to the U.S. (However, if the country from which your passport was issued is listed here under <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/fam.state.gov\/fam\/09FAM\/09FAM040309.html\" target=\"_blank\">Countries That Extend Passport Validity for an Additional Six Months After Expiration<\/a>, the country extends passport validity for an additional six months after the passport&#8217;s expiration date, so you may use your passport to enter the U.S. as long as it is unexpired.)<\/li>\n<li>Copy of Montclair State job offer letter\u00a0signed by the President of Montclair State University and any subsequent reappointment letters<\/li>\n<li>Copies of last six pay stubs<\/li>\n<li>Employment verification letter from HR (contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/profilepages\/view_profile.php?username=gille\">Elizabeth Gill<\/a> if you need help obtaining one) issued in the past month<\/li>\n<li>Copy of most recent Form W-2\u00a0from Montclair State University, if you have one<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>If an H-4 dependent will be traveling with you or alone, your dependent (or you, on a dependent child\u2019s behalf) should carry the following documents in a carry-on bag:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Copy of the employee&#8217;s Form I-797 Approval Notice for the H-1B petition<\/li>\n<li>Copy of the H-1B employee\u2019s recent H-1B petition (contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/profilepages\/view_profile.php?username=gille\">Elizabeth Gill<\/a> if you need one)<\/li>\n<li>Dependent&#8217;s Form I-797 Approval Notice (with I-94 card if your dependent has not previously departed the U.S.) for the I-539 change of status application, if applicable<\/li>\n<li>H-4 visa (If you do not have an H-4 visa, please see the \u201cApplying for an H-1B or H-4\u201d section below.)<\/li>\n<li>Passport should be valid for 6 months at time of entry to the U.S. (However, if the country from which your passport was issued is listed here under <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/fam.state.gov\/fam\/09FAM\/09FAM040309.html\" target=\"_blank\">Countries That Extend Passport Validity for an Additional Six Months After Expiration<\/a>, the country extends passport validity for an additional six months after the passport&#8217;s expiration date, so you may use your passport to enter the U.S. as long as it is unexpired.)<\/li>\n<li>Copy of the H-4 dependent\u2019s birth certificate (for a child) or marriage certificate (for a spouse)<\/li>\n<li><\/li>\n<li>Copies of the H-1B employee\u2019s official job offer letter signed by the President of Montclair State University and any subsequent reappointment letters<\/li>\n<li>Copies of the H-1B employee\u2019s last six pay stubs<\/li>\n<li>Copy of the H-1B employee\u2019s employment verification letter from HR (contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/profilepages\/view_profile.php?username=gille\">Elizabeth Gill<\/a> if you need help obtaining one) issued in the past month<\/li>\n<li>Copy of the H-1B employee\u2019s most recent Form W-2 from Montclair State, if applicable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If your H-1B petition has not yet been approved, you have a pending change of status application (I-129 or I-539) with USCIS, or you are in the midst of an application for Lawful Permanent Residency (e.g., I-140 or I-485), please speak with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/profilepages\/view_profile.php?username=gille\">Elizabeth Gill<\/a>, Director of International Employment and Immigration, before making travel plans.<\/p>\n<p><strong>I-94 Information:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Always check your I-94 stamp before leaving the Port of Entry (airport or U.S. border) to be sure that your name, date of birth, classification (H-1B\/H-4), and date of entry are correct. If anything is incorrect, get it fixed before you leave the airport.<\/li>\n<li>After arriving in the U.S., check your <a href=\"https:\/\/i94.cbp.dhs.gov\/I94\/#\/home\">electronic I-94 information<\/a> to verify that it is also correct.\u00a0If any corrections are needed, please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/profilepages\/view_profile.php?username=gille\">Elizabeth Gill<\/a> for assistance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Applying for an H-1B or H-4 Visa<\/h2>\n<p>Review the visa stamp in your passport and, if your visa is expired or you do not have an H-1B\/H-4\u00a0visa, schedule a visa interview at a U.S. Consulate or embassy abroad. The Department of State\u2019s website provides <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/us-visas\/visa-information-resources\/wait-times.html\" target=\"_blank\">wait times for securing a visa interview and visa processing<\/a>. You will need to complete <a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/us-visas\/visa-information-resources\/forms\/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application.html\" target=\"_blank\">Form DS-160<\/a>, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application and pay any related fees required by the Department of State. The Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee for H-1B petitions is $190.\u00a0In addition to preparing the documents listed in the below checklist, please review this guidance entitled <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/39\/2018\/06\/Employees-Guidelines-for-Applying-for-a-Nonimmigrant-Visa.pdf\">Guidelines for Applying for a Non-immigrant Visa (PDF)<\/a>\u200c.<\/p>\n<p><strong>These are the documents you as an H-1B employee should carry to your visa interview:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Confirmation page of the electronically filed DS-160<\/li>\n<li>Visa appointment confirmation page (if scheduled online)<\/li>\n<li>Receipt of payment of the DS-160 visa application fee<\/li>\n<li>Visa reciprocity fee, if applicable; you can look up your country to see if there is a fee required for your visa type on the Department of State&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/us-visas\/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html\">U.S. Visa: Reciprocity and Civil Documents by Country page<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Form I-797 Approval Notice for the H-1B petition<\/li>\n<li>Complete copy of your H-1B petition, which can be obtained from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/profilepages\/view_profile.php?username=gille\">Elizabeth Gill<\/a>, Director of International Employment and Immigration, if you do not already have one<\/li>\n<li>Valid passport<\/li>\n<li>Copies of official job offer letter signed by the President of Montclair State University and any subsequent reappointment letters (for continuing employees)<\/li>\n<li>Additional documents recommended for continuing employees:\n<ul>\n<li>Copies of your last four pay stubs, if a continuing employee<\/li>\n<li>Employment verification letter from HR<\/li>\n<li>Copy of most recent Form W-2 from Montclair State University, if you have one<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>These are the documents your H-4 dependent(s) should carry to the visa interview:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li>Copy of the H-1B employee\u2019s Form I-797 Approval Notice for the H-1B petition<\/li>\n<li>Proof of marriage and\/or proof of a birth certificate<\/li>\n<li>Form I-797 Approval Notice for the I-539 change of status application, if applicable<\/li>\n<li>Valid passport<\/li>\n<li>Copies of the H-1B employee\u2019s official job offer letter signed by the President of Montclair State University and any subsequent reappointment letters<\/li>\n<li>Copies of the H-1B employee\u2019s last four pay stubs, if a continuing employee<\/li>\n<li>Recommended: copy of the H-1B employee\u2019s recent employment verification letter from HR, if a continuing employee<\/li>\n<li>Copy of the H-1B employee\u2019s most recent Form W-2 from Montclair State, if applicable<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If you have additional questions about your travel, please contact <a href=\"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/profilepages\/view_profile.php?username=gille\">Elizabeth Gill<\/a>, Director of International Employment and Immigration, for assistance.<\/p>\n<h2>Reentering the U.S. with Automatic Visa Revalidation<\/h2>\n<p>Automatic Revalidation allows certain nonimmigrants to depart the U.S. and re-enter with an\u00a0<em>expired<\/em>\u00a0nonimmigrant visa stamp in their valid passport after visiting Canada, Mexico or an \u201cadjacent island\u201d for\u00a0<strong>less than 30 days<\/strong>. The\u00a0<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/travel.state.gov\/content\/travel\/en\/us-visas\/visa-information-resources\/visa-expiration-date\/auto-revalidate.html\" target=\"_blank\">policies and regulations regarding Automatic Visa Revalidation from the Department of State<\/a>\u00a0should be reviewed carefully before you travel; it is also highly recommended that you print out a copy of the Department of State\u2019s guidance to carry with you when you travel.<\/p>\n<p>According to the Department of State, nonimmigrants who otherwise meet the requirements are\u00a0<strong>NOT\u00a0<\/strong>eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation if they:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Applied for a new visa which has not yet been issued;<\/li>\n<li>Applied for a new visa and was denied;<\/li>\n<li>Have been outside of the United States for more than thirty days;<\/li>\n<li>Have traveled to a country other than Canada, Mexico, or an adjacent island which is not included in the automatic revalidation provisions;<\/li>\n<li>Are a national of a State Sponsor of Terrorism designated country, including Iran, Syria, and Sudan. Review more about\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.state.gov\/state-sponsors-of-terrorism\/\">State Sponsors of Terrorism<\/a>.<\/li>\n<li>Are in possession of an F student visa or J exchange visitor visa and has traveled to Cuba;<\/li>\n<li>Are in possession of an M student visa and has traveled to a location outside the United States, other than Canada and Mexico.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You must have the following documents to re-enter the U.S. using Automatic Visa Revalidation:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Form I-94<\/strong>\u00a0<strong>or Print-Out of Electronic I-94<\/strong><em>.<\/em>\u00a0<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/i94.cbp.dhs.gov\/I94\/#\/home\" target=\"_blank\">Get the printout of your electronic I-94.<\/a>\u00a0If you have a paper I-94 card (card attached to your Approval Notice or in your passport), you must be sure that the Customs officer\/airline attendant does not take your I-94 upon your departure from the U.S. If you have an electronic I-94 and plan to depart the U.S. by plane but reenter by land, you should be sure that the Customs officer gives you a new I-94 number when reentering the U.S.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Immigration Documents\/Other Documentation<\/strong>:<strong>\u00a0You will need all of the documents listed above under\u00a0<\/strong>\u201cTravel in H-1B and H-4 Status\u201d except the valid visa. In addition, if you have renewed your passport and the expired visa is in your old passport, you must carry the passport that contains your expired visa.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Travel to Canada<\/h2>\n<p>Citizens of certain countries must have a visa to enter Canada. To find out if you need a visa and to obtain visa application instructions, please refer to\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cic.gc.ca\/english\/visit\/index.asp\">Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)<\/a>. You may also visit the page for the\u00a0<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/international.gc.ca\/world-monde\/united_states-etats_unis\/new_york.aspx?lang=eng\" target=\"_blank\">Canadian Consulate in NYC<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Travel to Mexico<\/h2>\n<p>Anyone who visits Mexico must have a tourist card or visa; these may be obtained at the Mexican Consulate. For a list of required documents, please refer to the\u00a0<a rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/consulmex.sre.gob.mx\/nuevayork\/\" target=\"_blank\">Mexican Consulate in NYC<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>International travel can be daunting, especially when it involves a visa application. This page describes the processes and documents needed to apply for or renew an H-1B or H-4 visa and pass through Customs to enter the U.S., in hopes of making all of it a bit easier. In addition, please be sure to refer [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":207230,"parent":207308,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-207321","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/207321","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=207321"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/207321\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":209513,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/207321\/revisions\/209513"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/207308"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/207230"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/president\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=207321"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}