Applying for Your Visa
After you are admitted to the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) for your program of study and receive either Form I-20 (F-1 visa) or DS-2019 (J-1 visa) from UNO, you will need to pay a SEVIS fee to receive a valid visa to enter the U.S.
Learn More and Apply for Your Visa
Visa Expiration
The visa page in your passport will include an expiration date. When your visa expires or will expire soon, it is important to note that visas cannot be renewed while you are in the U.S., you will need to travel to your home country to renew your visa.
Depending on your home country, your visa could be issued for a single entry or multiple entry. If you have a multiple-entry visa, you may re-enter the U.S. until your visa expiration date. If your visa expires and you need to leave the U.S. and re-enter, you will need to renew your visa.
You can remain in the U.S. on an expired visa with no penalty if you are otherwise maintaining your status, but you will not be permitted to re-enter the U.S. on an expired visa. One exception is automatic revalidation if you travel to Canada, Mexico, or an adjacent island for less than 30 days.
Learn more about your visa expiration date.
Returning to the U.S. With Your Visa
If your visa is still valid: At least two (2) weeks before you leave, log in to iGlobal and submit a request for a Form I-20 or DS-2019 with an updated travel signature.
If your visa is expired or will expire before your return date:
- Make an appointment at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country to renew your visa in time to return to classes.
- Show financial documentation at your visa renewal interview.
- If your sponsor has changed:
- Complete an updated UNO Financial Affidavit
- Obtain an updated bank document
- Submit to International Student Advising to receive an updated Form I-20 or DS-2019
If you plan to re-enter more than five months after you leave the U.S., you will need a new SEVIS record, Form I-20 or Form DS-2019, a new SEVIS fee payment, and a new visa.
Travel With Your Visa After You Earn Your Degree or Your Program Ends
If you are not planning on working on Optional Practical Training (OPT) or Academic Training (AT) and have completed your degree or program at UNO, you will not be allowed to re-enter or stay in the U.S. There is a grace period—added time for you to make plans to leave the U.S. after your program is completed.
- F-1 visa students have a 60-day grace period.
- J-1 students have a 30-day grace period.
You can travel within the U.S. during these grace periods, but if you leave and re-enter, you cannot return as an F-1 or J-1 student.
Travel During Optional Practical Training (OPT) and Academic Training (AT)
OPT or AT international students planning to travel outside of the U.S. will need the following to re-enter the U.S.:
- Form I-20 or Form DS-2019 with a travel signature for re-entry
- Proof of employment
- EAD card (F-1 visa)
- Valid passport
- Valid F-1 or J-1 visa*
* If your visa has expired, speak to an international advisor before making travel plans. It is more difficult to obtain an F-1 student visa while on practical or academic training. Your intent to return to your home country is harder to prove once you have finished your degree and are working in the U.S.
What is the Difference Between Visa and Status?
Your visa is the entry document in your passport that you use to enter the U.S. with nonimmigrant status.
At the U.S. port of entry, you will supply your:
- Valid passport
- Valid visa
- Supporting documents
- Form I-20 or DS-2019
- Proof of financial support
View Entering the U.S.
What does Duration of Status (D/S) mean?
Once you enter the U.S., you’ll be admitted for duration of status (D/S). This means that you may remain in the U.S. as long as you maintain your nonimmigrant student status.
Maintaining Your Status
All international students and scholars must follow the rules for maintaining nonimmigrant status to remain in the U.S. and at UNO. Learn more about guidelines for maintaining nonimmigrant status.
Your Permitted Length of Stay in the U.S.
When you first come to the U.S., a Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officer approved your entry and updated your electronic I-94 Arrival Record. This record at cbp.gov shows your entry date and how long you can stay in the U.S., typically the length of your program at UNO or duration of status (D/S).
If you travel abroad and re-enter the U.S., you should print out a new Form I-94 with updated information about your recent entry date and place of entry.