Traveling

Information for Foreign Nationals

Domestic travel

Foreign nationals traveling within the United States are encouraged to carry their passports and visa paperwork (I-20, I-797, DS-2019, etc.).

International travel

Visa holders traveling outside of the United States for business or pleasure are required to bring appropriate immigration status documents while entering/exiting borders. To request an employment verification letter, please reach out to Jessica Youngs.

Immigration status	Suggested documents
E-3	Passport and Written verification showing proof employment
F-1	Passport, I-20, and Written verification of attendance at the school listed on the I-20
F-2	Passport, I-20, and Written verification of attendance at the school listed on the I-20 of F-1
H-1B	Passport, I-797A H-1B approval notice, and Written verification showing proof of employment
H-4	Passport, I-797A H-4 approval notice, and Written verification showing proof of employment of H
J-1	Passport and Original Form DS-2019 with travel signature in the “Travel Validation by Responsible Offer” box on lower right side of DS-2019.
TN	Passport and Written verification showing proof employment

J-1 physician visa holders

Read information about traveling with a J-1 visa.

H-1B visa holders

H-1B visa holders should be aware of the following information:

While your H-1B visa approval notice grants you work authorization, an H-1B visa stamp is required to re-enter the United States after traveling abroad. All Children’s Mercy employees being sponsored for an H-1B visa will receive electronic instructions within the copy of their filed H-1B visa application.
H-1B visa holders must check the date on their new I-94 each time you leave or re-enter the United States. This can be found by visiting the U.S. Customs and Border Control site and clicking “Get Most Recent I-94”. This date overrides the expiration on your I-797 H-1B approval notice, if it is an earlier date. This means if your I-94 expires prior to your I-797 H-1B approval expiration, it becomes the new expiration date of your H-1B work authorization and status. The best way to avoid this is to ensure that your passport is valid for the full H-1B authorization period as the USCIS or Customs Officer is otherwise likely to limit your work authorization to the expiration date of your passport.