General Information

Contact the embassy or consulate of the country to which you are traveling to determine if you need a visa to enter that country. Each country has different laws governing entry of foreign citizens. It may be necessary for you to obtain a visa from the consulate or embassy prior to departing the United States.

Foreign consular offices are located in cities throughout the United States. Foreign embassies are located in Washington, D.C. and most countries have a consulate or Mission to the United Nations in New York City.

Please note that for travel to Canada or Mexico, you should be permitted to reenter the U.S. with an expired visa in your passport if your stay in Canada was for less than 30 days. Also, if traveling to Canada, you may not be required to surrender your Form I-94. If at all possible, keep it, often upon return from Canada, you will not be given a new Form I-94. Applications for tourist visas for Canada and Mexico are available in the GME Department.

• Temporary Workers (H1B Status)
  
  • Locate the original Form I-797 (notice of approval for your H1B petition)
  • Locate a copy of your appointment letter. If you cannot find your appointment letter, contact the Graduate Medical Education Department.
  • Check the visa stamp in your passport to determine if it has expired. If it has expired, you will need to renew your visa at a U.S. Consulate in the country to which you are traveling. You should follow the instructions for entering the United States on page 1 of this book. H-1B visa holders are also entitled to renew their H-1B visas in the United States via the U.S. Department of State in Washington, D.C. For more information on this process, please visit the State Department website at http://www.state.gov.
  • When you leave the United States, you will be asked to surrender your Form I-94. Please remember that upon re-entry, you must receive a new Form I-94.
• H-4 Dependents of Temporary Workers
  
  If traveling without the H-1B holder, dependents should bring a copy of the H-1B holder’s visa, Form I-94 and a letter confirming continued employment of the H-1B. If they are traveling alone and need to renew their visas, they must also bring a copy of the original Form I-797 and a copy of the petition. Please remind your dependents that they need to receive a new Form I-94. Please refer to the section Obtaining a Visa to Enter the United States - Exchange Visitors (J-1 Nonimmigrant Status)
• J-1 Physicians in Residency/Clinical Fellowships sponsored by ECFMG
  
  Check the visa stamp in your passport. If the visa stamp in your passport has expired, you will need a new visa to reenter the U.S. The reverse side of your IAP-66 (pink copy) should be endorsed and stamped by ECFMG. If it is not, then you will need to send it to ECFMG and request the usual endorsement. You will also need to request a letter of good standing.
  
  If you are renewing your visa while abroad, you will need to take the pink copy of the IAP66, your passport, Form OF-156 and any fee(s) with you to the consulate.
• J-1 Research Fellows sponsored by the Cleveland Clinic
  
  If the visa stamp in your passport has expired, you will need to renew your visa. You will need to have the pink copy of your Form IAP-66 endorsed on the reverse side and a letter of good standing. Contact the GME Department to obtain the endorsement and the letter.
• J-2 Dependents of Exchange Visitors
  
  The J-2 dependent(s) of the exchange visitor traveling outside the United States without the exchange visitor will need a duplicate Form IAP-66 for family travel. If the visa stamp in their passport has expired, they will need to visit a consulate to have it renewed. They should also bring a copy of the J-1 holders Form I-94 and J-1 visa stamp. Duplicate Forms IAP-66 can be obtained through the GME Department. Please allow 3 weeks for processing.
  
  J-1 and J-2 holders may NOT renew their visas in the United States. However, they may mail their passports and Forms IAP-66 to the U.S. Consulate abroad which processed their first J-1 or J-2 visa and request renewal.