What's Happening

If you are an F-1 student who has been selected in this year's H-1B lottery, congratulations! However, before you make any summer travel plans, it is important to understand that your H-1B status will not take effect until October 1st, and traveling internationally before that date requires careful planning.

The period between now and October 1st comes with important considerations that can affect your ability to reenter the United States and maintain your work authorization. With recent policy changes, including new social media background checks and increased scrutiny at the border, it is more important than ever to make sure you fully understand the risks before booking any international travel.

This advisory breaks down what you need to know to make informed decisions about traveling abroad this summer.