Travel

CIEE encourages you to take full advantage of your time here in the US to broaden your horizons by visiting many of the unique cultural and natural attractions that the US has to offer. North America is a vast continent with a huge diversity of attractions and activities - please take the time to explore them! However, while there are no regulations limiting your ability to travel within the US, there are certain restrictions on your ability to travel outside the US.

Traveling Outside the US
If you plan on traveling outside of the US during your training program, you must first notify CIEE and request permission to travel. This involves CIEE signing your DS-2019 form, and issuing you a "Letter of Good Standing" that indicates that you are a current Trainee and will be returning to the US to continue your program. While the travel signature on your DS-2019 remains valid for six months, the good standing letter is only valid for three months. Therefore, each time you plan to travel outside of the US, you need to be certain that both items are still valid for the entire duration of your stay outside of the US. If this is not the case, you risk running into issues with US customs officers upon your return.

To travel outside the US, you must send CIEE your DS-2019 form, along with a pre-paid, self-addressed, trackable mail envelope and a note stating your travel dates, destination, mailing address and phone number. Please send this material at least two weeks before you intend to travel outside of the US. These materials should be sent using a trackable shipping method (FedEx or UPS are best) to:

CIEE
Attn: Customer Service
300 Fore Street
Portland, ME, 04101

You are welcome to come to our office in Portland in order to get the DS-2019 signed in person, but please call us beforehand to let us know when to expect you. Also, please also make sure that your J-1 visa is still valid upon your reentry to the US (your DS-2019 must also still be valid). If your J-1 visa has expired, you will need to apply for a new J-1 visa in your home country before you reenter the US. This also means that you cannot travel outside of the US and reenter during the 30-day travel period at the end of your training. Please check that you are allowed to enter the US more than one time (it will be indicated on your visa under the word "entries" by the letter M for "multiple"). If you are not, you will likely be denied entry at US Customs.

The 30-day Travel Period
Your J-1 Visa allows you to travel for up to 30 days after your DS end date. However, you must purchase this travel period before you begin your Training Program. If you did not purchase this travel period, you will not be covered by insurance following your DS end date. If you choose to travel between your DS end date and program end date, you do so at your own risk. CIEE recommends returning home in this case.

If you have paid for this travel period, it will begin the day after your DS end date, as indicated on your DS-2019 form. During this travel period, you will not be allowed to travel outside the US. If you leave the US, you will not be readmitted on your J-1 visa, regardless of any connecting flights you must make. Plan your travels well in advance. CIEE will not be able to endorse or assist you if you attempt to change your visa status and reenter the US as a tourist