Passport Validity Upon Entry to the U.S.

All international students, scholars, and their dependents must hold a valid passport when entering and while inside the U.S. Ideally, your passport should be valid for the entirety of your intended F-1 or J-1 program or period of employment:

• F-1 students and dependents: Valid beyond your Form I-20 program end date (or EAD card expiration date, if on post-completion OPT or STEM Extension OPT)
• J-1 exchange visitors and dependents: Valid beyond your Form DS-2019 program end date
• H-1B holders and other non-immigrants: Valid beyond the period of authorization indicated on your Form I-797A approval notice.

If your passport expires before your program or employment end date, you may still be allowed to enter the U.S. as long as the passport is valid at least six months into the future. However, your legal stay may be limited to the passport expiration date rather than your full authorized period. For example, if you enter the U.S. with a passport that expires on January 15, 2027, your legal stay may be limited to that date, even if your H-1B employment is expected to continue until June 30, 2027.

Passport Replacement

If your passport is lost or stolen, contact your local consulate to get a replacement, as well as local police authorities to file a stolen passport report. Please be aware that reporting a lost or stolen passport will lead to the cancellation of any visa inside the passport, even if it is later found or recovered. Go to our Lost or Stolen Travel Documents page for more information.