As peak holiday travel season approaches, international travelers should review their travel documents and take steps in advance of international travel to avoid or minimize travel or immigration issues. 

Tips for All Travelers 

1. Make sure that you have a passport and visa or other valid travel document that will be valid for use on both your departure and return dates.

• Travelers should renew their passports as early as possible to avoid any disruptions to their international travel plans. Check the entry and exit requirements (such as a visa) for the country you are visiting before your travel.  

• Nonimmigrant visa holders returning to the United States may be admitted for the shorter duration of either their valid passport or visa petition approval notice.  

• Many countries require that passports, to be valid for entry, must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended stay. Travelers should verify passport validity and other document requirements for their destination well before departure. 

2. Make and retain copies of your passport and other travel documents and keep them separate from the originals.

• Travelers should make and retain two copies of all important immigration documents, such as passport bio pages and visas. Travelers should travel with one copy, storing it separately from original documents. If a passport or other travel document is lost or stolen, the photocopies will be useful in reporting the loss to the authorities and obtaining replacement documents. 

3. Carry original documents at all times — not in your checked luggage.

• Ensure that essential travel documents and information are both secure and easily accessible during your trip. 

4. Be prepared for additional delays at airports due to a higher volume of international travel as well as tightened security measures.

• Tighter security around the holidays is normal, but this year travelers can expect that security levels will be particularly heightened. In some instances, travelers may be subject to an additional, secondary level of inspection, with accompanying delays, should U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) opt to further verify the validity of documents, status or other background information before admission. 

5. Memorize emergency contact information. 

• Memorize the phone number or e-mail address of trusted friends or attorney so that they can be contacted in case of an emergency. 

6. Inspection upon return to U.S. at port of entry

• When arriving in the U.S., the CBP and customs officers can search all personal belongings, include cell phones, laptops and tablets.  

Tips for Visa Waiver Travelers to the U.S. for Business or Pleasure 

International travelers visiting the U.S. for business or leisure who are eligible for visa-free travel under the Visa Waiver Program should remember that they must first register their travel and receive authorization via the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). The Visa Waiver Program permits citizens from participating countries to visit the U.S. for tourism or business for up to 90 days without requiring a traditional visa. 

The DHS advises travelers to print their ESTA application response to keep a record of their application number and confirm their ESTA status. Travelers will need to submit new ESTA applications if previous authorization has expired or if certain key information has changed since their last approval. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reminded travelers to allow 72 hours for ESTA. 

Tips for Temporary Workers and Other Nonimmigrants in the United States 

Temporary workers and other nonimmigrant visa holders in the United States (e.g. H-1B, L-1, O-1, TN, etc.) should also confirm that they have a valid visa for return to the United States following international travel. They should also confirm if the visa allows for single or multiple entries to the U.S. 

Many temporary workers and students in the United States will travel internationally during the holiday season and many will need to apply for new visas before returning to work or school in January. This annual surge of holiday travel results in more visa applications at U.S. consular posts at precisely the time consular posts are operating with a reduced staff and shorter hours during the holiday season. In addition to the U.S. federal holidays observed by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) and consular posts abroad, U.S. consulates often observe the local holidays in the countries where they are located. In regions such as the Middle East or Asia, where government holiday schedules may not closely match the United States, this may result in increased closures at U.S. consulates during the holiday season. All these factors combine to make holiday travel and visa application a challenge. 

If a new visa application will be required, applicants should schedule their visa appointments as soon as possible, as U.S. Consular visa appointment slots fill up quickly in December and January. Visa issuance after an appointment may also be delayed during the holiday season, so applicants should schedule their appointments for a date early into their trip to allow sufficient time for passport return once the visa is issued. 

As always, Foster attorneys are available for consultations to address travel-related issues or concerns. Foster also provides periodic updates on the firm’s website at www.fosterglobal.com.