Travel Within the U.S. Before Starting College
Me and my wife, on F-1 and F-2 respectively, want to visit Hawaii for a week before the start of the school.
The school is in mainland USA.
Since our first destination is Hawaii, can we travel to the mainland afterwards without any issues?
Is there a possibility to be denied the first entry to the Hawaii on F-1/2 if the school is in mainland?
What needs to be explained/presented to the officer?
Thanks
Re: Traveling to Hawaii Before Attending Univ. in Mainland
It should not be a problem. There's no immigration between Hawaii and any other part of the US. If they accept your visa for entry into the US at Hawaii, then you're fine. I'm not sure why they would refuse you. Nothing prohibits you from traveling around the US on an F1/F2 as long as your intent is to attend the classes as you promised.
Re: Traveling to Hawaii Before Attending Univ. in Mainland
Just researched about travel to hawaii on f-1 on http://www.fandm.edu/intstudents/travel-instructions
Quote:
Travel to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, or the U.S. Virgin Islands
A valid I-20 Form endorsed within the last 12 months by a Designated School Official. (If you are on OPT, the signature should be no older than 6 months.)
Valid passport INCLUDING the I-94.
"A valid I-20 Form endorsed" is my guess the 3rd page of the I-20 with the signature of DSO, which would be a sort of re-entry authorization. We don't have such signature on the back of I-20
"INCLUDING the I-94.": since we will get I-94 in Hawaii, we will need this when entering the mainland.
Not sure if we can make it to Hawaii without the signature of DSO, or can we?
I really hope this works out.
Re: Traveling to Hawaii Before Attending Univ. in Mainland
Let me repeat this again. Hawaii is a US state. There is NO immigration between Hawaii and the mainland. If they let you into Hawaii, you're good to go to get to the mainland.
Your recently-ssued visa ought to be good enough to get you in. The I-20 wouldn't hurt but really that's more of an issue after time has passed to show that you indeed are still in good standing with the school.
Re: Traveling to Hawaii Before Attending Univ. in Mainland
US is the very best county to earn a college degrees because you could chose many famous universities.