Travel

Travel

As an international student, you may be able to travel during your time of study for your annual vacation or during a school break. This page explains the important things you need to consider if you are planning to travel.

Department of State Webpage: Learn more about travel advisories 

F1/J1 Students must get the I-20/DS2019 signed by the Immigration Advisor at JSU before traveling outside of the United States.

For reentry, enrolled international students must have:

  • Valid Passport and Visa stamp. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of your reentry.
  • I-20/DS 2019 with travel endorsement by Immigration Advisor at JSU. A travel signature on the second page of your I-20/DS-2019 is valid for 12 months or until the program end date on the I-20, whichever comes first.
  • CBP (Custom and Border Patrol) may ask for additional documents such as:
    • Copy of your academic transcript
    • Evidence of Financial Resources

If an F1 student is re-entering the United States after a 5-month break, he/she must obtain a new I-20, pay the SEVIS fee and enter on initial status.

  • The Immigration Advisor/International Student Advisor will sign the I-20/DS-2019 before your travel outside of the United States.
  • You do not need your signed I-20/DS-2019 to depart the United States. However; you need the signed I-20/DS-2019 to return to the United States. 
  • The travel signature on your I-20/DS-2019 is valid for 12 months or until the program end date on the I-20/DS-2019, whichever comes first. 
  • You must drop your most recent I-20/DS-2019 for travel signature at the Office of the International House and Programs at least two weeks before your travel dates. 
  • Your signed I-20/DS-2019 will be ready in 3-5 business days for pick-up from the Office of International House and Programs. 

  • International House and Programs offer FREE airport transportation to all JSU's international students only during the dates posted on our website to and from the Atlanta International Airport. 
  • Please be advised, the shuttle service is not an “on demand” service.  We provide pickup/drop off based on arrival/departure times and the number of student requests.  This means that if there are only a few students that need shuttle service for a certain day and all arrive at various times, early arrivals will have to wait on the last arrival for that day to ride the shuttle.

  • Interested international students must fill out the Registration Form and submit the form by the stated deadline.  

  • If any changes in the flight information occur, you must notify Ms. Cannon Connell immediately to avoid any difficulties. The email address is cfconnell@jsu.edu  

  • The shuttle service is a courtesy service of the University. All costs (taxi, bus, etc.) accrued by students coordinating their own ground transportation are the individual responsibility of the student.

  • LUGGAGE POLICY: Each student is allowed to bring a total of two (2) suitcases and one (1) hand carry item. The definition of "hand carry" is a purse or a backpack.
  • All students arriving on-campus with no prior confirmation of housing need to be prepared to stay in a hotel or motel upon their arrival at their own expense.

  • Failure to cancel the shuttle request by the stated deadline will result in a $150.00 fine which will be placed on your student account upon occurrence.

Pick Up from ATL Airport 

Term

Pick Up Dates

Form Opens

Submit form by

Cancel request by

Fall 2024

August 13, 16, 17,
18, 19, 2024

May 5, 2024

July 22, 2024

July 29, 2024

Spring 2025

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD


Instructions for Pickup:

When booking your flight to the Atlanta airport, please consider the following:

  • Shuttles are not “on demand”
  • Shuttles service is based on the number of students and arrival times
  • Students that arrive between 9 p.m. to 12 a.m. may have to wait on the next day’s shuttle (consider hotel arrangements at your expense OR transportation to the campus at your expense).
  • Students traveling from Atlanta, GA to Jacksonville, AL will gain an hour.  Georgia is in the EASTERN time zone and Alabama is in the CENTRAL time zone. Example: Leave Georgia at 10 a.m. EASTERN time, two hours to travel, Arrive Alabama at 11 a.m. CENTRAL time.

To cancel, send an email notification to cfconnell@jsu.edu  and intlprog@jsu.edu 
*Failure to cancel the shuttle request by the stated deadline will result in a $150.00 fine which will be placed on your student account upon occurrence.

Drop Off to ATL Airport 

Term

Drop-Off Dates

Form Opens

Submit form by

Cancel request by

Fall 2024

December 9, 10, 11, 12 & 14, 2024

September 21, 2024

November 17, 2024

December 2, 2024

Spring 2025

TBD

TBD

TBD

TBD


Instructions for Drop Off:

When booking your flight from the Atlanta airport, please consider the following:

  • Shuttles are not “on demand”
  • If a shuttle leaves at 7 a.m. (CENTRAL Time) from the International House, drive time from Jacksonville to the Airport is approximately 2 hours. Atlanta is on (EASTERN Time). Therefore arrival at the airport would be approximately 10:00 a.m. EASTERN time. You should be in the airport at least 3 hours BEFORE your departure; This means to book your flight departure around 1:00 PM EASTERN time or after
  • Remember to build in enough time prior to selecting your departure time
  • Shuttle service will be based on the number of students and departure times

To cancel, send an email notification to cfconnell@jsu.edu  and intlprog@jsu.edu 
*Failure to cancel the shuttle request by the stated deadline will result in a $150.00 fine which will be placed on your student account upon occurrence.

Alternative transportation options from the Atlanta Airport to Jacksonville State University:

Shuttle:Groome Transportation (Shuttle Schedule)256-719-0469

This shuttle stops/drops off in Oxford, Alabama – 30 minutes outside of Jacksonville.Transportation by another service will be needed from Oxford to Jacksonville.Bus:Greyhound (www.greyhound.com )Taxi:Uber (estimate https://www.uber.com/global/en/price-estimate/  )Taxi:Anniston Taxi 256-236-0687Jacksonville State University address is 700 Pelham Road N., Jacksonville, AL 36265Disclamier:The International House & Programs at Jacksonville State University has listed the above transportation providers for information purposes only and will not be liable for any incident(s) arising from students using their services. In addition, those providers are not associated with Jacksonville State University and thus students using their services will be responsible for payment