Year 2 International Travel Checklist
Au pairs in their second year on program cannot travel internationally, except for select destinations through a
provision in the federal regulations called ‘automatic revalidation.
Furthermore, it is important to understand that there is inherent risk with traveling outside the U.S.
during an extension term. When you receive a travel signature from our office, it ensures that you are
in good standing with the program only, it is not formal permission to travel. Au Pairs (and host
families if the au pair is traveling with the family) are ultimately responsible to ensure that all visa and
passport requirements are met when traveling abroad. There is always a risk of travelling outside the
US, as re-entry is at the discretion of the port of entry agent. Au Pair in America is not responsible for
additional costs or travel arrangements should a delay in returning to the US occur.
To successfully travel abroad during your Year 2 on program, please complete the following steps:
✓ Automatic Revalidation Eligibility:
o Automatic revalidation is a provision in immigration law that allows Year 2 au pairs in their extension
term to travel to Canada, Mexico, and the adjacent islands as long as the travel does not exceed 30
days and the au pair has not applied for another visa. Although the Department of State allows this
travel, it is ultimately up to the immigration officials at the POE (port of entry) to determine whether
to admit someone into the United States with an expired visa.
To ensure that you qualify for automatic revalidation, please see the points below and follow these
steps:
o Confirm that you have a valid passport with an expired J-1 Visa stamp.
▪ Reminder: if you lost your passport during your program and have been issued a new
one, it will no longer have an expired J-1 visa stamp. This means you no longer qualify
for automatic revalidation and should not travel internationally.
o Verify that your extension request has been officially approved by the Department of
State and confirm you have received your new extension DS-2019 document in the mail.
This document will have your new extended program dates.
o Double check that your extension DS-2019 document has been validated (signed) for
international travel. If you know ahead of time that you will be traveling to one of the approved
Year 2 destinations, notify our team and we can sign your new extension document before
sending it to you in the extension approval packet.
✓ Travel Validation Signature: to successfully return to the United States your Certificate of Eligibility (or
DS-2019) document needs to be validated (signed) by an Alternate Responsible Officer from the home
office. Send your DS-2019 document to Au Pair in America in the mail along with the formal Travel
Validation Request form at least 3-4 weeks before your date of travel. Please find the form using this
link: https://www.aupairinamerica.com/pdf/travel-validation-request-form.pdf
✓ Additional Visa Requirements: independently research whether you will need an additional visitor’s
visa for travel to Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands. This will depend on your nationality and your
travel destination. For example, some countries require you to apply for a tourist/transit visa before
being allowed to enter.
✓ Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Hawaii, and Alaska: because these destinations are either U.S
territories or U.S. states, it is not considered international travel. Therefore, you do not need a valid
visa, or your DS-2019 form signed for travel.
✓ Printed I-94 card: print out your I-94 card to take with you. Do not surrender your I-94 card to the
airline when traveling to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent islands. This card will assist in your re-entry to
the United States.
✓ Automatic Revalidation Definition: consider visiting the Department of State website directly for the
formal definition of this federal provision. Print a copy of the website page and bring it with you in case
you are questioned by an immigration officer at the POE. Please also see the formal lists of adjacent
islands defined by the Department of State.
Automatic Revalidation – DOS website: https://help.cbp.gov/s/article/Article-1218?language=en_US
Adjacent Islands: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2002-title8-vol1/pdf/CFR-2002-title8-vol1-
sec286-2.pdf
✓ Formal Notification: please be certain to notify both your host family and your community counselor of
your intention to travel well in advance. It’s important to schedule vacation time with your family and
check with your counselor to ensure you are following all the program guidelines.
Travel Reminders:
o Do not carry your DS-2019 document or passport on your person once you reach your destination,
as it increases the risk of potentially losing these important documents. Store them in a safe place
either in your hotel or with friends or family.
o Avoid carrying your passport as identification. If you have a state driver’s license, you should use
that instead. If the only picture ID you have is your passport, then be very careful with its location at
all times. It is difficult to replace a passport or DS-2019 while on vacation.
o Leave a photocopy of your passport and DS-2019 with your host family before departing.
