With final exams and planning for vacations, the holiday season is a hectic and exciting time. Studying and packing are important, but as an F or M student you must also prepare your documents for your return to the United States. Follow our blog every Tuesday in December for travel tips and information.

Every time you enter the United States, whether for your first time here or when returning from travel, there are certain documents you must bring with you. If you do not have these documents, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer may either deny your admission into the United States or issue you a Form I-515A, “Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor.” If CBP denies your admission, you may not enter the United States. If CBP issues you a Form I-515A, do not panic. This form is a checklist that tells you what information you are missing and what you need to do next.

Here is what to expect if CBP issues you a Form I-515A:

• Tell your designated school official (DSO)
• You have 30 days from when you receive a Form I-515A to submit missing documents or information to the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP). Collect all the required information and then submit it.
• SEVP will process your documents and return the original copies to your DSO. If you have correctly submitted this information, SEVP also will send your DSO a letter of approval, and the Form I-94, "Arrival/Departure Record" you receive will have an extended departure date. Get these documents from your DSO and keep them in a safe place.
• If you do not submit your documents within 30 days, you will no longer have permission to be in the United States and must leave the country.

Here is what to do to avoid receiving a Form I-515A:

• Hand-carry all of your required documents like your passport, valid Form I-20, "Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Status," and proof of financial support.
• Bring evidence of acceptance to your school (e.g., an acceptance letter or recent tuition receipts), a receipt of payment for the I-901 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee and contact information for your DSO.
• Read through all of your paperwork to make sure it all includes the correct information.