Departing the U.S.

If departing the US before completing your academic program, academic appointment or before completing your post-graduation work, notify OIS. We will confirm if you have any immigration reporting requirements. 

If recently employed in the U.S., notify your employer of your departure so that tax forms can be sent to you. If you were present in the U.S. for any part of the calendar year, you will have a tax filing requirement in the following tax year. We also recommend that you save any employment-related documentation (e.g. proof of employment) so you can access it after departure.  

If financially sponsored by your government or other organization to study here, you may be required to notify your sponsor of your departure.  

Share your travel plans with your emergency contact and/or other family members.

• Pay your student accounts balance so that your diploma can be released, if graduating, and to ensure that any past due charges are not sent to collections 
• Plan to have your diploma sent to you if you do not receive it before departing
• Order transcripts if you need them
• If unable to complete your academic program prior to departure, discuss with your academic adviser if you have the option to complete your degree remotely while abroad 

Immigration Documents: passport, I-20/DS-2019, visa for other country, if needed, other forms of ID, etc. If you haven’t already done so, we recommend that you download from iHopkins all I-20s/DS-2019 that were issued by OIS and keep them permanently.  You may need these documents as proof of your U.S. immigration record.  

Other Important Documents: diploma, transcript, printed copies of flight information. 

Personal Belongings/Electronics: clothing, laptop, mobile phone unlocked for international use or eSIMs, power bank, charging cords/adapters, etc. 

Money & Banking: carry a credit card enabled for international transactions, as well as some cash (U.S. dollars or local currency). 

Health & Medical: prescription medications, medical records, travel insurance/health insurance documentation, vaccination records, etc.  

You may be able to take additional baggage for a fee – contact your airline regarding this process. Consider overweight baggage charges vs. shipping charges for your personal belongings. 

Consult the USPS Post Office or other shipping companies (UPS, FedEx, DHL, UEMS) to determine shipping regulations/limitations.   Items like homemade food, certain seeds and spices, and medicines may be prohibited. Consult your Embassy or Consulate to determine what customs regulations you will need to consider when shipping your belongings internationally.

The most common and cost-effective option may be via sea freight. However, this option may take a bit longer as your belongings will be moved on a ship by sea. Another option is air freight. This option may be faster, but it will be more expensive. The overall cost will also depend on the size and weight of your package. International shipping may take 2–4 weeks. Consider sending your essentials early. If you’re sending anything valuable, opt for insured shipping. 

You may wish to sell items that you do not plan to take with you. Selling items on Facebook Marketplace/Groups or other online platforms should be done very carefully. If you choose this option, be sure to meet buyers in a public location, tell a friend where you are going (or take them with you), and beware of scams!  

Giving items away as a donation is also an option to consider.  Goodwill and Salvation Army are some larger Thrift Stores that accept donations. Some charities will offer a free, scheduled pickup of donations, which may be a good option for larger items. This JHU Thrift Store Guide provides additional information and resources for those looking to buy, sell or donate used items. Consider donating unopened non-perishable food items to the Hopkins Food Pantry or local pantry/community fridge. You can also consider reaching out to others in your program/department via established group chats to see if they are interested in your items.  

Before selling your car, prepare your documentation: Car Title, Service Records, original sales paperwork, vehicle history report.  

Most states require the seller and the buyer to complete paperwork to ensure the transfer/sale is legal. Whether or not the state where you live recommends that buyers and sellers complete a “bill of sale” and “release of liability,” doing this is an excellent way to protect yourself during and after the transaction.  Lastly, remove the license plates and turn them in. Many states require that you turn in your old license plates to the DMV and get a receipt, which cancels the vehicle registration in your name (you may get a small refund, also, so provide your new address). For a general overview of the process to sell a car, consider these resources: Kelley Blue Book, Buying, Selling, Donating a Car in Maryland, Selling a Vehicle in Washington DC, Selling a Vehicle in Virginia.   

You may wish to set up Mail Forwarding with USPS to a friend, family or other trusted individual who can send your mail to you at a later time. Standard Forward Mail | USPS 

Per the USPS website, if you are moving outside the United States, before you leave the U.S., you must go to a Post Office location to verify your identity and submit your change of address request in person. 

Remember!  USCIS and other immigration agencies do not permit mail forwarding.  Be sure to update your address directly with those agencies if you are expecting any mail from them. 

If graduating, activate your JHU alumni account: JHU Alumni Email 

On-Campus Housing: If you are leaving on-campus housing be sure to properly inform the JHU Housing office and vacate your housing by the specified time. 

Off-Campus Housing:  

• Locate your lease contract and any inspection notes. Review the conditions of your lease and the original condition of your apartment in preparation for a conversation with your landlord. 
• Talk to your landlord about the conditions under which you can end your lease. If you end your lease early, you may be required to pay an additional fee. Leave a forwarding address with your landlord for reimbursement of your security deposit 
• Take photos of your room/apartment after cleaning, to document its condition and to ensure you receive your full security deposit back  
• Don’t forget to contact your utility companies to shut off/cancel utilities
• Double-check your renter’s insurance policy to ensure it does not auto-renew for another month or year after your departure 
• Consider contacting the JHU Off-Campus Housing office for additional advice  

• Settle accounts with businesses, utilities and publications (including subscriptions, insurance, credit cards)
• Contact your cell phone company to cancel/update your cell phone account
• Any rental, auto, and health Insurance policy holders should be notified. Please follow their instructions on closing out/updating accounts 
• Subscription services, such as internet, food delivery, US-only streaming services, delivery services should be stopped or payment method updated 

Contact your bank for information to help you decide if you should maintain your account or close the account, depending on your personal plans.  

If you decide to keep the account open, inquire about the process to close the account and transfer money if you are not inside the U.S.  

If you decide to close the account, consider transferring your money to a globally recognized bank (or a bank with international branches/ATMs) to avoid carrying a large amount of cash when traveling. 

If you have a Social Security Number (SSN), it will remain assigned to you permanently, for life, even if you are not in the United States. Keep your Social Security card in case you ever return to the United States.  You will also need your SSN to file your final tax return. 

If travel is unexpected and immediate, consult with close friend, family, or other trusted individual on whether they can care for your pet in your absence until you can be reunited. If time permits before departing the US, explore steps to bring your pet with you, if possible. Be sure to check with your airline regarding travel options and documentation for your pet. Take a Pet From the United States to Another Country (Export) | Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.