Obtaining a J-1 Visa

OBTAINING A J-1 VISA Step 1: Read Form DS-2019 Please note that your SEVIS Form DS-2019 indicates that we have created a record on your behalf in the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Your SEVIS ID number is found in the upper right hand corner of page one (1) of your SEVIS Form DS-2019. If any information on this form is incorrect, please contact our office. If all of the information on the form is correct, sign your name in the appropriate space on the form.

Please refer to the start date in section three (3) of the SEVIS Form DS-2019 to make sure that it is accurate for the Fellowship program dates. Note that entry to the U.S. on a J-1 visa is permitted up to 30 days before this start date and up to 30 days after the end date. This should accommodate any of you who are looking to travel before or after the program within the United States.

Note: The spelling of your name and your date of birth must be exactly as they appear in your passport. The same is true for dependents. If your name and/or date of birth on SEVIS Form DS-2019 are not exactly the same as the information that appears in your passport, please request a corrected SEVIS Form DS-2019 from our office.

Note: It is likely that the text in the “Subject/Field Code Remarks” field will be truncated on the printed Form DS 2019. This is normal and will have no effect on your visa application.

Step 2: Make Sure Your Passport is Valid In order to avoid possible problems applying for a visa or entering the U.S., your passport should be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the date you plan to enter the country, unless country-specific agreements allow for exemption. This list can be found at http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1267.html#6 under the title “Applying for an Exchange Visitor Visa - Required Documentation”.

Step 3: Pay the SEVIS Fee Effective September 1, 2004, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires proof of payment of a one-time SEVIS fee of $180. This will be collected from prospective J-1 visitors who are applying for an initial J-1 visa from outside the U.S. While immigration regulations indicate that the fee should be paid to DHS a minimum of three business days prior to visa application at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, we suggest that you pay the fee as soon as you receive your Form DS-2019 so you will allow sufficient time for DHS to update your fee payment in your electronic SEVIS record. Proof of SEVIS fee payment must be verified at the U.S. port of entry before the visa-exempt individual will be admitted to the United States in J-1 status.

The fee can be paid to DHS either 1) over the internet with an electronic application form and a credit card or 2) by mailing a paper application with a check or bank draft drawn in U.S. dollars to a processing center in the U.S. Because of the timeline for this program, we strongly suggest you use option 1. There is currently no mechanism to pay the fee at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate or at a U.S. port of entry. The fee can be paid by you or by another party inside or outside the U.S. However, you must have proof of payment when you apply for the visa and when you enter the U.S. All visitors who pay the SEVIS fee will receive a formal receipt that should be used as proof of fee payment. Although fee payments should also be entered into your permanent immigration (SEVIS) record, it is strongly recommended that you retain the fee receipt with your other important immigration documents to use as needed. To Pay the SEVIS Fee Online 1. Log onto the following website: www.FMJfee.com 2. Complete the Form I-901 online. Make certain to type your name exactly as it appears on your SEVIS Form DS-2019 and complete each section accurately. You must supply the necessary Visa, MasterCard or American Express information. 3. Submit the electronic Form I-901 and payment. 4. Print a copy of the online receipt to use as temporary proof of payment until you receive the Form I-797 receipt. 5. A Form I-797 receipt notice should be mailed to the address you indicated on Form I-901 within 3 days of processing the fee. Be sure to make copies of your receipt, and keep the original with your other important immigration documents. To Pay the SEVIS Fee By Mail 1. Complete the enclosed Form I-901. Make certain to type your name exactly as it appears on your SEVIS Form DS-2019 and complete each section accurately. 2. Obtain a check, international money order or bank draft in the amount of $180 USDollars, made payable to “The Department of Homeland Security”. 3. Send the completed I-901 and payment to one of the addresses below depending on mail service you use. 4. A Form I-797 receipt notice should be mailed to the address you indicated on Form I-901 within 3 days of processing the fee. Be sure to make copies of your receipt, and keep the original with your other important immigration documents. 5. A formal Form I-797 receipt notice should be issued within three days from date of payment. It will be sent to the address you indicated on Form I-901. Be sure to make copies of your receipt, and keep the original with your other important immigration documents.

The mailing addresses for paying by check or money order using the paper Form I-901 are: P.O. Box address for regular mail service: Street address for courier/express delivery: I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee I-901 Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee P.O. Box 970020 1005 Convention Plaza St. Louis , MO 63197-0020 St. Louis , MO 63101

To Pay the SEVIS at a participating Western Union Agent 1. Log onto the following site: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/wu_instr.htm and follow the instructions for SEVIS I-901 Fee Payment by Western Union Quick Pay. 2. Print out and bring a copy of the instructions from this website along with a copy of the sample form from the same site http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/wu_j_us.htm to a local participating Western Union Agent location. 3. Travel to the nearest Western Union Agent location. Find a Western Union Agent at: http://www.payment-solutions.com/agent.asp or call the telephone number of the Western Union Commercial Services Network Agent in your country. 4. Complete a “Blue Form” at the participating local Western Union Agent location. This form may show words such as “Payment Services” or “Quick Pay” printed in the applicable local language, however, all Quick Pay forms will be blue. Fill out all appropriate information. Make certain to include your name exactly as it appears on your SEVIS Form DS-2019 and complete each section accurately. Make certain to include the SEVIS ID number (located on the upper right hand corner of your Boston University SEVIS document) your date of birth and the Boston University Exchange Visitor Program Number (P-1-00576) exactly as it appears on the sample form. 5. Make the payment at the Western Union Agent. 6. Retain the Western Union receipt to use as temporary proof of payment until you receive the Form I-797 receipt. 7. A formal Form I-797 receipt notice should be issued within three days from date of payment. It will be sent to the address you indicated on Form I-901. Be sure to make copies of your receipt, and keep the original with your other important immigration documents

Please note that the SEVIS fee is non-refundable. If your J-1 visa application is denied by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, you will not be required to pay a new SEVIS fee if you reapply for a new J-1 visa within 12 months of the denial. Please contact the staff of the ISSO at [email protected] if you have any questions regarding the payment of the SEVIS fee.

Step 4: Obtain a valid J-1 visa Please apply for a J-1 visa well in advance of your planned travel to the U.S. as it can take a few months to obtain a nonimmigrant visa at some U.S. embassies and consulates. To find the U.S. embassy or consulate nearest you, go to http://usembassy.state.gov/. Citizens of all countries (except Canada) are required to have a J-1 visa to enter the U.S. To apply for a J-1 visa, you will need to submit the following documents to the U.S. embassy or consulate:

To apply for a J-1 visa, you will need to submit some or all of the following documents to the U.S. embassy or consulate: (Please check with your local consulate or embassy on current requirements) 1. Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-156), which can be obtained from the U.S. Consulate or at http://www.travel.state.gov/ 2. Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application (Form DS-157), generally required of all male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45, which can be obtained from the U.S. Consulate 3. Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant (Form DS-158), which can be obtained from the U.S. consulate or at http://www.travel.state.gov/. Note: This form is not always required. Please check with the consular office where you will apply for your visa. 4. Application fee (check with the Consulate for the fee amount and how it must be paid) 5. One photograph (2 inches square [50 x 50mm], showing full face, without head covering, against a light background) 6. Passport 7. Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status (SEVIS Form DS-2019) 8. Appointment or invitation letter from German Marshall Fund of the United States 9. Original documents proving the availability of sufficient funds as stated on your SEVIS Form DS- 2019 10. Documents that demonstrate that you intend to return home after the completion of your activities in the U.S

All visa applicants are now required to schedule a personal appointment for an interview. Please keep in mind that it may take a few weeks to schedule an appointment so you should initiate your visa application as early as possible. Before your interview, practice answering questions in English about your application, your plans in the U.S., and your plans after you return home. If your spouse and children will remain in your home country, be prepared to explain how they will support themselves without you sending them money from the U.S. During your interview, make a good impression, be positive and respond to questions with clear, concise answers.

You may not need to do anything special to prove that you intend to return home. It may be sufficient for you to explain that you plan to return to your country to work, to continue your studies, or to do whatever you plan to do when you return home. However, you may need to prove that you have such strong ties to your home country that you will return there. If you believe it is likely that you will need to prove your intention to return home after you complete your studies, please request further documentation from GMF.

The consular official may decide to subject your application to a special “security clearance” before granting the visa. Security clearances may take as long as a few months, so it is very important that you apply for your J-1 visa as early as possible. Most consular officials request a security clearance based on the country of national origin of the applicant or on a determined level of sensitivity of your prospective field of study. Once the application has been sent for security clearance, the applicant must simply wait until the consulate approves the visa.

If your visa application is denied, it is difficult to get the Consulate to change its decision. For this reason, it is important that you arrive at your appointment with the best supporting information. If your visa is denied, please contact our office and we will try to provide you with suggestions that may strengthen your next visa application.

Step 5: Travel to the U.S. Once you have obtained your J-1 visa, you are ready to travel to the U.S. Immigration regulations allow you to enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days prior to the start date of your program indicated in Section 3 of your SEVIS Form DS-2019. You must carry with you items 6-9 listed in Step 4 of this handout. Place these documents in a folder or envelope that you will have with you at all times during your travel. During your trip to, or upon arrival in, the United States, you will be given a form called an Arrival/Departure Record (USCIS Form I-94). Using a pen, print the information requested on this form, making certain to spell your name exactly as it appears in your passport.

Step 6: Apply for "Admission" to the U.S. When you arrive in the U.S. , you will apply for “admission” and an Immigration Inspector will examine your documents. You will need to present the following documents:  USCIS Form I-94  Passport with valid J-1 visa, and  SEVIS Form DS-2019

You should have the following documents ready to present if the Immigration Inspector asks for them:  Original financial documents  Invitation letter

The Immigration Inspector may ask you one or more questions. If you are asked about your funding, answer the question and offer to show the Inspector your financial documents. If you are asked about your “intentions,” answer the question and offer to show supporting documents. Please be advised that nationals or citizens of certain countries are now subject to a Special Registration when entering the U.S. You may be fingerprinted and photographed at the point of entry. You should calmly provide all information requested by the Immigration officer. If you have the required documents and there are no more questions, the Immigration Inspector will “admit” you to the U.S. by stamping your passport, your SEVIS Form DS-2019, and your USCIS Form I- 94.

When you leave the inspection area, make certain you have the following documents in your possession: 1. Passport, 2. Departure Record (part of Form I-94), 3. SEVIS Form DS-2019 and 4. All supporting documents

You must carry your passport and Form I-94 at all times while in the United States.