Applying for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa

Where to Apply - US Consulates

Technically, the law allows you to apply for a J-1 visa at any US Consulate. From a practical standpoint, however, your case will be given the most consideration at the US Consulate that has jurisdiction over your place of residence. Unless you have a specific reason to apply in a third country's US Consulate, such as having a temporary academic appointment or attending an academic conference, it is recommended that you file your visa application at a US Consulate in your home country. If you have a temporary academic appointment in a third country or are attending an academic conference and will apply at a US Consulate in that country, it is very important to present confirmation of your appointment along with your visa application. Such confirmation will verify that it is necessary for you to apply at that particular US Consulate.

In practice, citizens of countries with a high rate of visa refusals and overstays may find it difficult to have visas issued at a US Consulate in a third country. A US Consulate in this type of case can hold the application in abeyance while it sends a request for information to the US Consulate nearest to the applicant's permanent residence, or the visa can be refused simply for lack of sufficient information.

Effective August 1, 2003, most US Consulates require advance in person appointments. Exceptions are available for those applicants seeking issuance of a visa of the same category that has been expired for less than one year, such visa applications can be submitted by mail, drop box, or through one of the authorized travel agencies or courier services that have a working arrangement with the Embassy. The procedures at each US Consulate can differ and may change without notice. It is advisable to allow as much time as possible between the date of the application and the date of intended travel as processing of visa applications can take several weeks, if not months at some US Consulates.

It is important to note that developments in the United States and elsewhere can result in changes from day to day. Please check the US Consulate's web pages (http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions_embassy.html) for new developments and the Visitor and Visa Services web pages (www.admin.ias.edu/vvs/) for Immigration Alerts.

How to Apply for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa

All US Consulates have a section set aside for non-immigrant visa applications and issuance. The standard procedure for most US Consulates is for the visa applicant to make a personal appearance at the US Consulate and submit the application to a consular representative who makes a preliminary review of the papers for completeness. After the papers are reviewed by a consular officer, the applicant will be called to a front counter, window, or desk to answer some questions regarding the visa application. If the application is approved, a machine-readable visa stamp is affixed to the passport. Some US Consulates allow you to wait while this is done, some may mail the passport to you, and others will request that you return at a later date to pick up the passport.

There are three types of paperwork you must submit to obtain J-1 and J-2 visa. The first type consists of the Application for Non-immigrant Visa (Form DS-156) and the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (DS-2019). If you are a male between the ages of 16 and 45, you will also need to complete Form DS-157. In additions, each applicant must submit form DS-158. The application should also include personal supporting documents such as birth and marriage certificates. In addition to originals or government certified copies of personal supporting documents, it is recommended to also submit plain photocopies of each document. After the consular officer compares the copies with the originals, the originals will be returned to you and the copies will be retained by the US Consulate.

Application Forms and Supporting Documents

An applicant for a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa must present the following. Please check the web pages of the US Consulate for specific instructions (http://travel.state.gov/visa/questions_embassy.html).

Certificate of Eligibility (DS-2019): Read page two of the DS-2019 then be sure to sign page one. Be sure that the completed DS-2019 is returned to you so that you may present it to the immigration officials when you seek admission to the United States.

Non-immigrant Visa Application and Supplement (Form DS-156/Form DS-157): Form DS-156 is the standard non-immigrant visa application form and may be downloaded from the US Consulate's web pages. A separate form is required for the J-1 Exchange Visitor and each accompanying family member regardless of age. Forms are also available at all US Consulates free of charge. Male applicants between the ages of 16 and 45 are required to complete a Supplemental Non-immigrant Visa Application (Form DS-157).

Contact Information and Work History Application for Non-immigrant Visa Applicant (Form DS-158): Form DS-158 is another standard non-immigrant visa application form and may be downloaded from the US Consulate's web pages. A separate form is required for the J-1 Exchange Visitor and each accompanying family member regardless of age. Forms are also available at all US Consulates free of charge.

Passports and Photographs In addition to presenting your valid passport and the valid passports of all accompanying family members, include two photographs 50mm x 50mm for each applicant, showing full face, against a light background. A photograph must be submitted with each application, regardless of the age of the applicant. Do not wear glasses or any jewelry which may obscure your face in the photo.

Invitation Letter: You may be requested to present a copy of your invitation letter from the Institute along with the application. If you will receive funding from a source other than Institute, verification of this funding should also be submitted with your application.

Visa Application Fee: A non-refundable visa application fee equivalent to $100 (USD) in local currency (subject to change) is required for all visa applicants. A number of US Consulates require the payment of the fee in advance at a bank or post office. Please check with the US Consulate for further information if you are unsure about the policy.

Visa Reciprocity Fee (if required): This fee requirement varies for nationals of each country. If there is a fee for issuance of the J-1 visa, it is equal as nearly as possible to the fee charged to US citizens by the applicant's country of nationality. You should check the US Consulate's website to see if there are any reciprocity fees charged for J-1 or J-2 visas.

SEVIS Fee: Effective September 1, 2004, a non-refundable SEVIS fee equivalent to $100 (USD) in local currency is required for all international students and exchange visitors (visa categories F1, J1, and M1) whose DS-2019 or I-20 forms were issued on or after September 1, 2004. Only primary visa holders are required to pay the SEVIS fee. It is not required of spouse and children.

• This fee must be paid before you come to your appointment for your interview.
• You may not/not pay the SEVIS FEE at the Consular Section at the time of the interview.
• Your visa cannot be issued unless and until the consular section has a record of the payment of the fee. Persons with I-20 or DS-2019 forms issued before September 1, are not subject to the SEVIS fee regardless of when they apply for their visa.
• Instructions on how to pay the fee can be found at: https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml.

Consular Approval and Visa Issuance

Upon approval, the J-1 (or J-2 visa stamp for dependents) visa stamp is affixed directly to the applicant's passport. The Institute for Advanced Study's program number will be inserted along with the number of valid entries and the expiration date of the visa. The DS-2019 will then be returned to you. Please do not leave without your DS-2019, you will need it to present to the immigration officials when you seek admission to the United States.