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Immigration
Requirements for Entry to the US for J-1 Students
Purpose
The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) has prepared
this handout for individuals who have a Certificate of Eligibility
for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status (Form DS-2019) for a program of
study at Boston University. It will describe how to apply for a
J-1 visa to enter the U.S.
Step
1: Read Form DS-2019
Your SEVIS Form DS-2019 indicates that we have created a record
on your behalf in the U.S. government’s Student and Exchange
Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Your SEVIS ID number is found
in the upper right hand corner of page 1 of your SEVIS Form DS-2019.
If any information on this form is incorrect, please immediately
contact our office (or your “Program Sponsor” if your
DS-2019 was issued by an organization other than Boston University).
If all of the information on the form is correct, sign your name
in the appropriate space on the form. If you have dependents (husband
or wife, children under the age of 21) who will be traveling to
the U.S. with you, each of them will receive their own dependent
SEVIS Form DS-2019 to assist them in applying for their J-2 visa.
Please contact the ISSO if you intend to bring your dependents to
the U.S. with you and you have not received separate documentation
for your dependent family members.
Note: The
spelling of your name and your date of birth must be exactly as
reflected in your passport. The same is true for dependents. If
your name and/or date of birth on the SEVIS Form DS-2019 are not
exactly the same as the information that appears in your passport,
please forward a copy of your passport and request a corrected SEVIS
Form DS-2019 from our office. Submitting an incorrect Form DS-2019
can result in delays or denial of the 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., it is recommended that your passport be valid for at least
six (6) months beyond the date you intend to remain in the U.S.
Step
3: Pay the SEVIS Fee
The U.S. Department of State (DOS) and the U.S. Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) are now requiring proof of payment of the SEVIS fee
before issuing a visa or approving any benefits of status. This
fee must be paid by new J-1 students with SEVIS DS-2019 forms issued
to “begin a new program” in the U.S. in J-1 status.
While immigration regulations indicate that the fee should be paid
a minimum of three business days prior to applying for your visa
at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, we suggest that students pay the
fee as soon as they receive the Form DS-2019 to allow sufficient
time for DHS to update the fee payment in your electronic SEVIS
record. Please refer to the Student and Exchange Visitor website
for more information: http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/
J-2 dependents are not required to pay the SEVIS fee. The SEVIS
fee is NOT required from students currently in the U.S. in valid
J-1 immigration status. Similarly, the fee is not required from
students transferring from another J-1 program if they have already
paid the fee. However, J-1 students sponsored by U.S. government
agencies who are exempt from paying the fee will be required to
pay the fee if they transfer to Boston University. J-1 students
who have studied in the U.S. in J-1 status in the past, but have
departed the U.S. or changed to another immigration status must
pay a new SEVIS fee before commencing the new program regardless
of whether the student will need a new J-1 visa. Finally, citizens
of Canada are exempt from the requirement to possess a visa to enter
the U.S. However, they are still required to pay the SEVIS fee.
Proof of SEVIS fee payment for these individuals will be verified
at the U.S. port of entry before they are admitted to the United
States in J-1 status.
The fee can be paid to DHS either
- over the internet with an electronic application form (I-901)
and a credit card
- by mailing a paper application with a check or bank draft drawn
in U.S. dollars to a processing center in the U.S., or
- by making a payment at a participating Western Union in your
area.
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 the student or by a third
party inside or outside the U.S. However, the student must have
proof of payment when applying for the visa and entering the U.S.
We strongly recommend that students pay the fee online with a credit
card whenever possible to secure an immediate receipt.
Please refer to the following Student and Exchange Visitor website
for more information: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm
All students who pay the SEVIS fee will receive a formal receipt
that should be used as proof of fee payment. The receipt Form I-797
will be sent to the mailing address provided on the Form I-901.
This receipt notice will take time to process and to arrive in the
mail. The Form I-901 instructions state that receipts will be sent
via airmail at no additional cost. The payee can request expedited
courier delivery by indicating this request on the Form I-901 and
by paying an extra fee at the time of initial payment. If the courier
delivery option is selected, the student must include a contact
telephone number and actual street address since the courier will
not deliver to a P.O. Box. Although fee payments may be entered
into the immigration (SEVIS) record, it is strongly recommended
that students retain the fee receipt with other important immigration
documents to use as needed.
To Pay the SEVIS
Fee Online
- Log onto the following website:
https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml and follow instructions.
- 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. Make certain to include the SEVIS ID
number (located on the upper right hand corner of your Boston
University SEVIS document) and the Boston University Exchange
Visitor Program number (P-1-00576). Indicate that you will use
a credit card to make the payment. You must supply the necessary
Visa, MasterCard or American Express information to submit the
online payment.
- Submit the electronic Form I-901 and electronic payment.
- Print a copy of the online receipt to use as temporary proof
of payment until you receive the Form I-797 receipt.
- 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.
To Pay the SEVIS
Fee By Mail
- Log onto the following website:
https://www.fmjfee.com/index.jhtml and follow instructions.
- 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. Make certain to include the SEVIS ID
number (located on the upper right hand corner of your Boston
University SEVIS document) and the Boston University Exchange
Visitor Program number (P-1-00576). Indicate that you will
pay by check or money order. Print payment coupon.
- Obtain a check, international money order or bank draft for
the appropriate amount made payable to "I-901 Student/Exchange
Visitor Processing Fee." The check should be for the exact
amount plus the additional amount required if you wish for USCIS
to return the receipt to you via courier service.
- Mail payment coupon and check or money order to one of the
addresses listed on the payment coupon depending on the mail service
you use to send the materials to the processing center.
- 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.
To Pay the SEVIS
Fee at a participating Western Union Agent
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Make the payment at the Western Union Agent.
- Retain the Western Union receipt to use as temporary proof of
payment until you receive the Form I-797 receipt.
- 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.
If you do not have access
to the internet, please contact the ISSO immediately and we will
forward a paper I-901 to you. Please note that the SEVIS fee is
non-refundable. However, 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 issogac@bu.edu
if you have any questions regarding the payment of the SEVIS fee.
Step
4: Obtain a valid J-1 visa
Citizens of all countries, except Canada, are required to be in
possession of J-1 visas to enter the U.S. as exchange visitors.
You must initiate the visa application process with the nearest
U.S. Embassy or Consulate. It is strongly recommended that you review
the web site (http://www.usembassy.gov) of that consular post to
learn about their specific visa application procedures, documentary
requirements and deadlines. Most consular posts will process an
application 120 days prior to the start date of the academic program
listed on your SEVIS Form DS-2019. Please refer to the following
U.S. Department of State (DOS) website for more information: http://contact-us.state.gov/cgi-bin/state.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php.
To apply for a J-1 visa,
you will need to submit the following documents to the U.S. Embassy
or Consulate:
- Application for Nonimmigrant Visa (Form DS-156) can
be obtained from any U.S. Consulate or downloaded from the following
DOS website: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/frvi_forms.html.
Form DS-160, the electronic version of this application, is required
by certain consular offices and can be found on the same web page.
- 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 any U.S. Consulate or downloaded
from the following DOS website: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/frvi_forms.html
- 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/visa/frvi_forms.html.
- Application fee (check with the consulate for the fee amount
and how it must be paid or visit the following DOS website at
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi_fees.html
- One photograph (2 inches square [51 x 51mm], showing full face,
without head covering, against a light background) as explained
on the following DOS website: http://travel.state.gov/passport/pptphotos/index.html
- Passport
- Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor
(J-1) Status (SEVIS Form DS-2019)
- Form I-797 receipt or online proof of SEVIS fee payment
- Appointment or invitation letter from Boston University
- Original documents proving the availability of sufficient funds
as stated on your SEVIS Form DS-2019
- Documents that demonstrate that you intend to return home after
the completion of your studies in the U.S.
All visa
applicants are 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. Be positive
and respond to questions with clear, concise answers during your
interview.
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 carefully read the enclosed
handout entitled Proving "Nonimmigrant Intent" for U.S.
Visa Application Purposes and refer to the information on the following
DOS website: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors.html
There are special procedures for citizens of Cuba, Syria, Sudan,
Iran to apply for a U.S. visa. Please refer to the following DOS
website for more information: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_info_additional4.html.
The consular official may decide to process your application through
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 teaching or research.
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 and most complete supporting
information. If your visa is denied, we suggest that you ask for
the reason for the denial and request a reason in writing if possible.
Please visit the following DOS website at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi_denials.html
and contact us and we will try to provide you with suggestions that
may strengthen your next 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 6-11 listed in Step 4 of this page. 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 official will examine your documents. You will
need to present the following documents:
- USCIS Form I-94
- Passport with valid J-1 visa
- SEVIS Form DS-2019
- Proof of SEVIS Fee payment
You should have the following documents ready to present if the
immigration official asks for them:
- Original financial documents
- Acceptance letter from Boston University
The immigration official
may ask you one or more questions. If you are asked about your source
of 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 citizens of certain countries may be subject
to Special Registration procedures when entering the U.S. This process
requires fingerprinting and photographing and could take extra time,
please plan connecting flights accordingly. 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 that
you have the following documents in your possession:
- Passport
- Departure Record (part of USCIS Form I-94)
- SEVIS Form DS-2019
- All supporting documents
The
Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement
After you finish your J-1 program in the U.S. , you may be required
to spend two years in your home country, or country of last legal
residence, before you will be allowed to return to the U.S. in certain
types of immigration classifications. You may be subject to this
requirement if:
- Either the U.S. government or your home government directly
funds your activities in the U.S.
- Your prospective field of research, teaching or expertise appears
on a document called the “Skills List,” or
- You will receive graduate medical education or training.
If you have any questions
about the two-year home country physical presence requirement, please
contact our office or your J-1 “Program Sponsor” for
more information.
Caution
It is important that you do not enter on a B-1 or B-2 visitor visa,
or in WT or WB status through the “Visa Waiver” program.
It is unlawful for individuals in these classifications to work
in the U.S., and it is difficult and sometimes impossible to change
status to J-1 once in the country.
Additional
Information
The staff of the ISSO is pleased to provide you with information,
advice, and assistance on any visa or immigration matter that relates
to your activities at Boston University . For more information on
U.S. Embassies and Consulates, on the visa application process,
and on the “exchange visitor” program, you may visit
the U.S. Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov/
or our website www.bu.edu/isso.
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