Immigration Requirements for Entry to the US for J-1 Students

The International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) at Boston University has prepared this information 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 describes the steps you need to take in order to pay the SEVIS fee, apply for a J-1 visa, and enter the U.S. in J-1 immigration status.

Step 1:  Read your SEVIS 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 your expected entry date to 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.  We recommend 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.

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:

1. over the internet with an electronic application form (Form I-901) and a credit card (see important note below)

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., or

3. by making a payment at a participating Western Union in your area. The fee cannot be paid 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.

Important note regarding use of credit cards:  Due to recent processing difficulties, the Student and Exange Visitor Program (SEVP) is currently unable to accept credit card payments made on behalf of students from the following countries:
▪  Ghana                        ▪  Nigeria                       ▪  Cameroon                 ▪  Kenya

Students from these countries must pay by cashier's check, money order or Western Union transfer.

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:

1. Visit the SEVP website and follow instructions.
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. 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 program designation 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. See “Important note regarding use of credit cards” above.
3. Submit the electronic Form I-901 and electronic 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 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. NOTE: You do not have to wait for the formal receipt to arrive in the mail before applying for the visa. You may present the receipt you printed from the web site to the consulate.

To pay the SEVIS fee by mail:

1. Visit the SEVP website and follow instructions.
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. 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 program designation number (P-1-00576). Indicate that you will pay by check or money order.  Print payment coupon.
3. Obtain a check, international money order or bank draft 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.
4. 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.
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.

To pay the SEVIS fee at a participating Western Union Agent location:

1. Visit the ICE website and follow “SEVIS I-901 Fee Payment by Western Union Quick Pay Instructions.”
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 to a local participating Western Union Agent location.
3. Travel to the nearest Western Union Agent location. Use the Agent Locator 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 Code (P-1-00576) exactly as it appears on the sample form.
5. Make the payment at the Western Union Agent location.
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.

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 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:  Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to obtain a valid J-1 visaCitizens 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 website 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 U.S. Department of State (DOS) website for more information.
To apply for a visa, you will need to submit the following documents to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate:

1. Form DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application from the DOS website.
2. Application fee (check with the Consulate for the fee amount and how it must be paid or visit the DOS website).
3. One photograph: you should review the information on the website for the Consulate to determine how they would like you to submit your photograph. Photo specifications are 2 inches square [51x51mm], showing full face, without head covering, against a light background as explained on the DOS website.
4. Passport valid for at least six (6) months into the future
5. Your Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status (SEVIS Form DS-2019) from Boston University
6. Form I-797 Receipt or online proof of SEVIS fee payment
7. Appointment or invitation letter from Boston University
8. Original financial documents proving the availability of sufficient funds as stated on your SEVIS Form DS-2019
9. Documents that demonstrate your intent to return to your home country after you complete your studies; that is, documents that reflect your “non-immigrant intent”. (You may not need to do anything special to prove that you intend to return home.  It may be sufficient for you to explain, if asked, 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 be required to prove that you have such strong ties to your country that you will return there.  If you believe it is likely that you will need to prove this, or would like more information, please refer to Proving Nonimmigrant Intent on the ISSO website and to the DOS website.

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.

There are special procedures for citizens of Cuba, Syria, Sudan, and Iran to apply for a U.S. visa. Please refer to the USDOS website for more information.

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 a 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 the reason in writing if possible. Please read the Visa Denial information on the DOS website and contact the ISSO; 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 4-9 listed in Step 4. Place these documents in a folder or envelope that you will have with you at all times during your travel. 

Step 6:  Apply for “admission” to the U.S.
When you arrive in the U.S., you will apply for “admission” at the Port of Entry and an immigration official will examine your documents. You will need to present the following documents:

▪ 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 a few 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.

If you have the required documents and there are no more questions, the Immigration officer will “admit” you to the U.S. When you leave the inspection area, make certain that you have the following documents in your possession:  (1) passport, (2) SEVIS Form DS-2019, and (3) 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
You are required to report to the International Students and Scholars Office with your passport and Form DS-2019 upon your initial arrival to the Boston University campus from abroad. 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, the visa application process, and the “exchange visitor” program, please visit the U.S. Department of State website.

ISSO
Boston University
May 6, 2013