Visa & Entry to the U.S.
You must obtain an J-1 visa in order to seek admission to the U.S. to conduct research, teach, consult or engage in long-term observation, unless you are a citizen of Canada or Bermuda. Citizens of Canada or Bermuda do not require J-1 visas but must present appropriate means of documentation at the U.S. port-of-entry to seek admission in J-1 status. To apply for a J-1 visa, you must provide the U.S. Embassy or Consulate with Form DS-2019, passport, proof of funding, and other documents as required by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. In the case of Canadian and Bermudan citizens, you must use your Form DS-2019 to seek admission to the U.S. in J-1 status at a U.S. port-of-entry without a J-1 visa. Read page 2 of your Form DS-2019, examine the information on page 1 for accuracy, and sign the exchange visitor certification block on the bottom of page 1 prior to presentation to a U.S. consular official or immigration official. The U.S. visa tells you until what date you may enter the United States. The expiration date of the visa has nothing to do with how long you may remain in the United States. That is determined by your DS-2019 and I-94. You need to renew the visa only if you are traveling abroad after the visa expiration date, so that you may again enter the U.S. Specific information on J-1 visa application at U.S. Embassies and Consulates is available at the following address: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html The websites of U.S. embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions is available at the following address: http://www.usembassy.gov You cannot enter the U.S. on a B-2 (tourist) visa and expect to change to J-1 visa status after you arrive. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services will likely deny this request, and you will have to leave the U.S. to obtain a proper visa. Also, you cannot enter the U.S. on a visa waiver and change to J-1 status after your arrival. Persons who enter the U.S. on a visa waiver are not eligible for change of status in the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requires J-1 visa applicants to pay a one-time fee to supplement the administration and maintenance costs of the Student and Exchange Information System (SEVIS). For information on who is subject to the SEVIS fee requirement and for SEVIS fee payment options, J-1visa applicants should read SEVIS Fee Payment Options for J-1 Exchange Visitors.
This section will provide you with information regarding reentering the U.S. after a temporary absence. If you plan to leave the U.S. and return to the University of Miami, you must have the necessary documents to permit entry to another country and reentry to the U.S. Entry to another country Reentry to the U.S. Properly endorsed Form DS-2019: If you have already used your Form DS-2019 to enter the U.S. once, then you must have page 1 of your Form DS-2019 endorsed by your J-1 Responsible Officer (your International Student and Scholar, ISSS, Advisor if you are sponsored by UM). Your ISSS advisor will automatically endorse page 1 of your Form DS-2019 for travel during scholar orientation. For any subsequent travel endorsements of your Form DS-2019, please contact your ISSS advisor by telephone or e-mail. Your ISSS advisor will provide you with an appointment with her to have Form DS-2019 endorsed again. Page 1 of your Form DS-2019, when properly endorsed, may be used for reentry to engage in research, teach, consult or engage in long-term observation after a temporary absence from the U.S. Each certification signature is valid for only one year from date of signature, or until the Form DS-2019 expiration date, whichever comes first. For J-1 exchange visitors in the short-term scholar category, each certification signature is valid for only six months from date of signature, or until the Form DS-2019 expiration date, whichever comes first. If your J-1 program is not sponsored by the University of Miami, then you must ask your J-1 program's Responsible Officer to endorse your Form DS-2019 for travel. Your ISSS advisor will not be able to endorse your Form DS-2019. Valid Passport: You must have a passport that is kept valid at all times while you are in the U.S. If your passport will expire within six months, contact your embassy in the U.S. (http://www.embassy.org) and make arrangements to renew as soon as possible.
Documents you will need for visa issuance: You will need a valid passport, a current photograph, a properly endorsed Form DS-2019, proof of financial capability for continuing research, teaching, consultation or long-term observation, and continued nonimmigrant intent. Please check the Department of State website to inquire what other documents you may need. Where to apply: Although you may be able to secure an original or renewal of a J-1 visa in a foreign country other than your own, your chances of being issued a J-1 visa are greatest when you apply at a U.S. consular office in your country of citizenship or permanent residency. You may face more stringent requirements in a third country and should allow more time in case of delays. It is not possible to obtain a J-1 visa in the U.S. When to apply: You usually cannot apply for a new visa until 90 days before the expiration of the old one. Visa voidance: If you have overstayed or been unlawfully present during your research, teaching, consultation or long-term observation immediately prior to leaving the U.S., you might be subject to visa voidance. Such overstayer exchange visitors would be subject to payment of the $180 Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee and would need to obtain a new J-1 visa stamp in the home country in order to reenter the U.S. The SEVIS fee must be paid online through use of a credit card, locally using the Western Union Quick Pay service, or by mail through use of a check or money order at least three days prior to the date SEVIS fee payment verification is required by the U.S. Consular Office. ISSS highly recommends that you file and pay the required SEVIS fee online with a credit card or in person through the Western Union Quick Pay service instead of by mail with a check or money order since the online option and the Western Union Quick Pay option result in speedier processing of your required fee payment. Please ask your ISSS Advisor for detailed information on options for payment of the SEVIS fee. "Automatic revalidation of visa" benefit: Under certain circumstances, you may reenter the U.S. with an expired visa as though the visa were still valid. An expired J-1 visa may be considered to be automatically extended to the date of application for readmission to the U.S. (and therefore the visa in the passport need not have an expiration date that is in the future), provided you do the following:
Under these circumstances, you may be saved the necessity of applying for a new J-1 visa even if your visa has expired. An exchange visitor whose visa has been canceled or voided is not eligible for automatic revalidation of visa benefit. Citizens of "state sponsors of terrorism" cannot take advantage of the automatic revalidation benefit. Any non-immigrant who chooses to apply for a new visa while in contiguous territory is not eligible for the automatic revalidation benefit during the course of that trip, but has to wait until the visa is granted in order to enter the U.S. Transfers: If you have lawfully transferred schools while in the U.S., the visa will specify the school for which it was initially issued. In this instance you may reenter with an unexpired J-1 visa and Form DS-2019 from the new school without having the new school's name endorsed on the visa. Status Violation and Travel: If you have violated your J-1 immigration status prior to traveling abroad and wish to seek reentry to the U.S. with a new Form DS-2019 to resume your J-1 status, you must pay the $180 SEVIS fee prior to being able to seek reentry to the U.S. with proper documentation.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued important reminders to assist international scholars (exchange visitors) expected to arrive in the United States. DHS offers the following recommendations for international scholars: 1. Hand carry (do not check with your baggage) the following documents:
Important Note: If you are a new J-1 exchange visitor program participant, remember to carry with you the sealed envelope given to you by the U.S. Department of State's Consular Officer and attached to your passport. It is important that you do not open this envelope. 2. Inform the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer at the port of entry as soon as possible that you will be a new or returning international scholar in the United States. 3. Report to your school or program upon arrival so that your program official can validate your participation in SEVIS. 4. Maintain contact with your designated sponsor official throughout your stay to ensure your SEVIS data is updated and accurate.
Prior to your arrival at the University of Miami (UM), you will receive an e-mail from International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), informing you of the date and time when you need to come to ISSS in person to complete your transfer to UM's J-1 program. On the date and at the time of your appointment, bring to ISSS your passport, Form DS-2019 from your previous J-1 program sponsor, Form I-94, and complete local address. Your transfer to UM will be completed, and you will receive your UM DS-2019 during the appointment.
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