TRAVEL AND J-1 VISA INFORMATION Travel Outside the United States When you enter the United States for the first time a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the portof-entry will stamp your Form DS-2019 in Box 6. This stamp validates your first entry into the U.S. on your J-1 visa. For subsequent travel outside of the United States, an Alternate Responsible Officer at the Institute of International Education’s (IIE) Division of Enrichment and Professional Development must sign in the box located in the lower right-hand corner of your Form DS-2019 (“Travel Validation by Responsible Officer”) during your exchange visitor program. This signature not only authorizes you to travel outside the United States, but also indicates that you are maintaining your J-1 status. We strongly recommend that if you have a single-entry visa you do not travel outside the US while participating in your exchange visitor program. A travel signature issued by an IIE Alternate Responsible Officer is valid for twelve (12) months after the date of issue, or until the end date of your Form DS-2019, whichever comes first. Only an IIE Alternate Responsible Officer can sign the Form DS-2019. Your supervisor at your host institution cannot sign your Form DS-2019. Therefore, if you need a travel validation signature on your Form DS-2019, please send it to the address below, along with a brief letter or the travel validation request form and a prepaid self-addressed envelope. Please make sure to include your dates of travel/travel plans and also the address to where you would like the signed Form(s) DS-2019 returned. Institute of International Education Enrichment and Professional Development Attention: Cultural and Professional Exchanges 809 United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017 E-mail: internationalteachers@iie.org Important Note: The above applies to any J-2 Dependent(s) who wish to travel outside of the U.S. Re-entry Procedures for the United States In order to re-enter the United States after traveling to another country you will need:
A passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond your date of entry into the U.S. Your Form DS-2019, signed for travel by an IIE Alternative Responsible Officer. A valid U.S. J-1 visa (except for visits of less than 30 days to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean). If your visa has expired, follow the J-1 visa renewal instructions below.
Upon re-entering the United States it is important that you verify that the U.S. CBP officer has stamped your Form DS-2019 and I-94 card with “J-1 D/S” or in case of any dependents, “J-2 D/S”. It is strongly recommended that you also carry with you:
Evidence of participation in your exchange program, such as your Terms of Appointment, an offer/award letter or other official correspondence/documents from your host institution. Evidence of your financial resources, such as an award/offer letter and/or personal bank statements.
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Name and contact information of your IIE representative.
If the U.S. CBP officer at the port-of-entry cannot verify your information or you do not have all of the required documentation, you may be directed to “secondary inspection.” During this interview the U.S. CBP official will conduct additional research to verify your information, without causing delays for other arriving individuals. Important Note: All of the above information applies to any traveling J-2 Dependents as well. For comprehensive information on procedures for traveling and arriving in the U.S. go to:
http://www.ice.gov/sevis/students/index.htm or http://www.dhs.gov/us-visit
Short Trips to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands: If you intend to visit Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands for less than 30 days and the J-1 visa in your passport has expired, you do not need to obtain a new visa for re-entry into the U.S. This process is called Automatic Revalidation. As you leave the U.S., do not surrender your I-94 card (Arrival-Departure Record), which is stapled inside your passport. Instead:
If you are flying: Make a photocopy of your I-94 card before your departure. Present the photocopy of your I-94 card and show your round-trip ticket to the airline attendant. If you are driving: Present your documents and explain to the port-of-entry official that you are visiting for less than 30 days and that you need to keep your I-94 card. At your port of re-entry to the United States, present your passport, J-1 visa, Form DS-2019, and I-94 card.
Important Notes: All of the above information also applies to any traveling J-2 Dependents. If during your short visit of less than 30 days to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean you choose to apply to renew your J-1 visa and your application is denied, the denial will be reflected in your passport and you will NOT be permitted to re-enter the United States. If during your visit you have not applied to renew your J-1 visa, you may If you will visit Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands for more than 30 days, you must have a valid J-1 visa for re-entry into the U.S. Citizens of Cuba, Iran, Sudan and Syria are not eligible to use the automatic revalidation process and must have a valid J-1 visa to enter the U.S. Please consult http://www.ice.gov/sevis/travel/faq_f2.htm for details. J-1 Visa Renewal If you need to renew your J-1 visa, please contact the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country you are visiting prior to your departure. Application procedures for U.S. visas vary across U.S. Embassies, and some U.S. Embassies or Consulates will serve only nationals of the country in which the U.S. Embassy or Consulate is located. Please consult the U.S. Department of State website at http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html and click on “Find a U.S. Embassy” for specific information. In any regard, please keep in mind when renewing your visa you will be required to submit:
Visa application A passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the end date of your Form DS-2019 A Form DS-2019 signed by IIE Alternate Responsible Officer Evidence of participation in an exchange program, such as your signed Terms of Appointment
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Evidence of financial support, such as award/offer letter from your host organization and/or personal bank statements
Please note that you may also be required to attend an in-person interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. The U.S. Embassy or Consulate will outline these procedures for you. To find out typical wait times to obtain an exchange visitor visa go to: http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php. Important Note: If you are planning to travel to a country that is not your home country (referred to as a "third" country), and your J-1 visa has expired, you will need a new J-1 visa to return to the United States. It is very difficult for students and scholars to renew their visas at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in a third country. If you choose to renew your visa in a third country and you are denied the visa, you will need to return to your home country and apply for the visa there. As there is no guarantee that you will be issued a visa in either case, please consider your travel plans carefully before departing. U.S.-VISIT Program When you enter the United States after traveling abroad, the U.S. CBP official processing your entry will use an inkless fingerprint scanner to read your index finger print. The official will also take a digital photograph of you. Together with the standard information gathered about your identity and travel, US-VISIT will verify your identity and compliance with visa and immigration policies. Race, national origin and religion are not factors in the USVISIT program, as it applies to ALL non-immigrant visa holders. For more information about US-VISIT, go to http://www.dhs.gov/us-visit. Important Note: Canadian nationals (except those entering in E or K status) are not subject to US-VISIT. J-1 Visa Terms
SEVIS Form DS-2019 (Certification of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor [J-1] Status) — Required for of J1 entry visa; also supports permission to stay in the United States for duration of period indicated while engaging in approved activities. Form DS-2019 must be valid throughout your stay in the United States.
Visa - Entry permit stamp in passport; may expire while in the United States without penalty. There is no process to renew the J-1 entry visa in the United States either through the U.S. Department of State or any other U.S. Government agency. The entry visa does not need to be renewed unless the exchange visitor plans to leave the United States and seek re-entry. An entry visa may be renewed by a Visa Issuing Officer at the American Embassy in your home country.
Duration of Status - At United States port-of-entry, a "D/S" on the I-94 card should be annotated [ArrivalDeparture Record] and also in Box 6 of the Form DS-2019. D/S indicates that the exchange visitor is in status as long as his/her Form DS-2019 is valid and s/he engages in authorized activities.
Valid Program Status - The Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) Office of the United States Department of State considers an exchange visitor to be in "valid program status" only through the completion of approved J-1 activities, regardless of the end date of the Form DS-2019. EVP does not consider the thirtyday grace period as part of valid program status.
30-Day Grace Period - Upon completion of approved J-1 activities (even if earlier than the end date of the Form DS-2019), the U.S. Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services grants exchange visitors 30 days during which the only activities in which they may engage are travel within the United States and/or preparation for departure.
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