As a general rule, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a non-immigration visa for temporary stay or an immigration visa for permanent stay. Exchange Visitor (J) Visa is a non-immigration visa for individuals authorized to participate in exchange visit programs in the United States. To accept your J-1 visa application, you must obtain final authorization from a consular officer at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Depending on where you are, wait times for an appointment can vary, so it`s important to plan at an early stage to make sure you have enough time before you start your program. A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States. A visa only allows a foreign national to travel to a U.S. port of entry (usually an airport) and apply for permission to enter the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), United States Customs and Border Guard (CBP) officers at the port of entry are authorized to authorize or deny entry into the United States.
Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require a visa to enter the United States as students, although they must present a valid DS-2019 form at the time of admission. For more information, see Citizens of Canada and Bermuda. Attempting to obtain a visa through a deliberate misrepresentation of a fact or substantial fraud may lead to a permanent visa denial or denial of entry into the United States. A consular officer will interview you to determine your qualifications for an exchange visitor visa and may request additional documents, for example.B. Proof of: Collect and prepare the following necessary documents before your visa interview: You can apply again if you think you have additional evidence of your qualifications for an exchange visitor (J) visa or believe that your circumstances have changed. For more information, see Visa Denials. Visitors cannot travel with the Visa Waiver Program or with visit visas – An Exchange Visitor Visa (J) is required to participate in an exchange visit program in the United States. Foreign nationals are not allowed to study after entry on a visit visa (B) or through the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) For more information about the VWP, see Visa Waiver Program. Check the instructions for applying for a visa on the website of the embassy or consulate to which you are applying.
Interviews are usually necessary for visa applicants, with some limited exceptions below. Consular officials may request the questioning of a visa applicant. You must pay a SEVIS I-901 fee to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as part of your J-1 visa application – or this fee may already be part of your program fee to your sponsoring organization. It is important to check with your sponsor to find out if they are paid by you or for you. If the sponsor pays the SEVIS fee on your behalf, make sure you receive a receipt that will confirm the payment. After your visa interview, the consular officer may find that your application requires additional administrative processing. The consular officer will inform you if necessary. Acceptance into the Exchange Visitor Program – The first step is to apply for an exchange visit program through a designated sponsoring organization in the United States and be included in it. To learn more about program requirements, rules, and more, visit the U.S. Department of State`s J-1 Visa Exchange Visitor Program website. After acceptance of your participation by the exchange program, you are enrolled in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and you must pay the SEVIS I-901 tax (except in some cases – contact the sponsor of your exchange program).
Visit the USA Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) website to learn more about SEVIS and sevis I-901 Fairy. Whether you`re first-time applying for or renewing your visa, use the same application process (see How to Apply, above).
