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Transfer J-1 Students
If you are
maintaining your J-1 status you may transfer from one school with an
exchange visitor program to another by following the transfer procedures
below. The purpose of the transfer must be to complete the objective
of the exchange program for which you were admitted to exchange visitor
status.
Transfer Procedures:
- Inform your current school of your intention to transfer and request
a release of your record in SEVIS
- Obtain a new DS-2019 from the Office of International Services prior to the expiration date of your current DS-2019
- Check in with the Office of International Services
within 30 days of the program start date on your DS-2019 from OHSU
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Applying for a Visa
You should apply
for a J-1 visa at the U.S. consulate or embassy with jurisdiction over
your place of residence. You must include the following documents with
your application for a J-1 visa:
- Form DS-2019- You must complete and sign the section where it is marked "Exchange Visitor Certification"
- Evidence of financial ability to meet expenses- You must
provide proof that you have enough funding to cover tuition, health
insurance, and living expenses. This should be in the form of an official
letter from your sponsor, a scholarship agreement from OHSU, etc.
- Evidence of English proficiency and intention and ability to
study- You must provide proof that you have been accepted as a
student at OHSU. You will need to take your DS-2019 form and your
acceptance letter with you to the visa interview. You will also want
to provide evidence that demonstrates that you have the skills necessary
to successfully complete the course of study to which you have been
admitted. The following types of documents can be used in demonstrating
your skills: diplomas, transcripts showing the courses you have taken,
TOEFL score report and other score reports such as GRE and GMAT, etc.
- Evidence of intent to depart the United States after completion
of studies- The main reason that prospective students are denied
visas is because they fail to prove to the consulate officer that
they will return to their home country once they have completed their
courses of study. A J-1 visa is a temporary visa, so you must prove
that you intend to return to your home country when you have finished
your course of study. This can be proved by showing ties to your home
country. The following types of evidence can be used in showing your
ties: evidence that shows you or your family own a business and/or
property in your home country; evidence that a company in your home
country will give you a job when you return; evidence that you have
the skills necessary to succeed in the fields that are in demand in
your home country
- A valid passport
- Form DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application)-This form is
available on the Department of State's web-site at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html
- Form DS-157 (Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application) if applicable-
This form is also available on the Department of State's web-site
listed above.
- Form DS-158 (Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant
Visa Applicant)- This form is also available on the Department
of State's web-site listed above.
- Photograph
- Machine Readable Visa (MRV) surcharge fee
- Visa Reciprocity Fee (if applicable)- A listing of visa reciprocity
fees is available on the Department of State's web-site at
http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/fees/fees_1341.html
- SEVIS Fee-
Pursuant to new Department of Homeland Security regulations, a $100 SEVIS fee must be paid prior to applying for a J-1 visa. This can be done online at www.fmjfee.com , or by mail. Since you must take the receipt with you to the interview at the consular office, we recommend that you pay online in order to get a receipt immediately rather than waiting approximately 4 weeks to receive one by mail.
The web-site http://usembassy.state.gov/
will provide you with information on applying for a visa at U.S. consulates
located around the world. You will want to be familiar with the rules and procedures
of issuing visas before you apply for yours. Since visa procedures vary
depending on what consulate you go to it is recommended that you check
the above web-site for the procedures at the U.S. consulate you plan
on going to.
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Entering the United States in J-1 Status
When
you arrive at the U.S. port of entry you must present the documents
listed below to the immigration official:
- A valid passport (unless you are
exempt from the passport requirement)
- A valid J-1 visa (unless you are exempt from the visa requirement,
i.e. Canadian citizens)
- Evidence of Financial Support
- Form DS-2019
- Form I-94
The immigration official will return the DS-2019 to you along with
Form I-94. Form I-94 should be marked J-1 (J-2 for dependents) and D/S,
which stands for duration of status.
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Changing to J-1 Status in the United States
Most
nonimmigrants in the United States may apply for a change of status
to J-1 if they have maintained lawful nonimmigrant status. However,
certain immigration categories prevent you from applying for a change
of status in the United States (i.e. persons in J-2 status subject to
the two-year residency requirement, persons who entered on the visa
waiver program, etc.) Please contact the Office of International Services to determine if you are eligible to apply for a change
of status.
Application Procedures- In order to apply for a change of
status you must submit a completed application packet to the U.S.Citizenship and Immigration Services
Service Center having jurisdiction over your place of residence. The
following documents are required for a change of status application:
- Form I-539 available at http://uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm
- Filing Fee of $200 in the form of a check or money order made
out to the Department of Homeland Security
- Form DS-2019 completed and signed in the section marked "Exchange Visitor Certification"
- Financial documentation (the same documentation you submitted
in order to receive the DS-2019)
- A copy of the front and back of your Form I-94
- A copy of the biography page and extension pages of your passport
- A copy of your U.S. visa (if applicable, i.e. Canadians are not
required to have a visa to enter the U.S.)
- Copies of documentation verifying the validity of your current
immigration status. (please contact the Office of International
Services for a list of documents required for your
particular status.
- A letter from you explaining why you want to apply for a change
of status. The immigration officer reviewing your application may deny
your request if he/she believes the principle reason for the change
of status is to enable your J-2 dependents to apply for permission
to work.
- SEVIS Fee-Pursuant to new Department of Homeland Security regulations, a $100 SEVIS fee must be paid prior to applying for change of status to J-1. This can be done online at www.fmjfee.com or by mail. Since you must mail the receipt with your change of status application we recommend that you pay online in order to get a receipt immediately rather than waiting approximately 4 weeks to receive one by mail.
Dependents- If you have dependents that will be applying for
a change of status with you they must also submit a copy of their
I-94s, passport, visa and documentation verifying the validity of
their current status.
If you would like help with your change of status application
please contact the Office of International Services.
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Bringing dependents to the United States
A
spouse or unmarried children(under 21 years of age) may accompany a
you to the United States or join you at a later date in the United
States. Dependent family members will be given J-2 status. If dependents
will be accompanying you to the United States they will receive their
own DS-2019 form. A dependent of an J-1 student will need the following
documents to apply for a J-2 visa:
- Form DS-2019 as described above
- Evidence of financial ability to meet expenses
- Marriage certificate or birth certificate
- Evidence of intent to depart the United States after the J-1
completes his/her studies
- A valid Passport
- Form DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Application)-This form is
available on the Department of State's web-site at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/forms/forms_1342.html
- Form DS-157 (Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application) if applicable-
This form is also available on the Department of State's web-site
listed above.
- Form DS-158 (Contact Information and Work History for Nonimmigrant
Visa Applicant)- This form is also available on the Department
of State's web-site listed above.
- Photograph
- Machine Readable Visa (MRV) surcharge fee
- Visa Reciprocity Fee (if applicable)- A listing of visa reciprocity
fees is available on the Department of State's web-site at http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/fees/fees_1341.html
The web-site http://usembassy.state.gov/
will provide you with information on applying for a visa at U.S. consulates
located around the world. You will want to be familiar with the rules and procedures
of issuing visas before you apply for yours. Since visa procedures vary
depending on what consulate you go to it is recommended that you check
the above web-site for the procedures at the U.S. consulate you plan
on applying for your visa at.
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J-1 Prospective Student Forms
You can
obtain the forms mentioned below from the Office of International Services or you can download them in PDF format by clicking on the
desired form below. Download
Adobe Acrobat Reader for Free
Exchange Visitor
Health Insurance Requirements
