As a J-1 student, it is important to understand your immigration documents, their purpose, and the requirements to maintain accurate and valid documentation. As part of the J-1 Student Check-in, you are required to provide the Office of International Services (OIS) with copies of certain immigration documents. J-1 regulations require that you maintain a valid passport and DS-2019, and that you carry a printed copy of your I-94 at all times.
Passport
Your passport, issued by your country of citizenship, must remain valid at all times. Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond both the date you apply for a visa and your date of entry to the U.S.
To renew your passport in the U.S., contact your country’s embassy or consulate. If your passport is lost or stolen, notify both your county’s embassy/consulate and OIS. If it was stolen, report it to the police.
If you receive a new or updated passport, please notify OIS.
DS-2019: Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (J-1)
The DS-2019 is a legal document that confirms your acceptance to a U.S. institution for full-time study, research, or scholarly activities. The DS-2019 is necessary to apply for a J-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad and to pay the SEVIS (I-901) fee. Upon receiving of the DS-2019, be sure to print, sign and date on the bottom of page 1.
Page 2 of Form DS-2019 provides standard regulatory information about the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program which you should review and understand as it pertains to your J-1 status. Click HERE to view page 2.
The DS-2019 must accurately reflect your program of study, program start and end dates, and the source of your financial support. Any changes to personal, academic, or funding information must be updated by submitting the appropriate request in iHopkins. For assistance, contact the appropriate OIS team:
- J-1 Degree-Seeking & Exchange Students: [email protected]
- J-1 Scholars & Visiting Students: [email protected]
If you plan to travel after your initial entry to the U.S., make sure to request a new DS-2019 with a travel signature on page 1 (under the ‘Travel Validation by Responsible Officer’ section). The travel signature is required for re-entry into the U.S. Remember to present the DS-2019 at the U.S. port of entry each time you enter in J-1 status. Keep all DS-2019s issued; they may be necessary for future immigration applications.
If your DS-2019 is lost or stolen, report it to OIS immediately.
J-1 Visa
The visa is a stamp placed in your passport by a U.S. consular officer, allowing you to apply for entry to the U.S. as a J-1 student. You may remain in the U.S. with an expired visa, as the expiration date does not determine how long you can stay. A visa can only be renewed outside the U.S.
Canadian and Bermudian citizens are not required to obtain a U.S. visa stamp; however, they must enter the U.S. in the appropriate immigration status (J-1, e.g.) and carry all required documentation when entering through an airport or land border crossing. It is important to ensure that you are not admitted under tourist or visitor status.
Automatic Revalidation allows certain nonimmigrants to re-enter the U.S. with an expired U.S. visa stamp in their valid passport after visiting Canada, Mexico or an adjacent island for fewer than 30 days.
For more detail on visa stamps, visit Applying for a U.S. Visa Stamp and Renewing a Visa Stamp.
I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issues an I-94 Arrival/Departure Record upon entry to the U.S., either at a port of entry or a pre-clearance location abroad.
To access your I-94, visit the CBP I-94 website, and complete the online form using information from your passport. Ensure that the ‘Class of Admission’ is J-1 and ‘Admit until Date’ is D/S (for “duration of status”). Download, print and save a copy of your I-94 after each entry to the U.S.
J-1 regulations require that you carry a printed copy of your I-94 at all times. OIS will require your most recent I-94 (not travel history) for immigration benefits and for completing Check-in. If you’re unable to locate your I-94, try the following:
- Reverse your given name and surname
- Omit your middle/second name
- Combine your first and middle name
- If your passport contains the number ‘1,’ enter the letter ‘l’ instead; if it contains a ‘0’, enter letter ‘O’
- Reverse the day and month of your birthdate
- Use your SEVIS number (located at the top left of your DS-2019) instead of your passport number
- Use the visa foil number (printed in red on the visa stamp) instead of the passport number
Office of International Services
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