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A valid U.S. visa stamp is required for entrance to the U.S.* A U.S. visa stamp can only be issued at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad and cannot be issued or renewed from within the U.S. When presented alongside other relevant immigration documents, the U.S. visa enables entry/re-entry to the U.S. and does not provide proof of work eligibility or any other benefit. Once inside the U.S. a visa stamp may expire, and individuals may remain in the U.S. as long as their other relevant immigration documents are valid into the future.

*Canadian Citizens

  • are not required to obtain a U.S. visa stamp for entrance to the U.S.;
  • are required to enter the the U.S. in the appropriate immigration status (F-1, J-1, H-1B, O-1, TN, etc.);
  • should bring all required documentation with them to the border crossing (either at the airport or the land border crossing), and be sure to clearly present the documentation to the immigration office to ensure that they are not admitted in tourist or visitor status. Tourist or visitor status do not permit study or work;
  • “Landed Immigrants” are required to obtain a U.S. visa stamp for entrance to the U.S.

Visa Application Process

For accurate and complete details regarding the visa application process and to schedule your visa interview see the U.S. Department of State website.

Locating your local U.S. Embassy/Consulate

A directory of local Consulate websites can be found here: http://www.usembassy.gov. Be sure to review the website of your specific local U.S. Consulate because directions are often country and site specific.

Necessary Documents for your Visa Interview

Below is a summary of required documents. This list is not exhaustive and you should consult the website of your local U.S. Consulate for a complete list of required documents. Specific information for employees can be found on H-1B, O-1, and TN pages.

  1. Passport (valid at least six months into the future) 
  2. Certificate of Eligibility (for F-1 your I-20, for J-1 your DS-2019) 
  3. Documentation of your Financial Support (JHU funding letter, bank statements, etc.) 
  4. Proof of Admission to JHU (students) or your Appointment Letter from JHU (scholars) 
  5. SEVIS Fee Receipt (F-1 & J-1 only) 
  6. All applicable visa application forms and fees 
  7. Any other documents required by your local U.S. Consulate

Visa Wait Times

Visa appointment wait times vary significantly depending on the country of application and the time of year (the Christmas holidays and May, June, and July can be busy times of year). For an estimate of current processing times at your local U.S. Consulate see the U.S. State Department Visa Wait Times. We strongly encourage applicants to apply as early as possible, in accordance with application timelines for the consulate location where you plan to apply. U.S. Consulates may accept F-1 visa appointments up to 365 days before the program start date (as indicated on your I-20). J-1 students may apply for a J-1 visa any time before the program start date indicated on the DS-2019.

Interview Waivers

The Department of State (DOS) has discontinued a pandemic era practice of waiving the interview requirement for some visa applicants. On February 18, 2025, DOS updated the categories of applicants that may be eligible for a waiver of the nonimmigrant visa interview. With this change, the demand for in-person interview appointments will increase which is expected to increase the wait times for visa appointments.

Administrative Processing

For some visa applicant’s additional security checks may need to be performed prior to a visa being issued. These security checks are often referred to as “Administrative Processing”. These are done for a variety of different reasons including your country of citizenship, field of study/research, having a name similar to that of an individual in a U.S. criminal database, etc. It is important to understand that additional processing is not a visa denial, it is a delay. Most processing will be completed within 60 days. Once this “Administrative Processing” has been initiated by the U.S. Consulate it cannot be stopped until it has been completed in Washington D.C. and no inquiries may be made on your behalf until 60 days have passed from the initiation of the processing. Individuals who become subject should review the U.S. State Department website on Administrative Processing.

Tip for Obtaining a Non-Immigrant Visa

Individuals should remember that an F-1 and J-1 visa are non-immigrant visas, meaning that persons applying for these types of visas must demonstrate, at the time of interview, that they do not have the intention to immigrate to the U.S. It is important that in an interview you are prepared to discuss your future life plans that include your return to your home country.

What to do if your visa application is denied

  • Remain calm and ask for the reason for the denial in writing
  • Once you have received the denial take some time to write down as much about the interview as you can remember (i.e. the questions you were asked, the answers you provided and any supporting documentation that you provided to the consulate)
  • Email this visa interview summary to an advisor at the OIS and we will review your denial and advise you on a path forward
  • You may reapply for your visa again, but it is not advisable to do so until/unless you can provide new and compelling information.  An overview of information about visa denials can be found here