J-1 Graduate Information Sheet - Bechtel International Center at ...
J-1 Graduate Information Sheet - Bechtel International Center at ...
J-1 Graduate Information Sheet - Bechtel International Center at ...
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J-1 <strong>Gradu<strong>at</strong>e</strong> <strong>Inform<strong>at</strong>ion</strong> <strong>Sheet</strong> - <strong>Bechtel</strong> <strong>Intern<strong>at</strong>ional</strong> <strong>Center</strong> <strong>at</strong> Stanford University<br />
Phone 650/723-1831 FAX 650/725-0886 http://icenter.stanford.edu<br />
Dear Student,<br />
We are delighted to know you have been admitted to Stanford University and look forward to meeting you in September! This<br />
handout will explain how to obtain your J-1 student visa. Over the next few weeks, we will email you other important inform<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
on topics such as Stanford’s student health insurance requirements and intern<strong>at</strong>ional orient<strong>at</strong>ion programs for gradu<strong>at</strong>e students.<br />
With best wishes,<br />
John Pearson, Director<br />
Obtaining your J-1 Student Visa<br />
This inform<strong>at</strong>ion is for students who plan to enter the U.S. for the first time using the J-1 visa to study <strong>at</strong> Stanford University. Students<br />
already studying in the U.S. on an J-1 (or other) visa and who plan on <strong>at</strong>tending Stanford in J-1 visa st<strong>at</strong>us, should see the section on<br />
page 3 titled “<strong>Inform<strong>at</strong>ion</strong> for Non-Immigrants Currently Residing in the U.S.”<br />
There are two web sites th<strong>at</strong> can give you background inform<strong>at</strong>ion on the visa process:<br />
http://travel.st<strong>at</strong>e.gov/visa/visa_1750.html http://travel.st<strong>at</strong>e.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1268.html<br />
STEPS:<br />
1. In order to study in the U.S., intern<strong>at</strong>ional students will need the Certific<strong>at</strong>e of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) St<strong>at</strong>us (or<br />
"DS-2019"), a valid passport, the appropri<strong>at</strong>e U.S. Nonimmigrant visa, proof of SEVIS Fee payment, proof of financial support<br />
and a little p<strong>at</strong>ience. (Canadian students who enter the U.S. directly from Canada must still present the DS-2019, passport,<br />
Stanford admission letter, proof of SEVIS Fee payment and proof of financial support <strong>at</strong> the port of entry, but are exempt from the<br />
visa requirement.)<br />
2. <strong>Inform<strong>at</strong>ion</strong> on how to apply for a J-1 intern<strong>at</strong>ional student visa can be found <strong>at</strong> your local U.S. Consul<strong>at</strong>e or Embassy website<br />
(http://usembassy.st<strong>at</strong>e.gov/). We suggest you apply early, although some consul<strong>at</strong>es have a 90-120 day maximum lead time.<br />
3. Make sure you have your Stanford DS-2019, and have paid the SEVIS Fee before scheduling a visa appointment. Instructions on<br />
how to pay this fee can be found <strong>at</strong>: http://icenter.stanford.edu/students/new/visa_info.html. You should pay this fee <strong>at</strong> least 2<br />
weeks before your visa interview and take the receipt (form I-901) when you go to your visa interview.<br />
4. To obtain an J-1 visa stamp, you will need to submit the following items to a U.S. consul<strong>at</strong>e: (1) Stanford DS-2019 (2) Financial<br />
documents (3) Valid passport (4) Two passport-size (37 mm X 37 mm) photographs. You will need original documents for your<br />
applic<strong>at</strong>ion. The Consular Officer will require you to provide the same (and possibly additional) financial document<strong>at</strong>ion you<br />
provided to Stanford. You will most likely also be required to show this document<strong>at</strong>ion <strong>at</strong> the port of entry in the U.S, so get a<br />
duplic<strong>at</strong>e set of original financial documents. You will be required to complete form DS-156 (Nonimmigrant Visa Applic<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
Form) and any other forms required by the particular Consul<strong>at</strong>e in your home country, such as DS-157, DS-158 or DS-160. You<br />
should also take the school admission letter, evidence of language proficiency, and any inform<strong>at</strong>ion th<strong>at</strong> shows you will return to<br />
your home country after finishing your studies in the U.S.<br />
5. Remember th<strong>at</strong> first impressions are very important. At the interview, be respectful, dress well, answer honestly, and maintain<br />
"eye contact" with the Consul. In U.S. culture, failure to make eye contact (looking away, or down too often), could be interpreted<br />
as being evasive. Be clear about your educ<strong>at</strong>ional plans, anticip<strong>at</strong>e th<strong>at</strong> the interview will be in English, remember th<strong>at</strong> the<br />
interview will not be long, so be clear and concise.<br />
6. Most Stanford students routinely obtain their visa. Occasionally there may be a visa denial or delay. If your visa is denied you<br />
will be given a reason. If it is delayed the reason could be th<strong>at</strong> your SEVIS record doesn’t appear in the Consul<strong>at</strong>e d<strong>at</strong>abase, or<br />
th<strong>at</strong> a security clearance background check is needed. Usually a security clearance could take an average 3-8 weeks. Please email<br />
to john.pearson@stanford.edu if you do not receive your visa within 30 days of your visa interview.<br />
7. The length of the visa validity, number of entries permitted, and applic<strong>at</strong>ion fee are based on reciprocity and generally reflect your<br />
country's policies in granting visa privileges to visiting U.S. students.<br />
After obtaining your DS-2019, if you determine you will NOT <strong>at</strong>tend Stanford University, it is your responsibility to inform your<br />
Department. You must also return the original DS-2019 to the I-<strong>Center</strong> (<strong>Bechtel</strong> <strong>Intern<strong>at</strong>ional</strong> <strong>Center</strong>, 584 Capistrano Way, Stanford<br />
University, Stanford, CA 94305 USA).
Entering the U.S. and Future Travel and Re-Entry<br />
Upon your initial entry into the U.S. with a J-1 visa, the officer <strong>at</strong> the port of entry will review your documents. In addition to your<br />
passport and DS-2019, please keep Stanford’s admission letter, proof of SEVIS Fee payment and proof of financial support handy. For<br />
the initial J-1 entry into the U.S., regul<strong>at</strong>ions require you to <strong>at</strong>tend the school th<strong>at</strong> issued the DS-2019 you use to enter the United St<strong>at</strong>es<br />
and for which the U.S. Consul<strong>at</strong>e has issued your visa stamp. Failure to do so is considered a viol<strong>at</strong>ion of your visa st<strong>at</strong>us. You may<br />
enter the U.S. up to 30 days prior to the reporting d<strong>at</strong>e indic<strong>at</strong>ed in section #3 of the DS-2019. The reporting d<strong>at</strong>e is usually the d<strong>at</strong>e<br />
classes start in the fall.<br />
You will be fingerprinted and photographed (a regul<strong>at</strong>ion th<strong>at</strong> applies to ALL visa holders). The immigr<strong>at</strong>ion services officials will<br />
give you the 1-94 (arrival/departure record) card. Usually this form is handed to you in the airplane along with the U.S. customs form.<br />
Please make sure th<strong>at</strong> this form is filled out clearly and is consistent with your personal inform<strong>at</strong>ion printed in your passport. Make sure<br />
th<strong>at</strong> you have "J-1" and "D/S" (dur<strong>at</strong>ion of st<strong>at</strong>us) written on your I-94 card <strong>at</strong> the port of entry. Please remember th<strong>at</strong> your st<strong>at</strong>us as a<br />
student ends upon completion of your studies and not necessarily the completion d<strong>at</strong>e noted on your DS-2019, or the d<strong>at</strong>e you would<br />
like to <strong>at</strong>tend the Gradu<strong>at</strong>ion Ceremony.<br />
The immigr<strong>at</strong>ion officer will examine your documents before returning them to you. Be sure to keep your DS-2019 in a safe place,<br />
since you must use this form for travel and return to the U.S. In addition, immigr<strong>at</strong>ion regul<strong>at</strong>ions require you to carry the I-94 card<br />
and your passport <strong>at</strong> all times. In the future, before you travel outside the U.S., remember to bring your DS-2019 to the <strong>Bechtel</strong><br />
<strong>Intern<strong>at</strong>ional</strong> <strong>Center</strong> (I-<strong>Center</strong>) and request a travel sign<strong>at</strong>ure. A travel sign<strong>at</strong>ure is valid for re-entry to the U.S. for a year, provided<br />
your absence from the U.S. is less than 5 months. Absences of more than 5 months require entry with a newly issued DS-2019.<br />
Do not enter the U.S. on a B tourist visa, visa waiver, or any other visa type. Entering the U.S. on a visa type other than the J-1<br />
student visa may temporarily bar your enrollment <strong>at</strong> Stanford. It will also forfeit your employment benefit as an J-1 visa holder.<br />
Orient<strong>at</strong>ion<br />
There will be an orient<strong>at</strong>ion for new intern<strong>at</strong>ional gradu<strong>at</strong>e students, which is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 17. In early<br />
summer we will send you further inform<strong>at</strong>ion as well as upd<strong>at</strong>e our web site <strong>at</strong> http://icenter.stanford.edu.<br />
On arrival <strong>at</strong> Stanford, check in <strong>at</strong> the I-<strong>Center</strong> so th<strong>at</strong> we can verify 1) your physical arrival on campus and 2) th<strong>at</strong> you have<br />
accur<strong>at</strong>ely entered your local Stanford address in Axess. Only after these verific<strong>at</strong>ions can your fall enrollment hold be removed.<br />
Maintaining Your J-l Visa St<strong>at</strong>us<br />
Be sure to read Page 2 of your DS-2019 form, as it contains important inform<strong>at</strong>ion concerning visa regul<strong>at</strong>ions and wh<strong>at</strong> is required of<br />
you to maintain student visa st<strong>at</strong>us. Sign page 1 after reading the terms and conditions of admission explained in page 2. Since the 1-<br />
94 card, passport and the I-20 are very important documents, you should make photocopies of them in case of loss.<br />
During your stay <strong>at</strong> Stanford, the I-<strong>Center</strong> will send email announcements about important immigr<strong>at</strong>ion issues th<strong>at</strong> affect you as an<br />
intern<strong>at</strong>ional student. Make sure to read these announcements, and speak to an advisor <strong>at</strong> the I-<strong>Center</strong> if you have questions<br />
Maintaining your legal student st<strong>at</strong>us is an important part of your stay in the U.S. While maintaining your legal st<strong>at</strong>us is ultim<strong>at</strong>ely your<br />
responsibility, we are here to assist you and you should always come and speak with an advisor whenever you have any questions about<br />
your st<strong>at</strong>us.<br />
<strong>Inform<strong>at</strong>ion</strong> on maintaining your st<strong>at</strong>us can be found <strong>at</strong>: http://icenter.stanford.edu/students/current/maintaining.html<br />
<strong>Inform<strong>at</strong>ion</strong> for Non-immigrants Currently Residing in the U.S.<br />
• If you <strong>at</strong>tended another U.S. School in J-1 st<strong>at</strong>us prior to beginning <strong>at</strong>tendance <strong>at</strong> Stanford, you have been issued a new DS-2019. If<br />
you are currently <strong>at</strong>tending a U.S. school in J-1 st<strong>at</strong>us and the J-1 visa in your passport is valid and your Stanford DS-2019 bears the<br />
same SEVIS ID # as the DS-2019 from your old school, you do NOT need to obtain a new visa in your passport.<br />
• If you are residing in the U.S. under another nonimmigrant visa type, you will need to apply to change your visa type to J-1 before<br />
enrolling <strong>at</strong> Stanford. There are two ways do this: 1) Apply to the USCIS for a change of visa type while remaining in the U.S. This<br />
option can take about 120+ days, and, depending on your situ<strong>at</strong>ion, may not allow you to enroll for classes until your change of st<strong>at</strong>us<br />
has been approved. 2) Leave the U.S. and obtain an J-l student visa <strong>at</strong> a U.S. consul<strong>at</strong>e (preferably in your home country) and use the<br />
Stanford DS-2019 to enter the U.S. in J-l student st<strong>at</strong>us. This is usually the quickest and easiest way to change your visa st<strong>at</strong>us. In both<br />
cases you will need to pay the SEVIS fee. NOTE: If you have a B visa with a not<strong>at</strong>ion st<strong>at</strong>ing th<strong>at</strong> it is not eligible for change of st<strong>at</strong>us,<br />
you will NOT be allowed to change visa st<strong>at</strong>us within the U.S. Immigr<strong>at</strong>ion regul<strong>at</strong>ions prohibit students with pending change of<br />
st<strong>at</strong>us from B-2 to J-1 from enrolling in classes.<br />
If you still have questions regarding your visa st<strong>at</strong>us, please contact intern<strong>at</strong>ionalstudents@stanford.edu. <strong>Inform<strong>at</strong>ion</strong> can also be<br />
found on the I-<strong>Center</strong>’s web page: http://icenter.stanford.edu<br />
Please note th<strong>at</strong> the <strong>Intern<strong>at</strong>ional</strong> <strong>Center</strong> cannot return intern<strong>at</strong>ional phone calls.<br />
(Initial Entry grad 06/14/2012.doc)