What are the necessary steps to obtain a J1 visa?
Your application must include the following documents:
- Form DS-3035 (with the barcode);
- Copies of every Form DS-2019/IAP 566 that you have received incident to your J-1 status;
- Two self-addressed, stamped legal-size envelopes;
- The application fee ($120 at the time of this writing, plus an additional $930 if you are also required to file Form I-612.) The application fee must be submitted by ...
What are the requirements for the J1 visa?
- You have a no-objection statement from your country.
- You have a request for work by an interested US federal government agency.
- You may be persecuted if you go back to your country.
- Your US citizen spouse and children may suffer exceptional hardship if you go back.
- You have a request to stay from the Conrad State 30 Program.
Can I Change my J1 status to a visitor visa?
Please note that you are not eligible to change your status if you are a J-1 Exchange Visitor subject to the 2-year foreign residence requirement. However, you may be able to obtain a J-1 visa waiver and remain in the United States.
Can I travel outside the US on a J1 visa?
While you are studying at IUPUI you may want to travel outside the United States: But, before you pack your luggage, there are some steps you need to take to protect your J-1 status. Before you leave the country, make sure you have a valid travel signature from an OIA advisor or your program sponsor on your DS-2019.
How long can you extend a J-1 visa?
six monthsThere are special extensions available for professors and research scholars who are on the J-1 visa program. After the initial three-month maximum duration period, eligible individuals can extend their stay for an added six months to complete their designated research or program.
How can I extend my J-1?
The J1 visa extension requires that you submit the following documents:You must be able to demonstrate that you can pay your fees, tuition and living expenses for at least one year if your sponsoring program cannot do so.Fill out form DS-2019 and form IAP-66.Present your passport.Fill out the form I-94.More items...•
Can I stay in the US after my J-1 visa expires?
Grace Period: J-1 Visa Holders have a 30 day grace period after the end date on their DS-2019 Form. The Grace Period is a benefit of the J-1 status to allow J-1 visa holders time after their status to remain in the US.
Can J-1 visa be extended beyond 5 years?
J-1 Professors and Researcher Scholars have a 5-year time limit on their stays in this immigration class. DOS does not permit extensions beyond 5 years. J-1 Short-term Scholars have a 6-month time limit on their stays in this immigration class. DOS does not permit extensions beyond 6 months.
What happens if I overstay my J-1 visa?
If your SEVIS (or DS-2019) is terminated OR you overstay your grace period, you could be accruing unlawful presence. This can lead to arrest and deportation proceedings. Accruing unlawful presence may result in being barred from the U.S. for many years or even permanently.
Can I apply for J-1 visa second time?
Can I apply for a J-1 visa twice? Yes. The J-1 visa for interns and trainees can be applied for multiple times.
Can I convert J-1 visa to H1B?
To transfer your J1 visa to an H1B visa: You must obtain a job offer from a US employer before you can apply. You must go through the H1B visa application process.
Can you convert J-1 visa to green card?
J-1 Waiver to Green Card Process. Technically, J-1 visa holders are not eligible for the U.S. green card. In order to obtain a J-1 visa, you need to demonstrate that you have ties to your home country (such as family or assets) and that you fully intend to return once your J-1 stint has ended.
Can I convert my J-1 visa to f1?
Applications to change to F-1/J-1 status may be submitted to the USCIS up to six months in advance of the start date on Form I-20/DS-2019, but may not be approved by the USCIS until 120 days or less before the start date.
How can I stay in USA after J-1 visa?
Visitors can transition from the J-1 visa to permanent residence in two different ways. They can also decide whether or not they want to take advantage of consular processing and make a status adjustment. An adjustment of status requires the joint cooperation of the visitor's employer and the visitor.
What is the 2 year rule for J-1?
Overview. Some exchange visitors with J-1 visas are subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement. It requires you to return home for at least two years after your exchange visitor program. This requirement is part of U.S. law, in the Immigration and Nationality Act, Section 212(e).
What if Your J1 Visa Extension is Denied?
If your J1 visa extension application is denied, you will have to go back to your home country. You have a 30 day grace period from the date of completion indicated on your original DS-2019 to do this. If you stay in the U.S. after this 30 day grace period, you may be regarded as “out of status.” This can have serious consequences if you try to apply for a green card or visa in the future.
What is a J1 visa?
A J1 visa is a non-immigrant program-based visa (as opposed to being employer-based, like the H-1B visa). You will apply to a specific government-approved sponsorship program which will provide you with a completed DS-2019. You must file this form with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
What happens if your visa stamp expires?
If this visa stamp has expired, you must get a new visa before you travel. If you travel on an expired stamp, you will not be allowed back into the U.S. As mentioned above, you have a 30 day grace period after the completion date as indicated on your original DS-2019. This is regarded as a travel grace period.
How long do you have to stay in the US after DS 2019?
You have a 30 day grace period from the date of completion indicated on your original DS-2019 to do this. If you stay in the U.S. after this 30 day grace period, you may be regarded as “out of status.”. This can have serious consequences if you try to apply for a green card or visa in the future.
What are the requirements for a J1 visa?
In short, the requirements for a J1 visa are: 1 You have to qualify for the program you are applying to according to its criteria 2 You must maintain a foreign residence and have no intention of abandoning it 3 You must be able to finance your whole trip 4 You must have sufficient medical insurance for yourself and your family 5 Must have a good understanding of the English language
How long can you be a J1 professor?
If you are a J1 professor or research scholar, you can be granted a J1 extension of up to 6 months by your program sponsor without requiring the U.S. Department of State’s approval. This can, however, only be granted if the extension is necessary to complete a specific research project or program.
How to change category in DS-2019?
To achieve a change of category, the officer of your program will have to submit a request in writing to the U.S. Department of State. If the request is accepted, you will be issued an updated DS-2019.
How to request extension of 30 day voluntary departure?
If you would like to request an extension of the 30-day voluntary departure status period, you will have to contact the USCIS.
What should a letter of extension mention?
A letter should also mention your position title and the proposed dates of extension. If you had the change of a major, research topic, or just unexpected problems, that may be compelling academic reasons. These reasons may be contributed to a delay in the completion of your program.
Can you extend a program beyond the maximum duration?
In some program categories, an extension beyond the maximum program duration may be allowed only under exceptional or unusual circumstances. In order to get the approval for such extensions, the responsible officer at the sponsor organization must send a written request to the U.S. Department of State justifying the petition along with the supporting documentation and a nonrefundable fee (payable to the U.S. Department of State).
Can I file an extension for a J-1 visa?
Department of State, but rarely by USCIS. As long as your Form I-94 says “D/S” or “Duration of Status”, you do NOT normally file the Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status, that is required in most other non-immigrant visa categories.
J-1 Visa Extensions and Renewal
While most internship and training programs allow participants to remain in the US for a maximum of 12 or 18 months, actual program lengths (and thus, J-1 visa lengths) vary. Your program officer can help you extend your J-1 visa in the USA. They may request that your stay be lengthened to the maximum duration possible for that category.
How to Extend My J-1 Visa: The Process
Let’s talk about the J-1 visa extension process. At Global Internships, we won’t approve a J-1 visa extension request resulting from a lack of planning. However, we will support revised training or internship placement plans.
Criteria for J-1 Visa Waiver
Most Exchange Visitor Programs require participants to return to their home country to live for two years following their stay in the US on a J-1 Visa. This does not mean that participants cannot return to visit the US.
Renewing & Extending Your J-1 Visa: Last Notes
We are thrilled that you are having such an amazing EVP experience that you would like to extend your J-1 visa. As your sponsor, we are happy to assist you in the J-1 visa renewal or extension process.
How long can you extend your J-1?
This means you can extend your J-1 program by days, weeks, or even months! For example: An intern pursuing a 3-month program can extend up to an additional 9 months. A trainee pursuing a 14-month training program can extend for up to an additional 4 months.
How does an extension impact the visa stamp my passport?
Extensions do not require J-1 Visa holders to obtain a new visa. It is the new DS-2019 that legally permits an individual to remain in the United States and train.
How long can extensions last for?
for up to 12 consecutive months, while those on the J-1 trainee visa can train for up to 18 months . If the original program dates don’t yet cover this maximum duration, you can apply to extend for the remainder of that time. This means you can extend your J-1 program by days, weeks, or even months!
How do I apply for an extension?
Like any updates to a training program, an extension must be approved by one’s sponsoring organization ( Cultural Vistas ). There is a simple application process and you should reach out to your primary program contact to request a copy of our extension application, or email us.
How much does it cost to extend my U.S. exchange program?
Extensions incur an administrative fee to cover the additional evaluative services, updates and re-issuance of updated documents, document shipping, and additional in-country services over the duration of the extension.
How long does it take for DS-2019 to be approved?
This approval process takes approximately 2 weeks. It’s important to remember that the DS-2019 must be issued before the original program end date. In the event that an extension is denied, your original program end date is not affected.
How to extend DS 2019?
How to Extend your DS-2019 1 All visas processed by our office are employer-dependent and must be driven by the hospital department. Please contact your department's Administrative Contact Person to initiate the extension. 2 Our office sends a standard confirmation email each time a J-1 request is received in our office. The standard confirmation email will inform your Administrative Contact Person of the date on which we received the J-1 request from your department, the assigned Advisor who will handle the J-1 case in our office, and that our typical processing time is approximately 1 month from when a complete J-1 request is received. 3 Your department's Administrative Contact Person must act as the liaison with any visa inquiries. 4 Approximately 1 month after a complete request has been received in our office, we will send an email to you, your department's Administrative Contact Person, and Human Resources indicating that the new DS-2019 is ready. The new DS-2019 will be mailed to you. 5 If you have J-2 family, a new DS-2019 will be included for each family member. 6 If you have not received your DS-2019 extension at least 2 weeks before your current DS-2019 is due to expire, please confirm with your Administrative Contact Person that they sent a J-1 Extension through Visa Manager to our office and they can follow up with the assigned Advisor.
How often are DS 2019s extended?
Extensions can be processed for the length of time that funding is confirmed. Most DS-2019s are extended annually (due to funding, appointment protocols, departmental policies, etc.). If your hospital policies permit you to be based solely on personal funds (bank statement), the DS-2019 can be issued for not more than 1 year at a time.
Who acts as liaison for visa inquiries?
Your department's Administrative Contact Person must act as the liaison with any visa inquiries.
Is a visa driven by the hospital?
All visas processed by our office are employer-dependent and must be driven by the hospital department.
How long is the grace period for USCIS?
Following the completion of their program, the period defined on the Form DS-2019, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) allows participants a 30-day travel period commonly referred to as the "Grace Period." During this 30-day grace period, participants are no longer in J-visa status, and are under the jurisdiction of the USCIS. The USCIS grants this period to allow participants to settle their affairs and to prepare to return to their home countries. Program participants may no longer continue and/or complete exchange activities, nor may they work. Although participants may travel in the United States, it is recommended that they do not travel beyond the borders of the United States as they may not be permitted reentry.
How long do you have to return to your home country for a waiver?
Also, visit the Exchange Visitor Skills List to determine if you are subject to the two-year foreign residence (home-country physical presence) requirement, which requires you to return to your home country for two years at the end of your exchange visitor program.
Can you transfer a sponsor to another sponsor?
The transfer of a participant from one program (sponsor) to another may be allowed at the discretion of the responsible officers and must be within the same category. The responsible officer of the program to which the participant seeks to transfer is required to verify the participant's visa status and eligibility, to issue a new Form DS-2019 reflecting the transfer, and to obtain the release of the participant from the current responsible officer, who indicates approval of the transfer by completing and signing block 8 of the new Form DS-2019. Transfers are not permitted in all categories, and a transfer does not extend the maximum duration of the program. Participants should address all inquiries regarding change of category to the responsible officer of their programs.
Overview
Timeline
- A J-1 visa extension must be completed before the expiration date of your current Form DS-2019. However, you should apply for the extension as soon as you know that you will not be able to complete the program as expected, even if that is several months in advance. Most sponsors recommend that you should request for an extension at least 10 days in...
Eligibility
- In order to request for a J-1 visa extension, you must currently be under a lawful J-1 status, and your Form DS-2019 must have been issued by the designated sponsor organization you are applying the extension with. Extensions are granted to let the participants complete their original objectives and not to start a new project. Some J1 programs do not allow any extensions. For ot…
Documents
- To get your J1 status extended, you will need to provide at least the following documents to the responsible officer at the sponsoring organization: 1. If you are not completely funded by the sponsoring organization, you will need to show financial documentation that shows that you have adequate resources to pay for tuition, fees, and living expenses for one year or the remaining len…
Processing
- The responsible officer at the sponsoring organization will review documents and determine whether you are eligible for the extension. When the J-1 extension is approved, you will get the new Form DS-2019 with the new expiration date, which will be recorded in SEVIS. If you have a spouse or dependent children on a J2 visa, their stays will also be extended. While some of the…
Travel
- You can travel out of the U.S. at any time. However, in order to travel back to the U.S. (other than visits of less than 30 days to Canada, Mexico, or adjacent territories), you will need a valid J visa stamped in your passport. If the visa stamp has expired, you will need to obtain a new visa before being allowed to travel back to the U.S.
Extension Beyond Maximum Duration
- In some program categories, an extension beyond the maximum program duration may be allowed only under exceptional or unusual circumstances. In order to get the approval for such extensions, the responsible officer at the sponsor organization must send a written request to the U.S. Department of State justifying the petition along with the supporting documentation and a n…
Extension For Professors and Research Scholars
- Even though the extension beyond the statutory maximum duration for a given program must be applied to U.S. Department of State, in the case of J-1 professors and research scholars, an extension up to an additional six months can be given at the program sponsor’s discretion (without getting the U.S. Department of State’s approval). However, such an extension beyond th…
Grace Period Extension
- If you would like to request an extension of the 30-day voluntary departure status period, you will have to contact the USCIS.