DS-2019 Instructions and Visa
Enclosed is Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status. Carefully read Pages 1 and 2, sign and complete the EXCHANGE VISITOR CERTIFICATION at the bottom of Page 1.
Important! Please check your DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility and notify DISP immediately BEFORE you apply for your visa if there are any errors. We will send you a corrected DS-2019 to use to apply for your visa.
SEVIS Fee
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) charges a $180 fee to new J-1 Exchange Visitors. This fee is IN ADDITION TO the visa fees charged by the U.S. consulate or embassy. The SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee must be paid and a receipt obtained before you apply for the visa if you are outside the U.S. or before you apply for change of status if you are in the U.S. The fee can be paid over the internet by credit card (www.fmjfee.com), and you must have a printer ready to print the electronic receipt immediately. The fee can also be paid by mail with Form-I-901.See the ICE website at www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/index.htm.
Arriving From Abroad
If abroad, pay SEVIS fee (see above) plus visa fees, and present the DS-2019 and your passport to the nearest U.S consulate or embassy to apply for the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa (Canadian citizens are visa-exempt and do not need to apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate. Canadians do need to pay the SEVIS fee and present the DS-2019 and passport to enter the U.S. with J-1 status).
Plan ahead as the visa application may take longer than in the past. Because most visa applicants are now required to appear for a personal interview you should expect processing delays. In addition, security checks can delay visa issuance by several weeks or months. Check the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate you are planning to visit for hours and instructions for obtaining a visa. You can access visa information and U.S. embassy or consulates at:
http://travel.state.gov/visa/index.html
Other helpful websites:
Photo Requirements https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/
U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide http://usembassy.state.gov/
Visa Denials http://travel.state.gov/visa/frvi/denials/denials_1361.html
After you obtain the visa you must use the DS-2019 with your passport to enter the U.S. within 30 days of the “From” date in Part 3 of the DS-2019. If your entry will be delayed beyond this date please
contact DISP for instructions and a new DS-2019 form. When you enter the U.S. the immigration officer will stamp and annotate your documents with “J-1” and “D/S” (Duration of Status). Information on what to expect at the port of entry is available at
http://www.ice.gov/sevis/factsheet/100104ent_exchng_fs.htm
Family Members - The enclosed Forms DS-2019 should be used with their passports to apply for J-2 visas for immediate family members (spouse or dependent children under 21 years of age). For children over 21, family members born in the U.S., or family members other than legal spouses, please consult with the U.S. consulate for the correct visa.
Arriving From within the U.S.
If you are already in the United States, please contact DISP immediately to arrange for change of status or transfer of J-1 program sponsors. Please note that a change of status application for you and any dependent family members may take many months to be processed by the U.S. government agencies, and a fee is charged. After consultation with our office, sometimes it is more practical to leave the U.S., apply for the J-1 visa, and reenter with J-1 status.
Arrival and Check-In
IMPORTANT! You must check in with DISP within 3 days of your arrival in the U.S. If your visit is very short, please check in within a day of arrival. DISP must validate your arrival in SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) database.
Note: DISP is located on the 3rd floor of the Student Union Building (Suite #307), Storrs Campus. Only DISP can validate your arrival/current U.S. address in SEVIS, which is required before you can get a U.S. Social Security Number for employment.
Failure to be validated in SEVIS within 30 days of your program start date on the Form DS-2019 (or before end of your visit if your stay is less than 30 days) may result in losing your legal J-1 status., having to leave the U.S., being subject to deportation, or possibly barred from the U.S. for three years or longer. The DHS is very strict about the requirements. Because SEVIS is an electronic database, it instantly detects late dates and J-1 Exchange Visitors who fail to report their arrival and current U.S. address.
Bring original and photocopies of your passport, Form DS-2019, I-94 departure record (small white card stapled in passport at port of entry), visa stamp, and proof of medical insurance with you when you come check-in with DISP. If you have family members, please bring their documents and proof of insurance also.
Purpose of Program
In accepting the J-1 visa, you obligate yourself to all terms and conditions stated on Form DS-2019 and will be admitted to the U.S. for the sole purpose of carrying out the program stated on Form DS-2019. The two-year home country residence requirement (see the next section) will be ascertained by the U.S. Government and entered, if applicable, on your Form DS-2019.
Requests for studying, teaching, research or consulting outside the location listed on your Form DS-2019 must be reviewed by DISP in advance. The International Advisors in DISP are the campus
officers responsible for the administration of the University J-1 Exchange Visitor Program at UConn and is here to assist you. Please contact DISP at disp@uconn.edu if you have questions.
The address, telephone, fax, website and email for the U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program is: U.S. Department of State, Office of Exchange, Coordination and Designation, ECA/EC/AG - SA-44, Room 732, 301 4th St., S.W., Washington, D.C. 20547, Tel: (202) 203-5029, Fax: (202) 453-8640; http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges/about.htm; jvisas@state.gov .
The Home Country Physical –Presence Requirement 212(e)
Many (but not all) of the J-1 Exchange Visitors are subject to the “2-year home residence requirement; 212(e).” The purpose of 212(e) is to have the home country benefit from the J-1 Exchange Visitor’s experience in the U.S. J-1 Exchange Visitors come to the U.S. for a specific objective, such as a program of study, research project, or to teach. The requirement is intended to prevent a participant who is “subject” from staying longer than necessary for the objective, and to ensure that he or she will spend at least two years in the home country before coming back to the United States for a long-term stay. For the terms of the requirement, please see item (a) page 2, of the Form DS-2019. If you have any questions about the requirement, including whether or not you will be subject to it, please raise them with the consular officer when you apply for your visa.
Medical (Health) Insurance
Medical (Health) Insurance requirements – Government regulations require all J-1 Exchange Visitors and their dependents to carry medical insurance throughout the period of participation in the Exchange Visitor Program as a condition of maintaining legal status. Minimum acceptable coverage required is: medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness; deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness; repatriation
of remains in the amount of $7,500; expenses associated with medical evacuation in the amount of $10,000. Failure to maintain this insurance requirement constitutes a VIOLATION OF STATUS. This is a mandatory requirement and no exceptions can be made.
UConn has a health plan through the Bailey Insurance Agency. You may find information on-line at www.baileyagencies.com. The Bailey Agency currently charges $113.00 per month for an individual. The estimated cost for a single applicant is $1370.00 per year. These costs increase every year. Additional fees are charged for adding a spouse and any children. For more detailed information on the university student/scholar health insurace please contact UConn Health Services tresca.smith@uconn.edu. To sign up for health insurance please print the visiting scholar enrollment card, make your check payable to "UCONN Health Plan"and mail your check and your enrollment card to:
Bailey Agencies Inc.
PO Box 1
84 Plaza Court
Groton CT 06340.
To assist in the transition from your current medical insurance to insurance for your stay in the U.S. we recommend you purchase a travel medical insurance coverage for yourself (and family members if any) for at least the first 30 days in the U.S.
Expenses and Housing
Due to the high cost of living in the New England area, we require that you have a minimum of $1800 per month of financial support for yourself for basic expenses. For family members please refer to the chart below. These requirements are subject to change every year.
J-1 Principal Only |
J-1 Principal and Spouse |
J-1 Principal and one J-2 Child |
Married Couple and 2 Children |
Married Couple and 3 Children |
Each Additional Child |
| $1,800/ month |
$2,100/ month |
$2600/ month |
$2900/ month |
$3700 |
$800/month |
Scholars are responsible for arranging their own housing. See UConn housing provisions for visiting scholars at http://www.provost.uconn.edu/housing. More information on housing is available at http://www.offcampushousing.uconn.edu.
Pre-arrival Summary
Read thoroughly this material and your Form DS-2019
Be sure you and your academic department at UConn have the same understanding about your arrival and stay at UConn.
Make financial arrangements before you come to UConn to have sufficient funds upon arrival.
Obtain medical insurance for at least 30 days. Be prepared to pay for medical insurance for the length of your visit after you arrive.
Make temporary housing arrangements.
Be sure you and your family have passports, Forms DS-2019, and visas to enter the U.S.
Post-arrival Checklist– First Things to Do
- Visit your UConn department.
- Visit DISP for mandatory check-in to validate your J-1 SEVIS record and to sign up for a mandatory orientation. Bring your passport, DS-2019, I-94, and proof of medical insurance (bring same for family member if any).
- Apply for your U.S. Social Security Number (SSN) if you are engaged in employment as a J-1 Exchange Visitor. If you already have a SSN from a previous visit you do not need a new one.
- Enroll in medical insurance for the length of your visit. Make sure if the benefits meet the governmental required conditions.
- Arrange for long-term housing, schooling for children, English language lessons, etc.
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