Documents Required to Apply for a J-1 Visa at the U.S. Consulate

If your visa will be expired, you are required to renew your visa while abroad.  To apply for a visa, please visit www.usembassy.gov and find the appropriate U.S. Embassy/Consulate’s website. (It is highly recommended that you apply for your J-1 visa in your home country.)  On the website, go to the section for “visas” and find the “exchange visitor visa” or “non-immigrant visa” section.  Detailed instructions about the application process and visa renewals for non-immigrant visas, including required documents, will be listed there.

Also, be aware that the U.S. Department of State requires that nonimmigrant visa applicants provide their username for all social media accounts that have been used within the last five years at the time of application for the visa.

OIS wants to highlight some of the required documents for visa applications:

• Valid DS-2019 form with travel signature from your international advisor signed within the year (or six months for Short Term Scholars) prior to your expected date of reentry.
• Original financial documents that match the financial information listed on DS-2019 form
• Current passport valid for at least six months after the program end date indicated on your DS-2019 form (If you are from one of the countries listed here you only need a passport that is current through the program end date on your DS-2019 form.  If your passport is not valid for six months beyond your reentry and you are not from one of the countries that that is listed, you will need to renew your passport before reentering the U.S.)
• Research/study plan outline with research advisor’s biography, CV, or webpage printout: sample form for reference
• Resume/CV that provides detailed information about your past academic and professional experience, including a complete list of all publications to which you have contributed.
• Current letter from your hosting department/division/unit with your title/job, name and contact information of direct supervisor, paragraph description of research and/or activities engaged in including equipment used and practical applications of research, and annual salary (if any) with signature of your department chair/unit director
• For Exchange Visitors in J-1 Student category only (excludes Research Scholars who are students elsewhere):
  • Official academic transcripts and Enrollment Verification letter from the Registrar’s Office. (To request Enrollment Verification Letter, log into My Student Center, click “Verify Student Enrollment”, and a letter will automatically generate. To request official academic transcripts, please follow these instructions from the Registrar’s Office. If you have technical issues, please contact the Registrar’s Office.)

This is not a comprehensive list of required documents.  The requirements vary depending on country. Please visit the appropriate U.S. consulate/embassy website for a comprehensive list of required documents. Letters from OIS are no longer required per updated U.S. Department of State guidance. Therefore, OIS will no longer issue letters for visa applications or travel and advises all Exchange Visitors to follow the instructions provided above and on the U.S. Embassy/Consulate’s website.

(For dependents in J-2 non-immigrant status, please see the website of the U.S. Embassy/Consulate for the documents required for them to apply for visas. A dependent in J-2 status must present to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) official a DS-2019 form with valid travel signature, unexpired J-2 visa, and passport meeting the requirements described above to reenter the U.S. after foreign travel.)