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Ï㽶ÊÓƵ J-1 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ status

Some international Ï㽶ÊÓƵs qualify for J-1 Ï㽶ÊÓƵ status. This is a nonimmigrant status primarily for Ï㽶ÊÓƵs coming to the United States as exchange visitors. If this is the case for you, we will send you a Form DS-2019 instead of Form I-20 after you complete the required steps in your Atlas checklist.

How to apply for a J-1 visa

Before you can begin your studies at IU, you will need to apply for (and receive) your J-1 visa stamp. You can do so as soon as you receive your DS-2019.

Step 1: Pay your SEVIS fee

You will have to show your payment receipt for the SEVIS fee when you arrive for your visa interview, so take care of this right away.

If you are a Canadian citizen with a valid passport, you do not need to apply for a visa stamp. However, you do need to pay the SEVIS fee.

How to pay the SEVIS fee

Step 2: Schedule a visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy in your home country

Contact the U.S. Embassy nearest you as soon as possible to set up an appointment. This is important because the wait time for an appointment and for visa issuance varies. To see how long this process takes in your country, read the U.S. Department of State’s .

It’s best to apply in your home country. If you are not sure which embassy you should contact, see this .

Step 3: Get your documentation ready

When you arrive for your visa appointment, you will be required to show a number of documents, including:

• DS-2019
• Valid passport
• A SEVIS payment receipt printed from your online payment confirmation
• Current financial documentation that lists the sources and amounts of financial support you have secured for the current or upcoming academic year. It must match the information listed on your DS-2019.

The embassy’s website will outline other specific documents that you should bring.

Step 4: Prepare for your interview

Because you are applying for a nonimmigrant visa, you will need to prove to the consular officer that you do not intend to immigrate to the United States. In other words, you need to show him or her that you have definite plans to return home after college.

For more information and tips, please see .

Already have a current immigration status?

I already have J-1 status

If you are already studying at a school in the U.S. and you currently have J-1 status, you may be able to transfer your SEVIS record to IU. We will need to work with your current school to move your record to IU.

Transfer your SEVIS record to IU

I already have a different immigration status

If you already have an immigration status that is not J-1 but you want to change your status to J-1, we can help you. The process takes several months for the U.S. government to process, so you should start as early as possible.

Change to J-1 status