Required Checklist
You must complete all items on the "J-1 Exchange Visitor Checklist" when you receive your DS-2019 (J visa eligibility document) from our office.
Not following all of the "J-1 Exchange Visitor Checklist" instructions may result in the cancellation of your J visa status and/or government fines. |
J-1 Exchange Visitor Checklist:
- Review your DS-2019 when you get the package. Contact us if there are any errors.
- Pay the SEVIS fee on FMJfee.com. As a J-1 Exchange Visitor, you are responsible for paying the SEVIS fee, and this fee is an addition to any other regular visa application fees/machine-readable visa fees.1
- Go to the U.S. Department of State website to fill out the Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form DS-160 and to pay the visa application fee.
- Visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate’s website for a list of all the U.S. embassies/consulates. Consult the website of the U.S. embassy or consulate where you plan to apply to complete the required forms, schedule an interview, and obtain specific J-1 Exchange Visitor visa application instructions.2 Review visa appointment wait times here.
- If you cannot arrive in the U.S. within 30 days before OR after the start date listed in Section 3 of your DS-2019 form, you must inform our office no later than 15 days after the DS-2019 start date.
- When you are ready to schedule your exact date of arrival in the U.S., follow the "Entering the U.S." instructions.
- Within 3 calendar days after your arrival in the U.S., you MUST follow the instructions on this page to register with our office3 and sign up for International Orientation4. Do NOT register with our office before you enter the U.S.
- If you are applying for a Social Security Number, you must wait at least 10 days after you receive an email from PIPS confirming your orientation date.
- You are required to purchase health insurance within 30 days of your arrival in the U.S.
1Canadian citizens do not need to obtain a visa from an American Embassy/Consulate, but they must pay the SEVIS fee.
2If you are asked for a letter to confirm your current J-1 research participation, please request the letter from your employer/department at the hospital. The DS-2019 form is the only document provided by PIPS for your visa application. Please note that you will not need to complete Form DS-7002, which is specific to the J Training/Internship visa category that our office does not sponsor.
3You must register with our office even if you have previously lived in the U.S. or previously been in J visa status.
4All J-1 Exchange Visitors are required to attend one International Orientation as soon as possible after arrival. Spouses are invited to attend, but children are not permitted. The orientation provided by your U.S. hospital cannot replace the International Orientation located at 399 Revolution Drive in Somerville.
- You must register with our office even if you have previously lived in the U.S., previously worked at a Partners hospital, or previously been in J visa status.
- An orientation at your U.S. hospital cannot replace the International Orientation located at 101 Merrimac Street in Boston.
Visa Application Delays
Some visa applications take more than 30 days due to Administrative Processing (a background check by the U.S. Consulate).
While Administrative Processing is infrequent, you should be aware of the following:
- It is not possible to inquire whether it will happen to you before you apply for the visa
- It is not possible to expedite.
- It normally lasts 30 to 60 days.
- Always purchase flexible/refundable plane tickets when you apply for a visa.
Please notify your administrative contact and our office by using this form if you are placed in administrative processing.