Once you have received your DS-2019 from ISSS, you will need to apply for a J-1 visa stamp at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate. J-1 visas can only be obtained outside of the United States at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Your UMass Amherst host department will need to submit a J-1 Request to ISSS at least 2 months before your intended start date. You and your host department will complete different parts of the request. Once complete, ISSS will review within 10 business days and contact you if more information is required. After your J-1 Request is approved, ISSS will email you the DS-2019.
You or your department will be required to pay the J-1 Scholar fee. If you are an employee of UMass Amherst, your department is required to pay. If you are not paid by UMass Amherst, you will need to work with your department to determine who pays the fee—you or them.
Once you obtain your DS-2019, you must pay the federally required SEVIS I-901 fee. You will need the receipt of payment for your visa interview.
The SEVIS fee is separate from the J-1 Scholar fee and the Visa Application Fee. You are required to pay both the SEVIS and Visa Application Fees by the U.S. government.
Apply for your J-1 visa from a U.S. Embassy or Consulate either in your home country or another location. If applying outside your home country, check the embassy or consulate's webpage for any restrictions.
Follow your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate’s specific instructions for scheduling an appointment and applying for a J-1 visa.
Important Tips:
- J-1 Scholars do NOT need the DS-7002 Training/Internship Placement Plan for their visa application.
- Waiting times for an appointment can be two weeks or longer, especially during the busy summer months. Schedule your appointment as soon as possible after receiving your DS-2019.
- Choose whatever date is available (even if after your DS-2019 start date). Once you have an appointment scheduled, you can ask the consulate to expedite your appointment.
- The DS-160 visa application has its own fee that is separate from the ISSS fee and SEVIS fee.
- If you are Canadian, you do not need to apply for a U.S. visa at the consulate. You can show your documents (passport, DS-2019, funding documents, invitation letter, etc.) at the border.
All visa applicants must provide the following documents to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate at the time of the interview:
- Valid passport
- DS-2019 (you must print, sign, and date the document you receive via email)
- Documented proof of financial support
- Receipt of SEVIS I-901 fee payment
- Visa application forms (available from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate)
- Any other documents requested by your embassy/consulate
You may be eligible to waive the visa interview. The Consulate will make this determination and inform you.
**If you are placed in administrative processing (221g), the clearance may take two weeks or longer. If your visa application is delayed, contact ISSS to tell us the date you applied for the visa and the location of the consulate or embassy where you applied. We may need to amend your DS-2019 to adjust your start date.
Once you receive your J-1 visa stamp in your passport, update the Scholar Pre-Arrival Checklist with your visa and arrival information and choose your orientation date. Scholar Orientation is currently conducted online only. There is no need to visit our office for orientation.
Remember to check your visa stamp for accuracy. If anything is incorrect, contact the U.S. Consulate or Embassy immediately.
You can enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days before and no later than 21 days after the DS-2019 start date. If you cannot arrive within that time frame, contact ISSS to determine if any DS-2019 amendments need to be made. You will need your valid passport, valid J-1 visa, DS-2019, and invitation/offer letter from your UMass host department at the port of entry.
Review Getting to UMass for information on getting from local airports to campus.
ISSS will send you reminder emails about the Arrival Form prior to your arrival to the U.S. Once you have landed, complete the Arrival Form as soon as possible to complete SEVIS validation, get your SSN letter, and start the NENS Process to get UMass credentials.
You should also check in with your host department and PI to ensure your needs are met and you can begin your research. You should not begin work or research until your DS-2019 start date.
Dependents are spouse/partners or a child under age 21. You may add them to your initial J-1 Request prior to arrival or you may add them after arrival using the Dependent Request e-form.
Your dependents should be included in your visa application (DS-160) if they are entering the U.S. at the same time as you (you may also add them during your J-1 visa appointment if they are joining you later). Dependents should not have to pay a separate ISSS, SEVIS or DS-160 visa application fee.
At the visa interview, the J-2 applicant should present:
- The original J-2 DS-2019 signed by ISSS and the J-2. If the J-2 is under age 18, the J-1 must sign on their behalf.
- Evidence of J-1 funding that appears on the J-2 DS-2019
- Marriage license or birth certificate (for children)
- Evidence of intent to return to home country upon the completion of the J-1 visitor's program
- Passport
Dependents are not required to enter on a J-2 dependent visa. They may enter as tourists or in other visa classes for which they qualify. However, if their planned stay is more than 90 days, they should use the J-2 visa.