There are several important procedures to go through before you can depart to the United States. We’ll walk you through them.
You’ve been accepted to your J-1 Visa program — congratulations! You have been issued your Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (Form DS-2019). Once you have Form DS-2019 and your sponsor letter, here is what you must do next:
- Complete your Online Visa Application (Form DS-160)
- Pay a visa application fee of $160.00 at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/
- Payment slip of Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee: SEVIS is a computerized system that manages data about exchange visitors in the U.S. (for instance, where you live and work). The SEVIS fee for J-1 Visa applicants is $220.00, and Gravity International Programs will make this payment on your behalf and mail you the payment receipts along with your DS-2019. This payment is mandatory and non-refundable for you, as an exchange visitor, but anyone you are bringing as a dependent does not have to pay the SEVIS fee.
Finally, you will have to schedule and prepare for your pre-departure interview at your country’s U.S. Embassy and Consulate. Make sure that you have all the necessary documents to present at the Consulate, and that they are all filled out correctly. The documents required for your interview are below:
- A passport that is valid for travel in the U.S. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your period of stay in the U.S.
- Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form DS-160 confirmation page and visa payment slip
- One printed photo of yourself in the format explained in the U.S. Embassy and Consulate webpage (only required if your photo upload while completing the online Form DS-160 fails)
- Form DS-2019 (more information below)
- Training/Internship Placement Plan (Form DS-7002) (more information below)
Your DS-2019 form shows that you are authorized to intern and/or train in the United States. Please read the instructions on the back of the form and sign your full name at the bottom of page 1 to accept the terms and conditions on page 2. Your signature is explicit acceptance of the terms of the program. It is your responsibility as an exchange visitor to abide by the laws of the federal, state, and local governments of the U.S., as well as the rules and regulations set forth by Gravity International Programs as your program sponsor.
Your DS-7002 Training/Internship Placement Plan is the official outline of your training, which is required by the U.S. Department of State. It must be completed by your host organization, which will use it to clearly describe what you will be doing during your program. Once you have reviewed the plan and agreed to its terms, you must sign and date the “Trainee/Intern Signature” section. Your signature is the acknowledgement that you understand and agree to the training plan. You should keep a copy with your other important documents in case you need to refer to the plan.
Beginning August 13, 2021, all individuals over the age of 14 years visiting the U.S. Embassy and Consulate will be required to show either:
- Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination
or
- A negative PCR or antigen test administered within 3 days of your interview
Individuals without a full vaccine or negative COVID-19 test will not be allowed into the Consulate. In addition, face masks are still required in the Consulate building.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at info@gravityintprog.com. Stay healthy and safe!
