How to Request the Form DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility Needed to Apply for the J-1 Visa

Issue the Letter of Invitation

The faculty host must work with the visiting scholar to complete and sign the Letter of Invitation Template developed by the Office of Legal Affairs. This assures institutional compliance and protection.

Visiting Scholar Categories

• Short-Term Scholar: Primary duties are teaching and/or research. 1-day minimum program duration, 6-month maximum program duration.
• Research Scholar: Primary duties are research related. 3-week minimum program duration, 5-year maximum program duration.
• Professor: Primary duties are teaching. 3-week minimum program duration, 5-year maximum program duration.
  

Professor/ Research Scholar Eligibility:

The exchange visitor has not been physically present in the United States on a J-1/J-2 visa for a 12-month period immediately before the program start date unless:

• The exchange visitor is transferring from another J-1 visa program in the same category

OR

• The exchange visitor's program in the United States was less than 6 months in length

 OR

• The exchange visitor's presence in the United States was pursuant to a short-term scholar exchange activity.

An exchange visitor is not eligible for participation as a Professor or Research Scholar for a period of two years following the program end date identified in SEVIS if he or she:

• Previously participated in a Professor or Research Scholar program

AND

• Completed his or her program

Specialist: May be used in rare circumstances for non-academics with special skills. 3-week minimum program duration, 1-year maximum program duration.

Verify English Proficiency

Faculty hosts must complete the English Proficiency Certification for Exchange Visitors form based on the department's/faculty host's verbal communication with the visiting scholar. Federal regulations require visiting scholars have sufficient English language proficiency for program and daily living needs.

Submit ServiceNow Request

The faculty host submits the USU DS-2019 and EV Transfer-In Request Form (Request Form) in ServiceNow. 

• The Request Form must be filled out completely and include:
  • (1) the letter of invitation signed by both the faculty host and visiting scholar,
  • (2) a completed English Proficiency Certification for Exchange Visitors Form.
• Faculty host will provide the Office of Global Engagement with the index number to be used to pay the $125 Form DS-2019 processing fee.
• ServiceNow will automatically route the Request Form for institutional approvals.

Request Facilities Access (Optional - after visiting scholar arrives to campus)

Departments request access to IT Services, Library Services, and Campus Recreation facilities by submitting the Visiting Scholars Fee Authorization Form to the Registrar's Office (reg.specialfee@usu.edu). Note the workflow at the bottom of the form. 

This will assign the scholar’s A-number to a group role as well as grant access to the services noted in this ServiceNow article. The department determines if they or the scholar will pay the corresponding fee. Departments must submit this form at the beginning of each semester to maintain access to services.

Submit Required Documents

The immigration adviser will invite the visiting scholar to access the Scholar Portal upon receiving the ServiceNow request. The scholar will upload to this portal the required documentation to issue the Form DS-2019. These documents include:

• CV/resumé
• Copy of passport for scholar and any dependents
  • Visiting o   scholars can pay for the processing fee of $50 for their dependents Form DS-2019 through this PayPal link.
• Financial affidavits verifying financial support for the visiting scholar program
  • Visiting scholars need to show the total amount for their program with a minimum living expense of US$2,000/month 
    • E.g. a visiting scholar coming for 12 months needs to provide proof of funding in the amount of US$24,000 ($2,000 x 12 months)
  • Visiting scholars need to show funding for dependents for the entire duration of their program at the rate of US$8,178/year ($681.50/ month) funding for a spouse and US$5,740/year ($478.33/ month) for each child.
    • E.g. a visiting scholar with a spouse and one child coming for a 15 month program needs to provide financial affidavits for a total amount of $47.397.50
      • US$2,000/month x 15 months for the visiting scholar = US$30,000
      • US$681.50/month x 15 months for the spouse = US$10,222.50
      • US$478.33/month x 15 months for the child = US$7,175

It takes approximately 5 – 10 business days for the Office of Global Engagement to generate the Form DS-2019 after receiving all of the documentation. We cannot email the Form DS-2019 as federal regulations prohibit digital copies.

Pay the SEVIS Fee

Pay the SEVIS fee of US $220.00 once the visiting scholar receives the Form DS-2019. The visiting scholar will take the receipt for this payment along with Form DS-2019 and the documents submitted in the scholar portal (passport, CV, financial affidavit) to the visa interview.

Schedule the visa appointment

Visa Information, including instructions on how to apply for the J visa, can be found on the U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Visa. Visa wait times vary by U.S. embassy or consulate. Use the tool on this website to determine an approximate time frame for the visa appointment.

Check-in with the Office of Global Engagement Upon Arriving to USU

Check-in online through the Scholar Portal by completing the "Submit Arrival Documentation" and “Submit Insurance Documentation” request. Then meet with the Responsible Officer for the mandatory orientation.

The mandatory arrival orientation is required to validate your program and occurs Thursdays at 10:00 AM in Military Science 115, or you can schedule an appointment here.