Home
About ISSS
Students
Scholars
Administrators
Survival Guide

General Request Process

Departments interested in inviting an exchange visitor to campus are responsible for requesting a J from ISSS. The request is actually for the Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for the J Visa) to be issued to the visitor who will use the Form to obtain the J visa at a U.S. Consulate. Requests should be submitted to ISSS no later than 3 months prior to the proposed begin date of the exchange visitor’s program. Three months is the minimum time it will take for processing and for your scholar to obtain a visa, travel, and arrive to the U.S. Departments who pay attention to this time-frame reduces the amount of administrative work needed and are more successful in getting their scholars on time.

Please note: Training is required before you make your first request. By the time you are ready for proceeding with the following, you should know about the Exchange Visitor Program and whether or not your visitor’s eligibility for a J visa. You should have already determined that the J visa is appropriate for your visitor.

Step 1: Ensure you have selected the correct visa type and the correct J-visa category

Step 2: Collect information and documentation from the exchange visitor. Start by sending your scholar the Exchange Visitor Information Form.  Signatures are required on the Form, and the following items must be attached to the Information Form when returned to you: 

Step 3: Complete Departmental Request Form (DRF) in PeopleSoft and submit online.

Step 4: Print the DRF and obtain original signatures on the J Compliance Form. The Compliance Form includes a list of the hosting department’s responsibilities and a brief description of the proposed exchange program. The person supervising the scholar should sign first, and a department head/chair over the supervisor should sign. (School of Medicine departments must obtain the SOM Dean’s Office signature.)

Step 5:  Complete the J-1 Submission Checklist. 

Step 6:  Assemble the packet of materials with checklist on top and submit to ISSS. After processing, you will be contacted by ISSS to pick up and send the pre-arrival packet which will include the Form DS-2019 to your scholar. Use a trackable courier (i.e. FedEx, DHL, etc.) to deliver the packet to your scholar.