J-1 Exchange Visitor Program (Students)
The Purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program is to promote cultural and educational exchange between citizens of the United States and those of other countries. The Program provides foreign nationals with opportunities to participate in exchange programs in the United States and then return home to share their experiences. ISSS is responsible for administering Emory’s Exchange Visitor program and is authorized by the U.S. Department of State to issue immigration documents to and authorize certain kinds of employment for J-1 students. ISSS is required to monitor the activities of J-1 students and report information through a database called SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) to the Department of Homeland Security.
International Student Advisors in ISSS will issue Exchange Visitor documents to prospective students in non-degree and degree-seeking programs if the individual meets the general eligibility guidelines for the student category of the Exchange Visitor Program and the academic program agrees to fulfill additional responsibilities. These responsibilities are listed on the Compliance Form included in the J-1 Student Request Form. Exchange Visitor documents must be requested at the time of admission. Eligibility guidelines, a comparison of the rules governing F-1 and J-1 student statuses, and the J-1 Student Request Form are all available in the Quick Links Box at the right.
More information about the rights and responsibilities of J-1 student status is available in our section on Maintaining J-1 Status. Below, please find more information on the process of requesting immigration documents (Form DS-2019) for incoming J-1 students.
General Procedures for Requesting Immigration Documents for J-1 Students
- Verify admission of student.
- Determine English language proficiency by using one of the verifiable methods recommended on the Compliance Form and provide appropriate documentation of that verification.
- Please note: If an Exchange Agreement specifies that a partner institution is responsible for verifying English language skills as a part of the nomination process, this step is not required.
- Confirm eligibility for J-1 student status by reviewing the J-1 Category Comparison Chart
- Complete J-1 Student Request Form
- Send hard copy request plus supporting documents via courier to: ISSS, 1784 North Decatur Road, Suite 130, Atlanta, GA 30322 or, via interoffice mail, to ISSS, Emory University, MAILSTOP 1784-001-1AV. Please address your packet to the attention of the appropriate advisor:
- James Kamonjoh (all undergraduate students except nursing, allied health and business; Candler School of Theology)
- Dariusz (Derek) Baran (all undergraduate students at Goizueta Business School)
- Angela Guinyard (Laney Graduate School; all professional schools except the Rollins School of Public Health and School of Law)
- Rick Lane (Rollins School of Public Health, School of Law)
- Include supporting documentation (as detailed below) in your packet.
- Once complete submission packet has been received and the department has entered the student into Peoplesoft (OPUS), the DS-2019 Form can be created.
- ISSS will notify Department in cases of missing information.
- We ask for 10 business days for issuance of requested form and creation of pre-arrival packets and departmental letters.
- Department will be advised when packets are ready for pick-up. We highly encourage FEDEX or DHL delivery of these government documents.
Supporting Documents
- Photocopy of acceptance letter from Emory (which includes information about any Emory funding).
- Financial Certificate and additional evidence of financial support (if Emory funding does not cover total cost of attendance). Substantial financial support must be provided by Emory or another source rather than the student’s personal or family funds unless the student is participating in an Emory-sponsored exchange program (i.e. pursuant to a written exchange agreement, as described on the ISSS J-1 Category Comparison Chart). The amount of funding required is specific to the program and the school, so please submit the appropriate Financial Certificate for each individual applicant’s prospective program.
- Photocopy of passport biographic page(s) for student and any prospective J-2 dependents.
- Photocopies of all DS-2019 Forms issued to student and/or dependent(s) previously present in the United States in J status.
- Documentation for English language proficiency method indicated on the Compliance Form*
- Evidence attesting to student's credentials,** such as:
- Copy of a diploma for an advanced degree relative to student's anticipated program, or
- Copy of transcripts from student’s current school in his/her home country.
* =If an Exchange Agreement specifies that the partner institution is responsible for verifying English language skills, the student is a native speaker of English, or the language of instruction at the home institution is English, this documentation is not required.
** = If an Exchange Agreement specifies that the partner institution is responsible for verifying academic credentials as a part of the nomination process, this documentation is not required.
Quick Links
- J-1 Student Request Form (Word)
- Comparing F and J Status (PDF)
- J-1 Category Comparison Chart (PDF)