Home
About ISSS
Students
Scholars
Administrators
Survival Guide

Immigration Documents

U.S. law requires foreign citizens living in the United States to register their presence upon entry to the United States (i.e. provide valid immigration documents at the U.S. border) and to retain these registration documents in their possession at all times. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not always strictly enforce the requirement to carry immigration documents at all times. In most cases, the ability to produce documents within a reasonable period of time (from your apartment or dormitory room, for example) has been enough to satisfy this requirement. ISSS has generally recommended that an international student bring the original documents (passport with valid I-94 card and DS-2019 Form) when traveling an hour or more away from campus so that they are easily accessible if a student is required to demonstrate legal status.

Recent changes to Georgia law indicate that the requirement to consistently possess the immigration documents could be more strictly enforced in the future. Thus, ISSS now recommends that J-1 students carry either the original documents OR certified (i.e. notarized) copies of the original documents – even while they are in the Atlanta area – in light of the potential for increased enforcement. If you choose to carry certified photocopies, please copy the following documents:

After you have made the photocopies, you should take your original documents and the photocopies to a notary public so that he or she may certify that your copies are true to the original document. During regular business hours, Emory's office of Student Financial Services provides notary services to free of charge to actively enrolled students, faculty and employees of the University. Banks usually offer notary services for a fee. You may also search for notary services through The Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority website.

In order to ensure complete documentation in your file at ISSS, please also remember to bring your advisors copies of any new documents (Form I-94, J-1 visa stamp) received during travel outside the United States during your Exchange Visitor program.

The sections below describe your immigration documents in detail.

Passport

The passport is your own government's permit for you to leave and re-enter your home country. You should ensure that your passport is valid six months into the future at all times. To renew from within the United States, contact your local embassy for more information about the process. If you are required to supply a letter affirming that you are a student at Emory University you can request an official letter from the Emory University Registrar's Office. You may find contact information for your embassy here.

Visa

The visa stamp put in your passport by the U.S. Consul abroad is required to enter the United States, unless you are exempt from visa requirements. It indicates the classification status you will have upon admission to the United States. If your visa has expired and you will travel outside the North American continent, you must renew your visa. You may renew your visa by visiting the U.S. Consul in the country to which you are traveling. It is important that if the country is not your home country that you consult with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate prior to your departure to find out if is possible for you to obtain an appointment at that location. It is not possible to renew an F-1 visa from within the United States.

Visa procedures may differ from one Embassy or Consulate to another. Before applying, check with the office where you plan to apply to determine exactly what additional supporting documentation is required. Visit the Department of State website to obtain detailed information on the Embassy or Consulate in your area.

If the visa application is approved, a visa stamp will be placed in your passport, noting the period of validity and the name of the school whose DS-2019 you used to obtain the visa. Please see our section on Obtaining a Visa for more information on the process.

Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record

The I-94 confirms that you have been admitted to the United States. The I-94 is usually stapled adjacent to the US visa page of your passport. It contains an eleven-digit identifying number (called your departure number) that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses to keep track of your arrival in and departure from the United States. DHS sometimes refers to the "departure" number as the "admission" number. There may be a date written in the upper right-hand corner of your I-94. You must leave the United States by that date or apply to extend your stay. If there is not a specific date, but rather the inscription "D/S" (duration of status), you are admitted for the length of your program of study as indicated on your DS-2019, plus any period of post-completion Academic Training, plus 30 days. If you receive an I-94 with a specific date, consult with your International Student Advisor in ISSS. If you graduate before the completion date indicated on your DS-2019 you are considered to have completed your program of study and your DS-2019 is no longer valid.

Form DS-2019

The DS-2019 is your certificate of eligibility for the J-1 visa and is issued by the sponsoring program (Emory University, Fulbright, etc.) for the program of study you are presently pursuing. The Form DS-2019 is generated once your information has been entered into SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). Various boxes on the front side of the form denote important information; for example, box 2 denotes the sponsoring agency; box 3 the start and end dates of your J-1 program; box 4 identifies the category (e.g., student or professor); box 5 lists the funding for your program. The lower right side of the DS-2019 has lines for validation by responsible officers of the sponsoring agency affirming that you are in good standing, should you wish to travel outside of the US and return in J-1 status.