Documents
Passport
Your passport must be valid at all times. Keep your passport and other important documents in a safe place, such as a bank safe-deposit box or a secure location in your home. Report a lost or stolen passport to the police, as your government may require a police report before issuing a new passport. To renew or replace your passport, contact your country’s consulate in the U.S. at www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco .
Visa
The J-1 visa stamp that the U.S. consular officer placed on a page in your passport permits you to apply to enter or reenter the U.S. It does not determine your length of stay in the U.S. that is the purpose of the DS-2019 and the I-94 (see below). If the visa expires while a student is in the U.S. , it is not necessary to apply for a new visa. A visa can only be secured abroad at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
I-94
The I-94 is a small w hite card – usually stapled into your passport – issued by the USCBP (Customs and Border Protection) officer at the port of entry. This card and the valid DS-2019 permit a J-1 student to stay temporarily in the U.S. For J-1 students, the officer w ill indicate Duration of Status (D/S). This refers to the length of time a J-1 student has permission to remain temporarily in the U.S. to pursue a full course of study. Except for brief visits (30 days or less) to Canada or Mexico and adjacent islands, you w ill be issued a ne w I-94 card w ith a ne w admission number each time you enter the U.S.
DS-2019
The DS-2019 is the document issued by the sponsor of the Exchange Visitor Program (i.e. WSU) which the student uses to apply for a J-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy. At the port of entry the USCBP officer will stamp the DS-2019 and return it to the student. The DS-2019 should be valid at all times; do not let the DS-2019 expire. A J-1 student should keep all issued forms DS-2019 permanently; do not discard old ones.
DS-7002
The DS-7002 or Training/Internship Placement Plan must be submitted to the US consulate or embassy (along with other required documents) when applying for your J-1 student Intern visa stamp. This document must be retained for your records. It is created by your sponsoring professor and OISS and will be sent to the student for signature before you can be issued your certificate of eligibility, the DS2019. The DS-7002 indicates a definite period of time for the internship (normally matching the DS-2019) and will specify the general and specific training or tasks to be performed in the internship with specific objectives. The plan will also contain information on how you will accomplish your objectives as a J-1 student intern (i.e. classes, individual instruction, shadowing, etc.).
Page Updated: October 5, 2009