Arrival in the U.S.

J-1 Exchange Visitor Program

Overview Information for J-1 Scholars and Student Interns

Welcome to the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus. You will join nearly 1,500 international students and scholars from almost 100 countries. We hope that your time here will be both rewarding and supportive of your personal and professional goals.

Now that you have received Form(s) DS-2019, paid the SEVIS fee, applied for J-1 and J-2 entry visas (citizens of Canada and Bermuda are exempt), and made travel arrangements, the information below will prepare you for arriving in the U.S. and the first steps after you arrive.

J-1 transfer-in scholars do not pay the SEVIS fee again or apply for visa if they do not travel. ISSS issues the DS-2019(s) after the transfer release date.

You can enter the U.S. no more than 30 days before the start date on Form DS-2019 and/or the start date in the SEVIS record at a port of entry (POE) which is usually an airport or a land border.

Make several copies of Form DS-2019, proof of financial support, and the pages in your passport showing your photo, birth date, passport number, expiration date, and visa. Keep one set of copies in your carry-on luggage, one set in your checked baggage and leave a set with someone who can send them to you if needed.

Present the following documents to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer:

Passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your expected stay
J-1 (or J-2) visa stamp. (Canadian and Bermudan citizens are visa-exempt.)
Paper Form(s) DS-2019
I-901 receipt showing payment of the SEVIS fee
Proof of Financial Support
Letter of Offer if an employee or Letter of Invitation

A visa does not guarantee entry to the U.S. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer makes the decision after inspecting your documents. The officer records your arrival on Form I-94. The information is collected and maintained electronically at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/.

After you arrive, access Form I-94 and review the following for accuracy:

Date of Entry
Name
Birth Date
Passport number
Country of Issuance of passport
Class of Admission: J-1 or J-2
Admitted until: D/S*

If there is a mistake, contact ISSS at isss@ucdenver.edu. Access Form I-94 after each entry to the U.S. and check the information

*D/S means Duration of Status. J Exchange Visitors are admitted for D/S which means the period indicated on Form DS-2019 plus a 30-day grace period. See Period of Stay.

After arriving in the U.S. you must

Complete the Online Check-In to provide the following:
- Copies of the visa, I-94 arrival record and signed DS-2019 for you and your J-2 dependents
- Local address and phone number
- E-mail address
- Emergency contact
- Medical Insurance information
Register for the required J-1 Orientation which is held every 2 weeks on Tuesdays from 2 to 3 pm

After you complete the Online Check-in and attend J-1 Orientation, ISSS will validate your J-1 record in SEVIS. After your record is validated you can apply for a Social Security Number and Colorado Driver’s License or state ID.

During your stay in the U.S. it is important to safeguard your immigration documents, keep copies and monitor expiration dates. ISSS is only required to keep your records for a certain period of time, so it is your responsibility to keep your own records.

During your time in the United States, it is your responsibility to ensure that your passport remains valid. An advisor will confirm the validity of your passport before approving any extension of your program or validating your DS-2019 for travel. If you need to renew or replace your passport while in the U.S., it is highly recommended that you allocate sufficient time to do so before your current passport expires. For more information on the process of renewing or replacing your passport, please contact your Embassy or Consulate in the U.S

Visit https://2009-2017.state.gov/s/cpr/32122.htm to find your country’s embassy in the U.S.

The DS-2019 is an official form used by the United States government to keep a record of the exchange of a J-1 scholar or student intern. This form is also referred to as the "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status." A program sponsor designated by the U.S. Department of State issues the DS-2019 form, which contains important program details for the scholar or student intern, including their visit's purpose and duration, funding information, and sponsor details. To obtain a J-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate overseas and to enter and maintain legal status in the U.S. as a J-1 exchange visitor, the J-1 scholar or student requires the DS-2019.

The DS-2019 is a crucial document for the "J" Exchange Visitor Program. The consular officer who issued your visa should have completed the Preliminary Endorsement section of the form. For Canadian citizens, this should have been done at the Port of Entry into the United States. Please note that you are only permitted to engage in activities authorized under the program and category specified on your Form DS-2019.

The document placed in your passport by the U.S. Consulate when you applied on Form DS-160 is called a visa:

It is only used for entry into the U.S.
It does not grant permission to remain in the U.S.
It can expire during your stay in the U.S.
If you apply for an extension of stay, the validity of the visa stamp is not important

However, if you leave the U.S. you must have a valid J entry visa to return in J status. See the following pages for information about travel and automatic revalidation which is an exception to needing a valid J visa to enter the U.S.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) records your arrival and departure when you enter and leave the United States. The information is collected and maintained electronically on a CBP website. It is essential to check that the I-94 contains accurate information after each entry to the U.S. In case Form I-94 for you or your J-2 dependents is not correct, contact ISSS at isss@ucdenver.edu.

To keep a record of your electronic I-94, visit the CBP website and save a copy to include with your other immigration documents. Also provide a copy of the new I-94 to ISSS each time you travel outside the U.S. and re-enter.

International Student & Scholar Services

International Students

CU Denver

Student Commons Building

1201 Larimer Street

Suite 1119

Denver, CO 80204

International Scholars

CU Denver

Lawrence Street Center

1380 Lawrence Street

Suite 932

Denver, CO 80204

International Students & Scholars

CU Anschutz

Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place

Ground Floor: STE. EG305, EG305A, and EG306

Aurora, CO 80045

Tools & Resources

Schools & Colleges

CU Denver

CU Anschutz Medical Campus

CU Campuses

International Student & Scholar Services

Office of International Affairs

Arrival in the U.S.

Before Arrival in the U.S.

Arrival in the U.S.

After Arrival in the U.S.

J-1 Scholar/Student Intern Checklist

Submit Requests or Update Information

SSN (Social Security Number) for Employees

Colorado Driver’s License or State ID

Medical Insurance Requirement

Taxes & International Tax

International Student & Scholar Services

International Students

International Scholars

International Students & Scholars

Arrival in the U.S.

Before Arrival in the U.S.

Arrival in the U.S.

After Arrival in the U.S.

Entering the U.S. and Form I-94

Required Check-in and J-1 Scholar/Intern Orientation

Understanding Your Immigration Documents

J-1 Scholar/Student Intern Checklist

Submit Requests or Update Information

SSN (Social Security Number) for Employees

Colorado Driver’s License or State ID

Medical Insurance Requirement

Taxes & International Tax

Discover More

International Student & Scholar Services

International Students

International Scholars

International Students & Scholars