J-1 Scholar - Applying for a Visa

Paying the SEVIS Fee and Applying for a Visa

To enter the United States as a J-1 scholar under USF’s sponsorship, you must have a valid J-1 visa stamp in your passport from a U.S. Consulate. The consular officer may ask you to provide evidence of your funding during your visa interview or as part of your U.S. visa application. (Appropriate evidence may include a letter of award or support, a bank statement, proof of income, etc.) If your dependents will accompany you, they will need J-2 visas, and you should take their passports with you to the consulate and be prepared to show proof of marriage to your spouse (marriage certificate) and parenthood of each child (birth certificate).

steps for obtaining a J-1 visa from abroad

  1. Receive the Form DS-2019 from the Exchange Visitor Program (in this case, from the sponsoring organization, USF).
  2. Make a visa appointment with the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.
  3. Submit the SEVIS I-901 fee payment in time to allow the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to process the payment at least three (3) days prior to your visa interview.
  4. Print your online SEVIS fee payment receipt or wait to receive form I-797 receipt from DHS via mail and submit the receipt with visa application.
  5. Receive the J-1 visa stamp in your passport from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.
  6. Enter the U.S. up to 30 days PRIOR and no later than 30 days AFTER the start date indicated on the DS-2019.
  7. Report to the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office to validate your program participation no later than 30 days AFTER the start date indicated on the DS-2019. Failure to report to the ISSS office can result in the termination of your J-1 status.

Procedures for payment of the SEVIS fee:

  • When completing the Form I-901 payment form online, you will have the option to pay online or print out a payment coupon to mail in your payment.
    • Pay online directly to DHS using a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, or American Express accepted).
    • Mail in your Form I-901 payment to the DHS address listed on the payment coupon. Payment can be made in the form of a check, money order, or foreign draft drawn on a financial institution in the United States and payable in U.S. currency.

Other SEVIS fee facts:

  • Another person (friend or family) can make the payment for an exchange visitor by one of the two methods above.
  • Receipts: When you submit the payment online, you will be able to print out an electronic receipt immediately. You should do so and retain this receipt for your records.
  • Although SEVIS fee payments will be recorded by DHS in the J-1 exchange visitor’s SEVIS record, it is recommended that a SEVIS fee receipt be used to request any status-related benefit (i.e., application for visa, admission at U.S. port-of-entry, application to change status).
  • NOTE: DHS will not refund the SEVIS fee if prospective exchange visitors are not granted a visa or choose not to come to the United States after their visas are granted.