OIA strongly recommends that you make your travel arrangements after you have received your visa application materials/entry documents and after your visa application has been approved by a U.S. Consular official.
When can I make my arrangements for travel to the U.S. and Jefferson?
OIA strongly recommends that you make your travel arrangements after you have received your visa application materials/entry documents and after your visa application has been approved by a U.S. Consular official.
What do I do once I receive my entry document and pre-arrival materials?
First, review all the materials to make sure there are no misspellings or other mistakes on your documents. If everything is correct and accurate, you may use these documents to apply for a visa at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest you. If corrections need to be made to your visa application materials, please contact OIA.
Since visa application procedures differ from each consular office and sometimes from day to day, you should find information about the Embassy or Consulate you will use for your visa application on the internet at http://www.usembassy.gov
Generally, however, you will be expected to present the following to the consular officer:
For more information about the visa interview, read about "What Consuls Look For" from the U.S. Department of State.
In what situations might my first-time visa application be denied?
Below are examples of situations in which your visa application may be at risk. Please contact OIA if any of these cases applies to you.
What can I do if my visa application is denied?
If your visa application is denied, before you leave the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, obtain a written explanation of the specific reason you are denied the visa and ask about re-application procedures. Also, try to obtain the full name of the officer who interviewed you, as well as her/his fax number. OIA might be able to help you if you can tell us this information.
From "What Consuls Look For" on the U.S. Department of State web site:
"Applicants generally establish their ties abroad by presenting evidence of economic, social, and/or family ties in their homeland sufficient to induce them to leave the United States upon the completion of studies."
This could include:
What do I do once my visa application has been approved?
Once you have made your travel arrangements, contact your department. Your department should then contact OIA to schedule your required orientation appointment with our office.
What are the health insurance requirements for J-1 status holders?
OIA encloses some health insurance company brochures with each DS-2019 pre-arrival packet.
As an Exchange Visitor in the United States, under a rule effective September 1, 1994, you must carry health insurance for yourself and your J-2 dependents for the full duration of your J program. Government regulations stipulate that if, after that date, you willfully fail to carry health insurance for yourself and your dependents, your J-1 sponsor must terminate your program, and report the termination to the United States Department of State (DOS).
The following requirements have been established for the type and amounts of coverage you must carry if you hold J-1 or J-2 status:
The policy must be backed by the full faith and credit of your home country government, or the company providing the insurance must meet minimum rating requirements established by DOS (an A. M. Best rating of "A-" or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A-i" or above, a Standard & Poor's Claims-paying Ability rating of "A-" or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above).
What to expect at the Customs and Border port of entry
When you land in the United States, you must go through U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with your valid immigration documents to gain admission. For information on what to expect, please visit the following Department of Homeland Security pages: Arrival Procedures for Students or Exchange Visitors and What to Expect at the Port of Entry.