Bring these documents with you to your embassy appointment:

❑ Passport.

❑ Confirmation pages of Form DS-160 and visa appointment.  Your DS-160 number on the application confirmation page must exactly match the number entered in your Visa Appointment Service account.  Print from ceac.state.gov/genniv/  Print appointment instructions from my account at ais.usvisa-info.com/en-GB/niv

❑ Original Form DS-2019 Form (“Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status”):

• Original document, not a photocopy or digital copy
• Signed, location added (London), date added on the bottom of the form
• Your DS-2019 will be returned if your application is successful

❑ A photograph taken within the last six months meeting all of the Department of State’s requirements.  If you have applied before do NOT reuse the same photo from 2024.

❑ SEVIS fee payment receipt.

❑ Do NOT bring your laptop, large bags or suitcases.

❑ Read the Wilberforce Act guidance - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/temporary-workers.html

❑ If you have upcoming non-U.S. international travel, be aware that your passport must be submitted for the entire duration of the application process and we will not be able to return your passport until the visa is issued.

❑ You cannot collect your passport in person at the Embassy. Passport return service will be provided through your Visa Appointment Service account using the Embassy-approved courier service.

After the embassy appointment:

❑ The courier service will email delivery tracking information  after visa processing is complete.

❑ U.S. visas are printed in passports. 

❑ Keep the DS-2019 form (certificate of eligibility) in your passport. Show both documents to immigration officials at the U.S. airport.
 

Click here for important information from the Embassy and see FAQs below.

How long will the visa be valid? What is the ‘grace period’?

The visa validity period refers to the time in which the visa holder can travel to a U.S. Port of Entry to apply for admission. The visa validity period does not refer to the length of stay or the ‘grace period.’

J-1 visa holders can arrive in the U.S. up to 30 days before the start date on Form DS-2019 to travel and to settle in.  J-1 visa holders are also granted a ‘grace period’ of 30 days after the completion date stated on Form DS2019, during which they can travel within and prepare to leave the U.S.  You cannot work in the United States during either of the 30 day periods. If you travel to Mexico or Canada or another country in the ‘grace’ period, you cannot use your J-1 visa to return to the U.S. You would need either valid registration under ESTA (if you qualify to travel under the Visa Waiver Program), or a valid B-2 (tourist) visa. The final determination on every individual’s eligibility for admission to the United States is made by U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the Port of Entry.

What is the Student Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) fee? How do I pay?

The SEVIS fee is paid to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), not to the Embassy. You must pay through the ICE website at least 3 days before your visa interview. See ice.gov/sevisfor FAQs and information about how to pay. The SEVIS fee is not the same as the visa fee that you pay when you schedule the visa interview.

Where do I get my courier or appointment instructions?

They will appear in the ‘Print Instructions’ part of your account at ais.usvisa-info.com/en-gb/niv/users/sign_in

How do I complete Form DS-160? How can I get my DS-160 confirmation page?

We suggest you complete the application form using a laptop or desktop computer connected to a printer and print the confirmation page with the barcode as soon as you submit the form. Check https://travel.state.gov/conte... for tips, including what to do if you don’t know how to a question, if you have technical issues, or if you do not print the confirmation page when you complete the application form.

What are the photo requirements?

See https://travel.state.gov/conte... for information about how to meet the Department of State’s rules. The photograph is for an official document. No social media pictures or digitally retouched photos are allowed! If your photo doesn’t meet the requirements, your application will be delayed.

Can I apply for two visas at the same time?

The visa category stated on your DS-160 and your online account will be the only category adjudicated and processed at the time of submission. Two separate visa applications for different categories cannot be processed simultaneously. If you wish to obtain another visa of a different classification, you will need to go through a new and separate application process. You can’t be issued with two separate J visas. If you want to participate in two J-1 programs without leaving the United States in between we recommend contacting your program sponsor for further instructions on how to apply for a change of exchange category while in the U.S. If you depart the U.S. and then wish to return, you will require a valid visa in order to travel.

For more information see uk.usembassy.gov/visas/study-exchange 

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