Proof of Identity for J-1 Scholars

The DS-2019 form, used for exchange visitor (J-1) programs, is required for all J-1 and J-2 visa applicants to obtain a J visa to enter the United States. It replaces the earlier IAP-66 form. It’s important to note that obtaining the DS-2019 form does not guarantee approval of the J visa, as visa approval depends on the discretion of the U.S. consular officer.

Obtaining the DS-2019 Form

The DS-2019 form is managed by the U.S. federal government and can only be generated through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). There are no blank DS-2019 forms available for direct download. Designated sponsoring institutions, after screening and selecting qualified exchange visitors, issue the DS-2019 form to selected scholars. The sponsoring institution completes the required information on the DS-2019 form and then provides it to the applicant for their J visa application.

Contents of the DS-2019 Form

Each DS-2019 form has a SEVIS identification number printed in the top right corner, consisting of a Greek letter (N) followed by 11 digits (N01234567890). It consists of two pages:

1. Applicant Information (Section 1)
2. Program Sponsor Information (including signatures, phone numbers, and addresses in Sections 2 and 7)
3. Brief description of the program activities (Section 2)
4. Program start and end dates (Section 3)
5. Program type (Section 4)
6. Budget for the exchange visitor’s expenses throughout the program (Section 5)

Personal Information of DS-2019 form

When completing the form, providing detailed personal information is essential. This includes name, date of birth, gender, nationality, and passport number. It’s crucial to pay special attention to the passport number, as it will be used to verify the student’s identity and visa information. Additionally, It requires students to provide contact addresses and phone numbers, which should also be carefully filled out to facilitate communication with the school or institution.

Coursework and Internship Plan

The DS-2019 also requires students to provide detailed information about their coursework and internship plans, including the content of the courses, internship duration, and location. When filling out this section, students should take note of the following:

• Ensure that the coursework and internship plans align with the visa type. For example, students on an F-1 student visa cannot engage in internships.
• Ensure that there are no conflicts in the timing of coursework and internship plans to avoid impacting studies and visa status.
• When outlining internship plans, provide detailed information about the internship content and location to facilitate review by institutions or companies.

Financial Certification

The DS-2019 form also requires students to provide financial certification to demonstrate their ability to afford living and studying in the United States. When completing financial certification, students should consider the following:

• Provide genuine and reliable financial documentation to avoid affecting the visa application.
• Financial certification may include bank statements, scholarship certificates, sponsor guarantees, etc. Students need to choose appropriate forms of certification.
• When completing sponsor guarantees, provide detailed sponsor information and asset certification to avoid visa rejection due to insufficient sponsor funds.

Review and Issuance of the DS-2019 Form

he DS-2019 form is an important document issued by authorized institutions or schools under the authorization of the U.S. Department of State. Therefore, It needs to go through a review and issuance process. After completing the students need to submit it to the school or institution for review and issuance. During this process, students should note the following:

• Before submitting the form, carefully review the information provided to ensure its accuracy and reliability.
• Students need to provide various supporting documents as required for review by institutions or schools.
• The review process may take some time, so students should prepare in advance to avoid delaying visa applications and travel plans.

Validity and Renewal of the DS-2019 Form

The validity of the DS-2019 form is a crucial factor in determining the duration of international students’ study and internship in the United States. Therefore, students need to carefully understand the validity and renewal requirements of the DS-2019 form. During this process, students should note the following:

• The validity period of the DS-2019 form is usually one year, and students need to complete their studies and internship plans within this period.
• If necessary, students can apply for a renewal of the DS-2019 form, providing detailed renewal application materials.
• Renewal applications need to be prepared in advance, and students need to carefully study the renewal requirements to avoid affecting studies and visas.

In Summary:

The DS-2019 form is an important document that international students need to fill out during their studies in the United States, involving personal information, coursework and internship plans, financial certification, review, issuance, validity, and renewal considerations.