The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is sponsoring you as a J-1 Exchange Visitor. This letter contains information that is very important for your participation in our J-1 program. Please read it carefully.
The enclosed form DS-2019 verifies your eligibility for J-1 status and must be presented at a U.S. embassy or consulate in order for you to obtain a J-1 entry visa. Be sure to read page two of this form and sign the bottom of the DS-2019 where it says “Exchange Visitor Certification”. You will also need to sign the same section of the form for any of your dependents.
When applying for a J visa you may have to convince the embassy or consulate that you have strong ties to your home country and will return at the end of your J program. Be prepared to show evidence of your ties to your country. If your visa is denied because the consulate or embassy does not believe you plan to return to your home country, there is little the University of Illinois can do to influence this decision. If the visa is denied for any reason, however, please contact us and we will try to assist. When you apply for your visa, you may be asked to show proof of your financial support if you will be receiving money from sources other than the University of Illinois. Have this proof with you when you apply. NOTE: Canadian citizens are not required to obtain visas.
Depending on your country of nationality and field of work, you may also experience delays of a several weeks while you wait for a clearance from the U.S. State Department. If a State Department clearance is required, nothing can be done to expedite the process.
The U.S. Immigration authorities will stamp your DS-2019 form when you enter the country, bring the DS-2019 form with you to the U.S. Due to current national security issues, certain individuals will be photographed and fingerprinted when they enter the United States. Depending on your country of origin, you may be required to register with the Immigration office in Chicago within 30 days after your arrival. If you have any concerns relating to these processes, please discuss them with our staff.
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Please also read the enclosed J-1 Program Handbook for details about the requirements, restrictions and possibilities of your J-1 program. Be sure to bring the handbook with you to the United States. It will answer many of the questions you may have during your stay. Feel free to contact our office if you have questions that have not been addressed in these materials. Along with your DS-2019 forms and J-1 Program Handbook we are also sending you basic information about housing, schools, and other matters that may be important for you to have before you leave for the U.S. You are eligible to live in University Family Housing even if you are single or if your family is not with you. When you register with our office we will give you a folder, which includes an orientation booklet full of practical information, which may be useful during your first days in Champaign-Urbana.
J-1 Exchange Visitors to the University of Illinois are normally not eligible for University medical insurance for at least two years. You are only eligible after you have established yourself as a resident for tax purposes, and if you have at least a 50% appointment for nine months or longer. Your J-1 status requires that you have insurance as described in your program handbook. We are sending you are sending you a list of websites and phone numbers for companies which offer the type of insurance you need, but you are free to purchase any insurance which meets the requirements. If you think you may be a tax resident due to previous time spent in the U.S., you will need to discuss your tax status with our Payroll Office.
As soon as possible after you arrive at the University, contact the following person in your host department:
NameAddress Phone
This individual will give you a Staff Data Sheet to fill out and will make a copy of your DS-2019 form and certain pages of your passport. They will also have you apply for a Social Security number. You must schedule an appointment before coming to our office to check in. Be sure to bring the required items with you to our office (see checklist). We are located at 308-311 International Studies Building, 910 S. Fifth Street, Champaign (Building I on the enclosed map), One of our staff members will meet with you. We will give you your orientation folder, discuss your insurance coverage and answer any questions you may have. Our office will assist you with any visa-related questions or problems throughout your stay at the University of Illinois. You may also wish to refer to our website at .
If you will be living in University Family Housing, they will ask you for a Social Security number when you register with them. If you do not have a number, they will give you one key to your apartment. You can return later to give them your number and obtain the second key and complete your contract. Please do not come to our office directly from Family Housing, unless you have already visited your department and obtained the materials described above.
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If your family is coming with you, you will find a DS-2019 form for each dependent which should be presented at the U.S. embassy/consulate with your DS-2019. Each member may be issued a J-2 dependent visa at the same time you obtain your J-1 visa. If your family will join you in the United States at a later date, you must request a DS-2019 for each dependent from our office after your arrival in the U.S. Make sure you allow at least two (2) weeks to receive the DS-2019 to send to your family when they are making their travel arrangements. Please see the handbook for more information.
Please notify our office if you cannot arrive at the University of Illinois by the beginning date on your DS-2019 form. YOUR DS-2019 FORM(S) MUST BE VALIDATED BY OUR OFFICE WITHIN 30 DAYS OF THAT DATE (the “From” date in Section 3 of your DS-2019) OR A CANCELLATION OF YOUR J-PROGRAM WILL RESULT AND A NEW FORM WILL NEED TO BE SENT TO YOU. After you arrive on campus, you must register with the IFSA office before the 30-day deadline.
If you do not use the DS-2019 form(s) issued by the University of Illinois, please return it (or any not used) to this office.
We look forward to meeting you.
Sincerely,
Carol A. Buss
Director
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REMEMBER:
Visit your host department first.
Do not come to the IFSA office without an appointment.
When you come to the IFSA office, bring the following items:
Completed Staff Data Sheet
Photocopy of the DS-2019
Photocopy of your I-94
Photocopy of I-9, if applicable
Photocopy of your passport picture page
Photocopy of your entry visa
Information about your insurance, if you are not eligible for
University of Illinois Insurance