The J1 Visa

A J-1 Visa is issued for an Exchange Visitor who is participating in an established exchange program. This exchange program, or "sponsor" has to be designated by the State Department. Exchange Visitors under J-1 visas include high school and college exchange students, business trainees, trainees in flight aviation programs, primary and secondary school teachers, college professors, research scholars, medical residents or interns receiving medical training in the U.S., certain specialists, international visitors, and Government visitors.

DS-2019 Form

When you apply, you will be issued a DS-2019 form by ERDT. This DS-2019 form is a "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J1) Status" from the Department of State, which is an agency of the U.S. Government. It officially identifies ERDT as your program sponsor, describes the purpose of the program, and lists the exact period during which you are allowed to work. If you do not have a DS-2019 form, you are cannot apply for a J1 visa or enter the U.S.

Passport and J1 Visa

To apply for the J1 visa, you will also have to schedule a face-to-face interview with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your home country. Because wait times for interview appointments can be long, it is important to apply for your visa as early as possible. At the interview, you will present your DS-2019 along with your passport and other visa application forms. You will also have to show proof of a minimum of $850 (travelers checks are recommended; a bank statement is not acceptable). Once you have had your interview and are approved, the J1 visa will be placed in your passport with the program number marked on it. The J1 visa with a valid DS-2019 form allows you one entrance to the U.S. as a ERDT Work & Travel Program participant. Your J1 visa is valid for a period of four (4) months and CANNOT be extended under any circumstances.

MAKE COPIES OF YOUR DOCUMENTS! Be sure to make two copies of all your documents. Leave one set of copies at home and pack the other set in your luggage separate from the originals. Carry the original documents with you during your trip. You do not have access to any checked baggage until you clear immigration! Please note that you should not enter the U.S. more than two weeks prior to the start date on your DS-2019 regardless of the start date on your J1 visa.

Please note: Your local U.S. Embassy makes the decision on Visa issues. Even if you have been accepted into the Work & Travel Program and issued a DS-2019 form, ERDT does not guarantee that you will in fact be granted the J1 Visa.

Participant Tracking-SEVIS

Once you enter the U.S. as a J1 Visa holder, you will have an active record in the U.S. government mandatory participant tracking system known as SEVIS. You will have 20 days after arrival in the U.S. to inform ERDT of your U.S. permanent home address. To do this, go to www.erdtworkandtravel.org and click on "Validate and update my SEVIS record." Any further change in the U.S. permanent home address must be reported to ERDT within 1 week, by emailing worktravel@erdtshare.org.

Failure to comply with this U.S. government requirement will result in your termination from the program and you will be forced to return home.

30-Day Grace Period

You are authorized to stay in the U.S. for 30 days beyond the end date stated on your DS-2019. If you leave the U.S. at any time during this grace period, you will NOT be allowed to re-enter the U.S.. Participants who remain after the grace period are subject to arrest and deportation. This will also make it very difficult for you to get a U.S. visa in the future.

Extending Your Stay

You CANNOT extend your stay in the U.S. beyond the authorized period. When you joined this program, you agreed that you would leave the U.S. upon program completion. ERDT and the U.S. Government requires you to honor this agreement.