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Obtaining a Visa
In order to study in the United States, you must have a visa to enter the country. Apply for the visa at an U.S. embassy or consulate outside the US using the form DS-2019.
You will need various crucial documents to support your visa application. Prepare carefully for your visit to the U.S. embassy or consulate. Read all documents carefully, so that you know exactly what you are agreeing to when you enter the United States on a student visa. There are new guidelines for international students so be extra meticulous when preparing your documents.
Visa procedures vary slightly from one consulate or embassy to another. However, there are standard items that are required for the application:
- A current, valid passport
- The DS-2019 form for the J visa
- Proof of payment of SEVIS fee
- Be prepared to take documentation of your financial support, including an original bank statement accompanied by a letter of financial support from parents, bank, or other sponsor as well as the letter of admission from the College of Engineering
- Proof that you have permanent residence outside the United States
- One or more passport-type photographs
- A non-immigrant visa application
The consular officer will place a visa in your passport. If you receive a multiple-entry visa, you may use it to reenter the United States up to the date of its expiration as long as you have a valid DS-2019. You must always have valid papers or you will be asked to immediately leave the country. Be certain to contact International Student Services on campus as soon as you get to Madison.
SEVIS Fee
The United States government requires incoming international students to pay a fee of $180 toward maintenance of the Student and Exchange Information System (SEVIS).
You can pay your SEVIS fee online as soon as you receive your DS-2019. You must provide the receipt as proof of your payment to the consulate when you apply for your visa.
Arrival Advice
Keep your passport, DS-2019 form, travel documents, and money with you at all times. Keep important papers in your carry-on luggage, with photocopies in your other baggage. Be certain you left copies of all of your documents in your home country. Label your baggage inside and out with your name and both your home and U.S. addresses and telephone numbers. To prevent inconvenience in the case of lost luggage, put all items that you will need for at least your first night in Madison in your carry-on luggage.
Toward the end of your flight, the airline personnel will give you several forms to complete for the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service and U.S. Customs. It is forbidden to bring certain items into the United States (for example, fruits, vegetables, drugs, firearms and excessive amounts of cash). You will be asked to report the value of the things you are bringing into the United States. Simply follow the direction on the forms. If necessary, ask the flight attendant for clarifications.
Among the forms that you will receive on the flight is a small white card called the "I-94 card." This document is an official immigration document, which should remain in your passport for the duration of your stay in the United States. The I-94 card, in combination with the United States visa stamp and a valid passport, secure your entry into the United States. You must have all of these documents to enter the United States at the port of entry in the airport.
J-1 Student Visa Status
You will receive a complete visa briefing after you arrive on campus. Be aware of the following:
Immigration regulations require you to be enrolled in a full-time program of study while participating in the UW-Madison exchange program. Depending on the number of credits assigned to the classes you choose, that means that you must register for at least three or four classes totaling: at least 8 credits if you are graduate student at your home institution, or: at least 12 credits if you are an undergraduate at your home institution.
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