You’ve finished your application with InterExchange and received all your necessary paperwork to apply for a J-1 Visa. Now it’s time to schedule your J-1 Visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy in your country!
It may seem like a daunting process, but InterExchange is here to help! Keep reading to find out everything you need to know and the steps you need to take!
Are you a Canadian citizen?
You do not need to go to the U.S. Embassy to apply for a J-1 Visa! Your printed and signed DS-2019 Form and SEVIS fee receipt is sufficient for entry to the U.S. If you’re entering the U.S. as an Intern or Trainee, you’ll also need to print a copy of your DS-7002.
Everyone else, follow the steps below:
Step 1: Complete the DS-160 form online. (Also known as the Nonimmigrant Visa Application)
Electronically completing and submitting your DS-160 application is the FIRST STEP in the J-1 Visa appointment process. For detailed instructions on this process, watch the video below:
You will need to have the information listed below to complete the DS160:
- Your SEVIS ID Number
- Your Passport
- A digital image of yourself that meets these requirements
- Name and address of your host in the USA (host camp, host employer, host family, etc.)
- Your travel itinerary (If you have already made travel arrangements.)
- The dates of your last five visits or trips to the United States.
All answers must be in English. Most questions are mandatory and must be answered in the spaces provided.
Note: The U.S. Department of State requires all J-1 Visa Applicants to submit their social media handles (including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram) on their DS-160 Applications. A response to the questions related to social media is required. However, the form does allow the applicant to respond with “None.”
Be sure to print or save your Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) confirmation page when you are done! You’re going to need it at the embassy!
Still have more questions about the Visa Application DS-160? Check out these Frequently Asked Questions.
Step 2: Find the U.S. Embassy or Consulate nearest to you!
Visit the U.S. Embassy’s website and select the country and the embassy nearest to you!
Most visa applicants will need to schedule a visa interview, though some repeat applicants may qualify for interview waiver. The embassy or consulate information may include specific local instructions about scheduling interviews, submitting your visa application, and other frequently asked questions.
Once you locate the U.S. Embassy or Consulate near you, it’s important to thoroughly review all information on the specific embassy or consulate website’s “Visa” section for local procedures and instructions, such as how to make an interview appointment. Be sure to look up information for nonimmigrant exchange visitor visas. Embassy and Consulate websites will also explain any additional procedures for exchange visitors who need an earlier visa interview appointment. The procedure varies from country to country!
Be sure to check for visa appointment and processing wait times. You are applying for the “Exchange Visitor Visa” category.
Step 3: Pay the non-refundable application fee.
To get started, visit the website of the scheduling service used by the U.S. Embassy in your country, which may be one of the following:
- https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-us/countries_list/niv
- https://www.ustraveldocs.com/
- https://usvisaappt.com/visa/
Select the country of the embassy you chose in Step 2. Then, if prompted, select “Temporary- Non Immigrant visas.”
Log into the scheduling site. You may need your SEVIS ID (found in the top right corner of your DS-2019 Form) and the Program number found in Box 2 of your DS-2019 Form.
You’ll need to complete the process to pay for your visa appointment. Don’t worry—you can save and come back if you can’t complete it all at once! The cost of the visa appointment is $185 USD. This fee is separate from the sponsorship fees you paid InterExchange.
Step 4: Schedule your J-1 Visa appointment!
Once your visa application fee has been paid and confirmed, then you will be able to schedule your visa appointment. This is typically done on the same site where you paid your fee. Schedule the next available appointment.
If you aren’t able to schedule your appointment on the payment site, contact your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate for scheduling instructions.
If there are a limited number of appointments available and you need an earlier interview time, you may be able to request an expedited appointment. Follow the steps outlined on the embassy website for instructions on requesting an expedited appointment.
Step 5: Attend Your J-1 Visa Interview at the Embassy
Finally, interview day has come!
You are required to bring your Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) confirmation page with your application ID number on it so the embassy can retrieve your application.
Remember to bring your passport and printed DS-2019 form (as well as the DS-7002 Training Plan for Interns and Trainees) with you to the embassy, as well as any additional documents specified on the embassy or consulate website. Note that your passport must be valid for at least six months after program end date.
Some embassies and consulates require visa applicants to bring one (1) photo, which meets requirements, to the interview. Review the embassy or consulate instructions where you will apply to learn more. If your documents are in order, your interview is more likely to go smoothly and quickly.
During the interview, applicants must also demonstrate to the consular officer that they have binding ties to a residence in a foreign country which they have no intention of abandoning, and that they are coming to the U.S. for a temporary period. Current students can often show that they need to return to continue taking courses and finish their degree. For applicants who are not current students, a job offer for for after their program, property ownership, or the intention to go back to school for another degree may suffice. It is impossible to specify the exact form the evidence should take since applicants’ circumstances vary greatly.
Step 6: Pick Up Your Passport With Your Attached J-1 Visa
Processing time varies. Check with the embassy or consulate you apply with for specifics on when and where to get your passport and visa.
You’re ready to travel!
Once your visa has been approved, it’s safe to book your flights. Contact your host if you have any doubts about when, where, and how to arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions
What questions will I be asked during my J-1 Visa interview at the U.S. Embassy?
The questions our participants have been asked vary, and you should be prepared to answer a number of questions about your program, your qualifications, and what your plans are for after you return home.
Here are a few of the most common questions asked during visa interviews:
- What will you be doing in the U.S.?
- Tell us about any previous visits to the U.S.
- What are your plans for when you return home after your program? (It’s good to think about your plans for after your program in advance of your interview, as this is an important question.)
Although every interview is different and you should be prepared to answer all types of questions. Consider asking other people in your country who have done the same type of program for their advice, as their experience will probably be closest to yours.
What documents do I need to take to my J-1 Visa interview at the U.S. Embassy?
Bringing all of the required documents is the most important thing you can do to ensure your interview goes smoothly. Most embassies will cancel your appointment (without refunding the $185 fee) if you have not brought all your documents with you.
Embassy Interview Document Checklist
- Printed DS-2019 Form
- Current passport, valid for at least six months after program end date
- DS-160 confirmation page
- One 5 x 5 centimeter (2 x 2 inch) color photograph taken in the past six months
- SEVIS payment receipt
- Evidence showing your intention to return home after your program
- Any additional documents specified on the embassy or consulate website
- For Interns and Trainees: DS-7002 Form, downloaded from your InterExchange portal. You will need to bring the official copy of the training plan that has been electronically signed by you, your host employer, and InterExchange.
What else should I do to prepare for my J-1 Visa interview at the U.S. Embassy?
Don’t be nervous! Thousands of InterExchange participants successfully complete their visa interview every year. You can prepare for your day with a few simple tips.
- Dress nicely. You don’t need to wear a suit, but it is more respectful if you wear neat, clean clothes since first impressions are important.
- Arrive at the embassy early. They will serve you on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you’re lucky, you’ll be finished early as well. Early morning appointments are usually the best.
- Go alone. This interview is for you, not your family or your friends. (If you will be bringing a dependent on a J-2 Visa, however, they should accompany you to your interview.)
- Bring a book. Wait times can be long, and some embassies may not allow you to enter with your mobile phone.
- Review your embassy’s website. Visiting instructions vary by location. Be sure you know what is permitted when you attend your interview.
