Preparing For Your Clemson Experience
Please review our welcome letter that provides guidance on next steps. You are also encouraged to review our Arrival Guide for additional helpful information.
Pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee and Apply for J Visa
Visa Application Procedure & Entry to U.S.
- Schedule an Appointment with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate closest to you.
- Pay the I-901 SEVIS fee
- Attend your visa interview
- Arrive in the U.S. no earlier than 30 days prior to the program start date and no later than 15 days listed on your DS-2019 Form
After you receive your immigration documents and review them, the next step is to schedule an appointment with the US Consulate for your visa application. If you are not sure which US Embassy or Consulate is closest to you, please visit the US Department of State website for a list of US missions around the world. Once you find the U.S. Consulate closest to you, please visit the “visa” section of the website to learn about the required procedures for setting an appointment and how to prepare for your interview. Click here for advice on how to prepare for your interview.
All new exchange visitors applying for a J visa are required to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee at least three business days prior to their visa interview. Click here to find more information on the I-901 SEVIS Fee, as well as how to pay. If you are a Canadian citizen, although you do not need an F or J visa to enter the U.S., you are required to pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee at least three business days prior to your entry into the US.
As an exchange visitor, you are permitted to enter the US no earlier than 30 days prior to the start date listed on the DS-2019 Form. The start date can be found in Section 3 of your DS-2019. When purchasing your ticket, it is important to keep these dates in mind as you may be denied entry should you arrive in the US prior to that 30-day period or later than 30 days after the start date. For information on what to expect at your port of entry, click here and here.
You are encouraged to come to Clemson as early as possible to obtain housing, complete your SEVIS Check-In, and complete the necessary paperwork for on-campus employment, if applicable. Your host department may have onboarding requirements that occur leading up to the beginning of your program.
Stay in Contact with Hosting Department and IS
Please keep your hosting department and International Services updated regarding any delays or complications in your visa application and/or arrival plans. If you need to defer your program, please work with your department to submit the deferral form to IS so that we can defer your SEVIS record and DS-2019. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of your program.
Obtain Health Insurance
Health insurance is required for all J-1 visa holders and their J-2 dependents. Please review our guidance here that provides further details on the insurance requirements.
Submit SEVIS Check-In
Review the SEVIS Check-In requirements here. J-1 exchange visitors must check in with the International Services within 30 days of the DS-2019 start-date. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of your program.
Apply for SSN
If you will be paid by Clemson University, you will need to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) after your J-1 SEVIS record has been activated by IS. Do not attend an appointment with the Social Security Administration until you receive your check-in approval email from IS.
Attend Orientation
All J exchange visitors are required to attend orientation offered by International Services. Please view our website for more details.