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Immigration Services

Certificate of Eligibility for J-1 Visa

What is the DS-2019 Form?

The DS-2019, or "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status," is the official document for the exchange visitor program. It allows a prospective exchange visitor to apply for an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate to obtain a J visa to enter the United States.

On the document, both the exchange visitor and their designated sponsor are listed, along with a brief description of the exchange visitor's program (with start and end date), category of exchange (research scholar, short-term scholar, exchange students, etc.), and an estimated cost of the program.

View more information about the purpose of the DS-2019.

Application Process

After a designated sponsor has been found, they will complete and issue this form to prospective exchange visitors they have screened and selected for the exchange program. Once the exchange visitor has been given the DS-2019, they can apply for the J-1 visa.

It is important to note that even if the DS-2019 has been issued and you have been accepted into a program. The Consular Officers in charge of reviewing visa applications will make the final decision regarding the issuance of a visa.

At Clemson University, the department submits the DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility requests on behalf of the exchange visitors.

Timeline for DS-2019

  1. The department invites the scholar to Clemson University.
  2. You will work with your department to complete and submit the IS-200 Request for DS-2019 for Scholars (PDF) or IS-201 Request for DS-2019 for J-1 Non-Degree Students (PDF) to is@clemson.edu.
  3. Please allow International Services up to 10 business days to process the IS-200 or IS-201.
  4. The DS-2019 will then be shipped to you, along with additional information about the next steps.
  5. After you receive your form, you may begin applying for a J-1 visa.

Steps to Take After DS-2019 Issuance

  1. International Services ships the DS-2019 welcome packet.
  2. The Exchange Visitor will pay the I-901 fee to SEVIS.
  3. The Exchange Visitor will complete the IS-160 Visa application with the U.S. Department of State.
  4. The Exchange Visitor will attend a consular interview with the U.S. Department of State Consular Official.
  5. The Exchange Visitor will receive their J-1 Visa from the U.S. Department of State.
  6. The Exchange Visitor will receive their I-94 from U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the U.S. Port of Entry (POE).
  7. Then, the Exchange Visitor must complete the check-in process with the Office of International Services within 15 days of their program start date.