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Applying for a U.S. Non-Immigrant Visa Stamp at a U.S. Embassy

The U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) makes a distinction between two categories of International Visitors (Immigrants or Nonimmigrants).

• Immigrants come to the U.S. with the intention of residing here permanently (they would enter the U.S. as permanent residents of the U.S.).
• Nonimmigrants come to the U.S. for a temporary period and intend to return to their country before the expiration of their authorized temporary stay.

The Tufts University International Center issues visa documents to Nonimmigrants ONLY. As a general rule, the law presumes that each International Visitor applying for admission to the U.S. is an intending immigrant, so the International Visitor applying for a Nonimmigrant visa must be prepared to demonstrate that they have a residence in a foreign country AND that they are coming to the U.S. temporarily for a specific purpose (i.e. study, research, teach, work, etc.)

A visa stamp is not a guarantee for entry into the U.S. The bearer of a valid visa stamp is subject to inspection at the port of entry by U.S. Immigration officials who have authority to deny admission. Therefore, the recipient of a visa stamp should carry with him/her, for possible presentation to immigration inspectors, the evidence which was submitted to the consular officer at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate when the visa stamp was obtained.

USCIS has an internet-based system for the purpose of issuing and tracking certain non-immigrant visa types (such as the J, M and F visas). The tracking system is referred to as "SEVIS" which stands for the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System. See more information on this.

It will be your responsibility to inform the International Center of any significant changes. Failure to do so could greatly jeopardize your status with USCIS. In order to ensure that you maintain legal immigration status while in the U.S., you will need to inform our office, within a 10-day period, of all of the following or any other significant changes: change in U.S. address; change in job title; change in location; change in job duties; change in financial sponsorship (i.e. amount of sponsorship or source of sponsorship); leave of absence; students must inform us prior to dropping below full-time status, etc.) The visa document issued to you by the International Center only authorizes you for affiliation with Tufts University. You must inform us prior to considering changing to a different U.S. sponsor.

Exchange Visitors requesting a "J-1" Visa Stamp at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate
are required to present a Form DS-2019 (issued by the International Center at Tufts University). You are advised to read the Form DS-2019 prior to visiting the U.S. Embassy. The U.S. Embassy/Consulate may question you to determine whether or not you are aware of the insurance requirement, so be sure to read and familiarize yourself with the insurance requirements of the J-1 program. We enclose detailed information in this packet for your review. The International Center has enclosed in this packet a Form DS-2019, with an original signature (signed in blue ink) in Part 7 of the form. You are to present this form to the U.S. Embassy. Typically, the U.S. Embassy will validate the form and place it in a sealed envelope for you to present at the Port of Entry to the U.S. If they place it in a sealed envelope, do not open it, let the inspector at the airport open the envelope.

You may enter the U.S. within 30 days prior to the effective date listed on Part 3 of Form DS-2019, but do not enter later than the effective date listed on Part 3 of Form DS-2019, or enter any earlier than 30 days prior to such date.

If you are trying to enter the U.S. after the effective date listed on Part 3 of Form DS-2019, you will most likely be denied entry into the U.S. and our office will need to issue you a new DS-2019.

Our office is required to electronically report to USCIS within 30 days of the effective date of Part 3 of Form DS-2019 that you have arrived on our campus. For this reason, it is very important that you register with us immediately upon arriving at Tufts. Failure to do so, could result in the automatic electronic cancellation of your J-1 program by USCIS, through the SEVIS system.

Workers requesting "H-1B or O-1" Visa Stamp at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate
are required to present a Form I-797, H-1B or O-1 Approval Notice (issued by the International Center at Tufts University). You will not be required to verify health insurance coverage, but all other information in this informational handout applies.

You may enter the U.S. within10 days prior to the effective date listed on Form I-797, H-1B or O-1 Approval Notice. So you should plan your travel accordingly. You cannot arrive earlier than 10 days prior to the effective date and you cannot arrive later than the effective date.

International Visitors Entering the U.S. from Canada or Mexico in TN status
You should have already received assistance from the International Center. If you have not, please contact our office as soon as possible. You will need to have with you at the port of entry: a letter of employment from your Tufts sponsoring department; a valid passport (valid for at least 1 ½ years into the future); birth certificate; academic credentials; and curriculum vitae. If you are entering from Mexico, additional documentation will be needed from the International Center for you to present at a US Embassy.

Applying for Initial/Extension of J-1, H-1B, O-1 or F-1 Visa Stamps:

• U.S. Embassies/Consulates require in-person interviews of all visa applicants. Depending on their application volume, it could take a few weeks (3-6 weeks) to secure an appointment. Please plan ahead! Find links to all of the US Embassy sites.
• You will be asked to complete: Nonimmigrant Visa Application form (Form DS-156). Find the DS-156 form here. A separate application is required for each traveler, regardless of age, and whether or not more than one person is included in the same passport.
  • You may also be asked to complete an additional form (Form DS-157 Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application), Find the DS-157 form here.
  • J-1 Exchange Visitors may be required to complete a Contract Information And Work History For Nonimmigrant Visa Applicant form (Form DS-158). Find the DS-158 form here..
• International Visitors applying for either an "Initial" F-1 or J-1 visa stamp WILL BE REQUIRED TO PAY a $200 SEVIS fee for an F-1 visa ($180 SEVIS fee for a J-1 visa) and complete Form I-901, PRIOR to their appointment with the U.S. Embassy/Consulate. You will need to present a receipt/proof that this fee has been paid at the time you apply for your visa stamp. F-2, J-2 visa holders are not required to pay this fee. J-1s funded by the U.S Federal government are exempt from this fee, as well. Find the fee application and information.
• The above-mentioned SEVIS Fee does not apply to H-1B, O-1 or TN visa holders.
• There may be a reciprocity fee charged for your visa (in addition to the SEVIS fee mentioned above). The reciprocity amount varies for every country depending on how much your government charges U.S. citizens for a similar visa. Find the reciprocity rates.
• Your passport should be valid for at least 6 months longer than your intended period of stay in the U.S.
• The Spelling of Your Name must be consistent on all documents. Your name must be spelled the same on your passport and immigration documents. This holds true for all your dependents as well. If you see any errors on how we listed your name(s) on the visa documentation, please notify us so that we can correct it prior to your visit to the U.S. Embassy/Consulate.
• You will need a recent photograph. Photographs must be on a white or off-white background and taken no earlier than 30 days before submission to Embassy/Consulate. Photo Specifications: Full face, front view, eyes open; photo must present full head from top of hair to bottom of chin; height of head should measure 1 inch to 1 & 3/8 inch (25 mm to 35 mm); center head within frame; eye level is between 1 & 1/8 inch to 1 & 3/8 inch (28 mm and 35 mm) from bottom of photo; cannot have distracting shadows on subject or background; smile must be natural natural expression. Read more about specific photograph information.
• Evidence substantiating the purpose of your trip. Such evidence might include an invitation letter, contract letter or offer letter, from your sponsoring department at Tufts University. (You will probably have such a letter already in your possession from recent correspondence with your sponsor at Tufts.) If not, you should ask them to give you a letter.
• Evidence substantiating your intent to depart the U.S. after completion of your approved stay. You may be asked for evidence showing your intent to return to your home country, such as family ties, employment, or similar binding obligations. In other words, be prepared to prove that you do not intend to immigrate permanently to the U.S. (H-1B visa holders are exempt from this burden of proof since there is a dual intent clause in the H-1B regulations, so it is not uncommon for H-1B visa holders to be taking permanent jobs in the U.S.).
  • If you are already in the U.S. and are applying for an extension of a current visa stamp or a request to change to a different visa category, you will need to present an updated letter from your department or from the International Center confirming your current status with Tufts.
• Financial Documentation. If your primary financial sponsor is Tufts University, this will be demonstrated on your visa document (Forms DS-2019, Form I-797 or Form I-20) and you will probably not be asked for additional financial documentation. However, if the majority of your funding is from sources outside Tufts, you will need to show official documentation from your financial sponsor. If you are responsible for financially sponsoring yourself, you will need to present a bank statement. If your stay in the U.S. is going to be funded by a relative, you will need a letter from them outlining their intent to support you as well as an official bank statement.
  • If you are already in the U.S. and are applying for an extension of a current visa stamp or a request to change to a different visa category, you will still be required to present updated financial documentation. This would be to verify the financial information listed on either your Form DS-2019, Form I-797 or Form I-20. If you are in J-1 or H-1B status and if most of your funding is coming from Tufts University, you should carry with you 3 recent payroll stubs as verification of your Tufts financial sponsorship through a paid salary.
• The U.S. Embassy/Consulate reserves the right to request a security clearance of anyone, prior to issuing a visa. Security Clearances could take from 4 weeks to 4 months to complete: International Students, Faculty & Research Scholars wishing to apply for a non-immigrant visa to enter the U.S. may have to undergo a security clearance. Security clearances could apply to anyone whether you are applying for a non-immigrant visa stamp for the first time or for an extension or change of visa category.
  • Some of the countries that may expect to be made subject to a security clearance are: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cuba, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
  • You may also be made subject to a security clearance relating to your field of study/research. Some of the fields that may be more commonly affected by this are: Biology; Chemistry; Chemical, Biomedical or Biological Engineering; Computer/Microelectronic Technology; Materials Technology; Information Security; Laser & Directed Energy Systems; Physics; Robotics; etc.

IF YOUR REQUEST FOR A VISA STAMP IS DENIED
Please ask the Consular Officer to give you a detailed written explanation of the denial. If your visa is denied because the Consular Officer was not sufficiently convinced by you that you intended to return home, it will be difficult for you to change his/her opinion. If your denial, however, was for any other reason which we could assist you with, please do contact our office. The International Center cannot attest to your intent to return home, but we may be able to assist you in other areas. If your visa is denied, you will be required to return to the International Center the original visa document(s) issued to you (i.e. Form DS-2019, Form I-797, Form I-20, etc.) Failure to return an unused Form DS-2019, Form I-797 or Form I-20 could jeopardize your ability to participate in future J-1, F-1 or H-1B programs in the U.S.

Please Do Not Enter the U.S. in any of the following visa categories: B-1, B-2, WB, or WT. These visa categories are intended for very brief stays in the U.S. (9 days or less). If the International Center has been working to assist you to enter on either J-1, H-1, O-1, F-1 or TN status, please do not enter on the above categories. If for some reason, you run into difficulty in obtaining the J-1, H-1, O-1, F-1 or TN visa stamp, you are advised to first contact the International Center for assistance. Please be aware that you will not be allowed to work, teach, research, study, etc. on the B-1, B-2, WB or WT visa categories. These are intended for very short-term, incidental stays. If you enter on these categories inappropriately, you will need to depart and re-enter the U.S. prior to being authorized to commence your affiliation with Tufts University.

U.S. PORT OF ENTRY

• Certain individuals may be required to undergo Special Registration & Monitoring at the U.S. Port of Entry. Read more detailed information on Special Registration.
• At the Port of Entry to the U.S., the Immigration Inspector will adjudicate your visa document, such as your J-1, Form DS-2019; H-1B or O-1 Form I-797; F-1, Form I-20, etc. Have all your documents with you. If you have recently obtained a visa stamp from the U.S. Embassy/Consulate or you are entering for the first time on a particular visa, also have in your possession the same documentation you had to present the U.S. Embassy (i.e. letter from Tufts, financial documentation, etc.)
• You will most likely be required to take electronic fingerprints through the use of inkless fingerprint scanners, and a digital photograph. Better prepare yourself for the port of entry to the U.S.