Office of International Affairs (OIA)
Procedures for Departments to Request a "DS-2019"
Form DS-2019 is an official U.S. Department of State document that the scholar needs in order to apply for the J-1 Visa. The following procedures enable OIA to issue the Form DS-2019:
STEP 1. DEPARTMENT COMPLETES DS-2019 REQUEST FORM (FILLABLE PDF)
- DEPARTMENT APPLICATION: DS-2019 REQUEST FORM Pages 1-2
- CANDIDATE APPLICATION: DS-2019 REQUEST FORM Page 3
- CERTIFICATION LETTER (only for scholar candidates with M.D.'s)
- Complete the Departmental Section (pp. 1-2) of the DS-2019 application
- Have the applicant fill-out page 3 of the application and send it to department
- If the scholar candidate is a medical doctor, the department must attach a signed certification printed on department letterhead (download template above; make changes in the bracketed areas)
- Include all of the accompanying documents
- DEPARTMENT MUST send the application and the accompanying documents to OIA (Jeff Hall, M-70)
STEP 2. OIA ISSUES ACTUAL DS-2019 FORM
- OIA will issue the actual Form DS-2019
- OIA will contact the Department to pick up Form DS-2019 and pre-arrival materials
STEP 3. DEPARTMENT WILL PICK-UP DS-2019 FORM AND PRE-ARRIVAL MATERIALS
- Please read cover memo instructions carefully
- Sign certification letter, include it in the DS-2019 packet and then send a copy of it to OIA
STEP 4. DEPARTMENT SENDS ALL DOCUMENTS AND MATERIALS TO SCHOLAR
STEP 5. DEPARTMENT MAKES CHECK-IN APPOINTMENT WITH OIA BEFORE
SCHOLAR ARRIVES
The department must be in contact with the scholar so that when he or she arrives, they can contact OIA to set up an appointment for check-in and orientation. The scholar must bring the following documents to the check-in:
- Passport/Visa
- I-94 Form (small white or green card)
- DS-2019 Forms (and family's DS-2019 if accompanied)
- Health insurance information
