A visa is a stamp placed in your passport which is used to request entry into another country. There are many different types of visas to enter the United States, each with its own specific purpose and requirements. Most U.S. visas are “nonimmigrant” visas, meaning that the holder of the visa does not intend to stay in the U.S. Nonimmigrant visas are used to come to the U.S. for a specific purpose and time period (such as F-1 student, J-1 scholar, B-1/B-2 Visitor, etc.) and then return home.
Purpose
The visa is an entry document only. Its purpose is to show that you qualify for entry into the U.S. for a specific purpose. However, the visa is not a guarantee that you will be allowed entry at the port of entry. You must still convince an immigration officer that the purpose of your visit matches the requirements for the visa.
To obtain a U.S. visa, you must apply for the visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy abroad. It is not possible to get a visa within the U.S.
Visa as Entry Document
You must have a valid visa to enter the U.S.:
- Program Sponsor Name – The visa you use to enter the U.S. should have the name of the J-1 program sponsor noted on the visa. Do not use a visa with another program’s name on it. If you have a visa from a previous exchange program, contact an adviser at ISSS.
- # of Entries – Most visas are marked “M” for “multiple” entries. This allows you to use the visa as many times as needed to enter the U.S. until the expiration date. Some visas are marked for a specific number of entries. These visas may only be used for this number of entries.
- Expiration Date – You may use the visa to enter the U.S. for the appropriate purpose until the expiration date of the visa. If you are traveling very near the expiration date, contact an adviser at ISSS.
Once admitted to the U.S. you will be given an I-94 Arrival/Departure Record stamped to show your legal entry into the U.S. and your immigration status. The stamp/notation on your I-94 should match your visa type.
Visa Expiration and Your Length of Stay in the U.S.
Since the visa is an entry document only, it does not determine how long you can stay in the U.S. The visa expiration date is not your end of program date. The amount of time you are allowed to stay in the U.S. is determined by your I-94 and your DS-2019. The visa can expire while you are in the U.S. with no consequence.
Travel with an Expired Visa
If you travel out of the U.S. with an expired visa, you will have to apply for a new visa before you can re-enter the U.S. If you plan to travel with an expired visa, contact an adviser at ISSS.
Canadian Citizens
Canadian citizens do not need to apply for a visa to enter the U.S. However, Canadians must present all required documents for the immigration status they wish to hold in the U.S. to a U.S. immigration inspector. Canadian citizens should take care that their I-94 and other documents are correctly processed and marked for the appropriate immigration status.
Visa Waivers
Citizens from certain countries are eligible to enter the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program. Visa waivers are for business and tourist purposes only, and should not be used by visiting scholars or students. If you enter the U.S. with a visa waiver to do scholar/student work, you will have to return home and re-enter the U.S. again with the required visa and documents.