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DS-2019 (J-1) Exchange Visitor Visa Procedure
Medical University of South Carolina

DS-2019 (J-1 VISA) PROCEDURE

For a foreign national to obtain a visa to participate in the MUSC J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, the sponsoring department must submit a request for a J-1 DS-2019 Form to the Office of International Support, Harper Student Center.  Please allow at least two (2) weeks for processing of the DS-2019.

1.  To request a DS-2019 (J-1 Visa Document), submit the following:

(1)  Completed Information for J-1 Application Form, Parts 1 and 2
(2)  J-1 Sponsoring Department Responsibilities Form signed by Department Representative/Principle Investigator
(3)  Supporting Documents 
___ Curriculum Vitae
___ Diplomas verifying the foreign national’s level of education
___  Copy of passport (biographic, photo & expiration pages) — if passport not yet available, we need the exact spelling and order of the first (given), middle and last (family or surname) name as they will appear in the passport
___  Financial statement/letter, if the foreign national is self-supporting or has funding from organization other than MUSC
(4)  IIT for $50 from the Department to process the DS-2019 document

2.  If the exchange visitor is to fill a postdoctoral position, the Dean of College Studies must approve the salary.  Follow your departmental procedures to obtain the salary approval, e.g. approval on PEAR form or letter.

3.  Following receipt of these documents, the Office of International Support will complete the DS-20129 form and notify sponsoring department for pick-up.  We cannot use campus mail due to the possibility of loss.  The department will mail the issued DS-2019 J-1 visa form to the Exchange Visitor along with any pertinent departmental information.  Please use certified or express mail to verify their receipt of the visa document.

4.  The Exchange Visitor will take the issued DS-2019 to the American Embassy in their home country to obtain a J-1 U.S. entry visa stamp for entry into the United States.

5.  The visitor should report to MUSC within 30 days of the DS-2019 start date.  If the visitor can not report within the 30 day limit, the department should notify International Support so the start date can be amended.  When the visitor enters the United States, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection will verify the Exchange Visitor is entered in the SEVIS J-1 program.  They will date stamp and return the DS-2019 original to the Exchange Visitor.  The visitor will present the original DS-2019 to the sponsoring department, Human Resources and the Office of International Support.

6.  If for some reason the visitor decides not to come to MUSC, the department will request the visitor to return the DS-2019 Form to the Office of International Support.

7.  The Department Representative or Principle Investigator will notify International Support when the Exchange Visitor completes the program.  The Exchange Visitor will check out with the International Office before leaving MUSC.