Visa Applications

Student interns must obtain ar J-1 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy outside the United States. They should apply for the visa in their home country, unless circumstances or travel plans make this impossible. If the student intern applies in a third country, the application may take more time and be reviewed more critically than if it was applied for at home.

Visa procedures may differ from one consulate or embassy to another. Before applying, check with the office where you plan to apply to determine exactly what additional supporting documentation is required. The U.S. Department of State maintains an authoritative website on the visa application process that should be studied carefully. A personal interview with the consular official is now required in most every case. The information below provides a brief summary.

Required for Obtaining a Visa

1. Complete visa application form and pay visa fees.
2. Receipt for payment of the I-901 SEVIS fee if applicable
3. Your passport must be valid for at least six months after your proposed date of entry into the U.S.
4. You will need a 2" x 2" photograph.
5. Form DS-7002, an Academic Advisor form from your home institution, and a DS-2019 from the sponsor of your internship (wsu). A current travel endorsement is required on the document for continuing student interns.
6. Status Verification Letter from OISS for continuing student interns (optional)
7. Financial evidence detailing source and amount of funding.
   Consular and immigration officers exercise considerable discretion in determining whether financial support exists and is sufficient to cover your entire period of stay. Prepare documentation that is thorough, consistent, credible and varied.
   
   Examples of financial documentation: Offer Letters, bank statements, letters from governmental sponsor, etc.
8. Academic transcripts, confirmation of enrollment, and proof of English language proficiency may also be requested.
9. Evidence of continuing ties to your home country (i.e. family, career, or property)
   Visa applicants are presumed to be "intended immigrants." Your visa will be denied unless you satisfy the consular officer that you will return home. Unfortunately, there is no single explanation, document, or letter than can guarantee visa issuance.
   

Tips for Obtaining a Visa

• Apply for the visa in a timely manner: Consult the embassy or consulate where you will apply to see their wait times at http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_wait.php
• Continuing student interns should bring a letter from their sponsoring professor documenting that the internship is ongoing.
• If student interns are denied the visa, they should ask the visa officer the reason for their denial and then consult with an international advisor in OISS.

Security & Name Checks

Effective November 13, 2001, certain visa applicants became subject to an additional name check clearance procedure before being issued a nonimmigrant visa. The procedure requires consular officers to send the visa applicant's name to be checked against information in various security, law enforcement, and intelligence databases.

Visa applicants affected include (but may not be limited to) males between the ages of 16 and 45 from one of the following countries: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Morocco, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, and students in certain areas of study. Reports indicate that the procedure can take at least 20 business days. Please factor this extra time into your planned visa processing time if you believe you may belong to an affected group.