Documents

Passport your mom has a passport

Your passport must be valid at all times. Keep your passport and other important documents in a safe place, such as a bank safe-deposit box or a secure location in your home. Report a lost or stolen passport to the police, as your government may require a police report before issuing a new passport. To renew or replace your passport, contact your country’s consulate in the U.S. at www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco .

Visa

The J-1 visa stamp that the U.S. consular officer placed on a page in your passport permits you to apply to enter or reenter the U.S. It does not determine your length of stay in the U.S. that is the purpose of the DS-2019 and the I-94 (see below). If the visa expires while a student is in the U.S. , it is not necessary to apply for a new visa. A visa can only be secured abroad at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate.

I-94

The I-94 is a small w hite card – usually stapled into your passport – issued by the USCBP (Customs and Border Protection) officer at the port of entry. This card and the valid DS-2019 permit a J-1 student to stay temporarily in the U.S. For J-1 students, the officer w ill indicate Duration of Status (D/S). This refers to the length of time a J-1 student has permission to remain temporarily in the U.S. to pursue a full course of study. Except for brief visits (30 days or less) to Canada or Mexico and adjacent islands, you w ill be issued a ne w I-94 card w ith a ne w admission number each time you enter the U.S.

DS-2019

The DS-2019 is the document issued by the sponsor of the Exchange Visitor Program (i.e. WSU) which the student uses to apply for a J-1 visa at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy. At the port of entry the USCBP officer will stamp the DS-2019 and return it to the student. The DS-2019 should be valid at all times; do not let the DS-2019 expire. A J-1 student should keep all issued forms DS-2019 permanently; do not discard old ones.