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Visa Information

Please note that the following information is meant to be used only by Florida State University faculty, staff, students, scholars, and potential students and scholars of Florida State University and only in the context of international visits to FSU specifically. It is not intended to be used and should not be construed as general legal advice.

When an international scholar is invited to visit FSU in a J program, the first step of the process is to request a Certificate of Eligibility (DS-2019 form) from the International Center. The Certificate of Eligibility is required for the scholar’s application for a J visa. Processing this form generally takes about a week. Sending a form by FedEx, DHL, or UPS generally takes another 3-5 days. Finally, the longest part of the process, scheduling a visa interview at a consulate outside the U.S. and awaiting visa processing, can often take 6 weeks or more at busy consulates like London, Paris, Sao Paulo, and the like. This is why the International Center requires a start date 60 days or more from the date we receive the Request for the DS-2019 form. Departments should be aware that some scholars will also be subject to security checks which can further delay visa processing on average another 90 days. See Security Checks for more information.

For information on visa processing, departments and scholars can visit www.travel.state.gov. That site gives an overview of the process, visa wait times, and specific U.S. consulate’s web sites. The U.S. consulates in each different country have slightly different procedures for scheduling an appointment, paying visa application fees, and processing the visa application forms. Scholars should be sure that they visit the web site of the consulate at which they will be applying for their visa for details. Scholars are also advised to make travel plans only after receiving the visa or to purchase tickets which are easily and inexpensively changed if visa processing is delayed. Many consulates have extremely long waits for visa appointments, especially during holidays and summer breaks. It should be noted that visa wait times listed at www.travel.state.gov are not always accurate. This information should be compared with the specific consulate’s web site for additional information.

To apply for the visa, scholars will need from FSU the following:

• An original, signed Certificate of Eligibility, DS-2019 form, issued by FSU (copies are not accepted);
• A passport valid for at least 6 months;
• Documentation of the funding which appears on the DS-2019 form. If provided by FSU, this can be included in the letter described below and
• A letter from the inviting department detailing the dates of the scholar’s stay, what they will be doing explained briefly in layman’s terms, in which facilities or labs the scholar will be working, and the faculty with whom the scholar will be collaborating.

Scholars will have other forms to complete and procedures to follow, as indicated on the consulate’s web site. They will also pay two fees, a visa fee, and a SEVIS fee. FSU currently has no efficient mechanism for paying either of these fees on the scholar’s behalf. Further information on general procedures and SEVIS fee payment is provided to the scholar in the pre-arrival materials provided by the International Center with the DS-2019 form.

It is advised that scholars apply for their visa at the U.S. consulate with jurisdiction for their area of residence in their home country, as other consulates often have difficulty establishing ties to the home country and may deny the visa on this basis. If the visa is denied in another country, the scholar may need to consider applying for the visa in their home country or applying for a different type of visa which does not require proof of non-immigrant intent.

Scholars should never use a tourist visa or the Visa Waiver program to enter the U.S. if they intend to work as a salaried employee. If the Port of Entry grants tourist status, a scholar will not be able to work at FSU and receive payroll payments from FSU. Tourist status does not allow for this. Scholars should keep in mind that their status is actually determined by the I-94 card, so whatever status the Port of Entry assigns defines what one is permitted to do and for how long.

It is important to note that the visa does not determine immigration status and has no bearing on the exchange visitor’s status while they are in the U.S. The visa simply allows an exchange visitor to travel to a U.S. Port of Entry where immigration status is assigned based upon the documents provided. It is the I-94 card which actually determines a visitor’s immigration status while in the U.S. The visa can expire while a scholar legally remains in the U.S., and there are no legal consequences, so long as the scholar holds a valid DS-2019 form, a valid I-94 showing J status, and otherwise maintains their status by adhering to federal regulations and continuing their collaboration with FSU.

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