Pre-Arrival Process for J-1 Exchange Visitors & H-1B Non-Immigrant Workers• Ryan Redmer: J-1 Specialist/Advisor• Mary Schnetz: H-1B

Specialist/Advisor

Our goal today is to clarify the pre-arrival

process for international visitors in either J-1 or H-1B immigration status.

The topics we cover will span from the time that an individual’s J-1 or H-1B status is approved, through the time of their arrival to the United States.

Purpose of Presentation

All foreign nationals entering the United States must

have an unexpired U.S. visa stamp (except for Canadians and those entering on Automatic Visa Revalidation) Their U.S. visa stamp must reflect their most recently

approved U.S. immigration status in order to gain entry. Once inside the country, an individual’s visa stamp can

be allowed to expire, as long as their immigration status is still valid.

U.S. visa stamps can only be obtained at U.S. consulates outside of the United States

The U.S. Visa Stamp

Official protocol as it pertains to obtaining a

U.S. visa stamp varies greatly depending on where an individual is applying or who is processing their application.

Potential areas of discrepancy: Processing times U.S. visa fees Requested documents Interview protocol

Things to Keep in Mind About U.S. Consulates

Before setting up an appointment, J-1s & H-1Bs

must fill out the DS-160 for the U.S. consulate at which they will be applying.

A J-1 Scholar can set up an appointment with the U.S. consulate after their J-1 program has been approved by IFSS

An H-1B can set up an appointment with the U.S. consulate as soon as they have received their I-797 Receipt Notice However, the appointment cannot take place until

they have received their I-797 Approval Notice

Setting Up a U.S Visa Stamp Appointment

All J-1 Scholars must pay a mandatory $180 fee

that is used toward the maintenance of the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). For $215, a scholar can have the fee processed

faster in the event that time is an issue. The SEVIS fee can be paid is paid online through

United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)

If a J-1 Scholar does not pay the SEVIS fee, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) can terminate that individual’s J-1 program.

Before The Appointment: I-901 (SEVIS) Fee

PIMS = Petition Information Management

System Once an individual’s H-1B petition has been

approved, USCIS notifies PIMS Subsequently, PIMS notifies the U.S. consulate

at which the H-1B beneficiary will be applying for their U.S. visa stamp

If either PIMS or the U.S. consulate is not notified beforehand, the beneficiary’s approval for a U.S. visa stamp can be delayed

Before the Appointment: PIMS

Original I-797 approval notice Copy of the UW-Madison appointment letter Copy of the I-129 Copy of the Labor Condition Application Any other documentation explicitly asked for

on the website of the U.S. consulate at which the beneficiary is applying

What H-1Bs Will Need for Their Appointment

Original DS-2019 Document Copy of their UW-Madison appointment letter

Some U.S. consulates may require the original letter Receipt of I-901 (SEVIS) payment Financial documentation matching the funding

indicated on the DS-2019 document Valid Passport Any other documentation explicitly asked for on

the website of the U.S. consulate at which the scholar is applying

What J-1 Scholars Will Need for Their Appointment

Sometimes, after their interview at the U.S. consulate,

an individual may be put under Administrative Processing by DOS

Administrative Processing typically consists of additional background checks and documentation requests

This process will typically take anywhere between two and six months

While any scholar can be put through Administrative Processing, we typically find that it is our visitors from Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Egypt, Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, Etc. who experience this issue the most

Administrative Processing

J-1 Scholars who cannot make it to UW-Madison within

the first 30 days of their program will need to have their program dates amended.

In order to amend a program, IFSS needs a revised appointment letter and, if applicable, revised funding information

If only the dates of a J-1 Scholar’s program are being amended, they will not need the new DS-2019 document to successfully gain entrance into the United States The new document will be issued upon their registration

with IFSS

J-1 Program Amendments

Upon entrance into the U.S., foreign visitors will

be met by a U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) official, to whom they will need to present: Original I-797 Approval Notice (H-1B)/DS-2019 (J-1) Valid U.S. Visa Stamp Valid Passport

IFSS also suggests that the individual be prepared to present copies of all other documentation that was requested at their U.S. visa stamp appointment

U.S. Ports of Entry

Issued by CBP upon the arrival of a foreign

visitor into the United States Used as a means to track the arrival &

departure of international visitors Contains:

Date of entry to the United States Port of entry Immigration status End date of status I-94 number

I-94: What Is It?

CBP recently transitioned to an automated I-

94 card Upon entry, new arrivals should receive

information from a CBP official about how to access their I-94 information at their website: cbp.gov/i94

A printout of the online I-94 card can be used in lieu of the paper I-94 card, wherever it is requested.

Automated I-94 Card

Mary Schnetz

mschnetz@ohr.wisc.edu 608-262-1742

Kim Maday kmaday@ohr.wisc.edu 608-265-5114

Questions?