J-1 Student Visa

Applying for Your J-1 Student Visa

1. Send Bucknell your enrollment deposit of $500. This will hold your place in the class while immigration forms are issued. You will see this payment listed on your billing invoice as a credit.
2. We send you the DS-2019 document. Once your deposit has been received and processed by Bucknell, International Student Services will generate your DS-2019 document — required in order to apply for a J-1 visa. It will be mailed to you with other University materials preparing you for the start of classes. The J-1 lists the school you will be attending, the level and field of study, and the beginning and expected completion dates of study.
3. Update your passport (if needed). Make sure that your passport is up-to-date and renew it if it will expire within the next six months.
4. Pay the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System SEVIS fee of $220. This is a fee that all J-1 and F-1 visa applicants must pay before they attend their visa interview. Instructions on how to pay the fee will be included with your I-20 form. You must have your I-20 form, which contains your SEVIS identification number, before you can pay this fee.
   
   Read more about the I-901 fee
5. Schedule your visa interview. If you are not sure if you need an appointment or what the procedures will be, please check the U.S. consulate instructions for your home country or the country in which you plan to attend your visa interview. Scheduling may take a long time in some areas, so make your appointment early. You can find information about U.S. embassies and consular sections on the U.S. State Department website.
   Preparation Tips for the Visa Interview (pdf)
6. Make your travel arrangements. Some airlines will make advanced reservations without issuing your ticket.
   
   Find transportation from airports to Bucknell
7. Register to attend International Student Orientation. This orientation is mandatory for all international students attending Bucknell on an J-1 visa.
   
   Register for International Student Orientation