Exchange Visitors (J visas)

All applicants for J visas must make an appointment for an interview. Applicants must present the documents described in Basic documents and photographs as well as form DS-2019 completed and certified by the American inviting institution and signed by the applicant.

The inviting American organization or institution, which issued the DS-2019 form, must provide the State Department with electronic evidence of the alien's acceptance at that institution before a J visa can be issued. The data contained in the DS-2019 form must be entered to the State Department SEVIS database.

Applicants sponsored by the U.S. State Department or U.S. Agency for International Development (e.g. Fulbright scholarship holders) do not pay the visa processing fee.

Spouses and unmarried children under 21 of J-1 visa holders may apply for J-2 visas. To do so they should present the documents described in the "Basic documents and photographs", a form DS-2019 completed and certified by the American inviting institution and signed by the applicant.

Applicants should also bring documents detailing high school and university studies in Serbia and Montenegro. Certain J visa applicants may also be required to demonstrate availability of funds and knowledge of English.

Exchange visitor visa applicants may apply for a visa up to 90 days prior to the start of their program, but may enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days before the start of their program (an immigration inspector may deny you entry into the United States if you use the visa earlier than this thirty day period) and stay up to 30 days after its termination.

» Click here for more info on Exchange Programs and SEVIS

Approved visas require one day for processing. Visa recipients can pick up their passport with visa at 16:00 the next business day after the day of their interview, unless otherwise notified.

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