Certificate of Eligibility form

[Strangefox]

Hi everybody!

The website of a university says the following for international applicants:

"If you are requesting a DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility form) for J-1 status, please provide the following information: City of birth, country of legal permanent residence, present position in the country (i.e. student/faculty, as well as the name of the institution, if employed by a company, name of employer, etc.)."

What is this Certificate of Eligibility form and how do I know if I need it? And if I need it, how am I supposed to provide the aforementioned information? I mean, it is clear that I can write it in an e-mail to the graduate secretary, if asked. Why then do they list it among documents that I need to send to the Office of Graduate Admissions??

Thanks!

[newms]

Hi everybody!

The website of a university says the following for international applicants:

"If you are requesting a DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility form) for J-1 status, please provide the following information: City of birth, country of legal permanent residence, present position in the country (i.e. student/faculty, as well as the name of the institution, if employed by a company, name of employer, etc.)."

What is this Certificate of Eligibility form and how do I know if I need it? And if I need it, how am I supposed to provide the aforementioned information? I mean, it is clear that I can write it in an e-mail to the graduate secretary, if asked. Why then do they list it among documents that I need to send to the Office of Graduate Admissions??

Thanks!

I would email them and ask. Sometimes the language on websites can be outdated or confusing. Sometimes I've found that they would require visa information after you have been admitted even though the website makes it seem that they require it during the application.

Edited September 21, 2010 by newms

[dant.gwyrdd]

You need the DS-2019 (the form in question) to get a J-1 visa and to prove your legal status once in the US. However, if you'll be going to the US on an F-1 visa, you will need the I-20 instead.

Edited September 21, 2010 by dant.gwyrdd

[fuzzylogician]

Once you're accepted, you'll need to get a student visa in order to study in the United States. Students usually get F-1 visas; some schools also make available J-1 visas. There are some small differences between the two visas that don't matter that much, regarding e.g. things like OPT and how long you can stay in the US after you graduate. What does matter is that if you are married, your spouse will be able to get a work permit on a J-2 visa but not on a F-2 visa. On the other hand, some J-1 visas have a requirement that you return to your home country for two years once you finish your degree (whether or not this is enforced depends on the source of the funding).

Usually schools don't worry about issuing the DS-2019 (for J-1) or I-20 (for F-1) until after the student has been admitted and has accepted the offer. Are you sure that you need to provide all this information now? I think you should contact the graduate admissions office and ask. FWIW the international office won't be able to issue you the visa forms right now anyway, at least not until your funding has been decided on (=after you've been accepted).

[Strangefox]

Thanks, guys!

[Strangefox]

I was also wondering, can I choose between different kinds of visas if I am accepted to a university? I have not thought about all this stuff yet but I definetely would not want the visa with a requirement that I return to my home country for two years once I finish my degree... I hope they won't make me choose it...

I am not married so I do not need a work permit for my spouse.

[fuzzylogician]

I was also wondering, can I choose between different kinds of visas if I am accepted to a university? I have not thought about all this stuff yet but I definetely would not want the visa with a requirement that I return to my home country for two years once I finish my degree... I hope they won't make me choose it...

I am not married so I do not need a work permit for my spouse.

The visa students usually get is the F-1 student visa. J-1 is a visitor or exchange visa that is used more for post-docs and for other uses. I've never heard of anyone who was forced to choose a J visa; most schools will only have F and the issue never arises. Anyway, if you're funded by your school, the 2-year requirement isn't enforced, as far as I know. Anyway(2), you have plenty of time before you (may) need to decide.

[Strangefox]

The visa students usually get is the F-1 student visa. J-1 is a visitor or exchange visa that is used more for post-docs and for other uses. I've never heard of anyone who was forced to choose a J visa; most schools will only have F and the issue never arises. Anyway, if you're funded by your school, the 2-year requirement isn't enforced, as far as I know. Anyway(2), you have plenty of time before you (may) need to decide.

Thanks!

[Strangefox]

Hi, guys!

One more question about visas. In the application form of one university there is a part: "Type of Visa Expected" and the list of types: A-1, B-1, B-2, F-1, F-2, H-1, H-4, J-1, J-2, L-1, L-2, TD, TN. I know little of visas at this point but they apparently want me to choose something! What would you recommend?

[hahahut]

I believe F-1 is for most interational students. You can find a chart for different kind of non-immigrant visa here: http://www.travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1286.html