Visa and Travel Information
***Consult Salk Immigration Services prior to setting plans to travel outside the US in case of any changes in guidance or restrictions on travel, visa processing, and/or reentry to the US.***
Before you can begin the J visa application process or pay the J-1 SEVIS fee, you must receive a form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, for you and any J-2 dependents from Salk’s Immigration Services Department. This will be mailed to you after Human Resources receives the appropriate paperwork from your intended lab and after you complete the documents that we will send to you via email.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) charges a $220 fee to J-1 scholars. This fee is in addition to the visa fee(s) required by the US Consulate or Embassy. You must pay the SEVIS fee and obtain a receipt before you apply for a J-1 visa to start a new J-1 Exchange Visitor program. The fee can be paid online by credit card; you must have a printer ready to print the electronic receipt when you make the payment. See https://www.fmjfee.com for information and instructions. J-2 dependents do not have to pay the SEVIS fee, but they do have to pay applicable visa fees.
Reminder for J-1s and J-2s: J-1s & J-2 dependents must have the intention to return to their home country upon completion of the J-1 program and maintain a residence abroad to which they intend to return. They cannot have the intention to stay in the US permanently or indefinitely. The question of intent may come up when applying for a J-1 or J-2 visa, entering or reentering the US in J-1 or J-2 status, or applying to change to J-1 or J-2 status from within the US. If you may be marrying a US citizen or permanent resident (or someone who is applying for either) or planning to apply for US permanent residence within 90 days of entry or reentry to the US in J status, consult a qualified US immigration attorney prior to applying for a J visa or entering or reentering the US in J status.
For entry or reentry to the United States, you must have a valid, unexpired visa issued by a US Consulate or Embassy that is appropriate for the purpose of your stay in the US.* Because there are different procedures and requirements, check the website for the specific US Consulate or Embassy you plan to visit in order to schedule a visa appointment and for visa application information and instructions. Note: Canadian citizens are visa-exempt and do not normally apply for a visa at a US Consulate or Embassy, but they must pay the SEVIS fee prior to arrival in the US.
*There is an exception for reentry allowing for the “automatic revalidation” of one’s visa for nonimmigrants who travel for less than 30 days solely to Canada or Mexico under certain conditions. For those in J (or F) status, revalidation also applies to the “adjacent islands,” except Cuba.
Notes:
Consult Immigration Services
Plan ahead and allow ample time for visa processing. Lengthy administrative processing,** including security checks, can delay visa issuance by several weeks or even months. It is generally recommended that you apply for a visa in your home country. Although some US Consulates and Embassies allow third country nationals to apply for visas under some circumstances, individuals could encounter problems. If you are delayed or denied a visa, you will not be allowed to reenter the US. You will either have to wait until the visa is approved or return to your home country directly to reapply for a visa there. If you are required to prove nonimmigrant intent based on your nonimmigrant status (e.g., J-1/J-2), it could be difficult to obtain a US visa outside your home country.
**If you are delayed more than 4 weeks due to visa processing delays Salk will have to put you on a temporary, unpaid leave of absence. Consult the Manager of Immigration Services prior to traveling outside the US if you anticipate possibly encountering visa processing delays that may be longer than 4 weeks.
For information about visa fees, period of visa, specific types of documents accepted for visa issuance (e.g., birth or marriage certificates), and issuing posts for a particular country, go to https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/Visa-Reciprocity-and-Civil-Documents-by-Country.html.
Reminder for J-1s and J-2s: J-1s & J-2 dependents must have the intention to return to their home country upon completion of the J-1 program and maintain a residence abroad to which they intend to return. They cannot have the intention to stay in the US permanently or indefinitely. The question of intent may come up when applying for a J-1 or J-2 visa, entering or reentering the US in J-1 or J-2 status, or applying to change to J-1 or J-2 status from within the US. If you may be marrying a US citizen or permanent resident (or someone who is applying for either) or planning to apply for US permanent residence within 90 days of entry or reentry to the US in J status, consult a qualified US immigration attorney prior to applying for a J visa or entering or reentering the US in J status.
If you or your family members are enrolled in a Trusted Traveler Program, such as Global Entry, for entry to the US, be sure to keep your information up-to-date so that you are correctly readmitted to the US in proper nonimmigrant status and do not run into issues with your status expiration or work authorization, as applicable.
How early you may initially arrive in the US
There are specific limits on how early nonimmigrants may initially arrive in the US:
J-1 Exchange Visitors may enter the US up to 30 days before the J-1 program start date, but may not begin any work until the official J-1 program start date has been reached and the J-1 has reported to Immigration Services/Human Resources to complete the necessary procedures to start work.
H-1Bs may enter the US up to 10 days before the approved H-1B start date, but may not begin work until the approved H-1B start date and the H-1B has reported to Immigration Services/Human Resources to complete the necessary procedures to start work.
Consult Immigration Services
Dependents may not enter the US prior to the principal nonimmigrant. If they will arrive in the US after the principal nonimmigrant, consult Immigration Services.
What to carry on your person for entry/reentry to the US
Consult Immigration Services
Do not pack your immigration-related documents in checked luggage! If any of your immigration documents have been forgotten, lost, or stolen, (re)entry to the US may be problematic.
What to carefully check upon admission to the US
Effective April 30, 2013, CBP no longer issues paper I-94s to nonimmigrant foreign nationals at air (and sea) ports. If an automated (not paper) I-94 record was created for you upon entry to the US, you may obtain your Admission Number and print out your electronic I-94 record from the CBP webpage: www.cbp.gov/I94. Note that CPB will continue to issue a modified paper version of the I-94 at land border crossings into the US from Mexico and Canada and in special cases.
Your CBP admission stamp and your I-94 (electronic or paper) should specify your nonimmigrant status, “J-1” (or “J-2”), and length of authorized stay, “D/S” for Duration of Status. This determines the activities you may engage in and the length of time you may stay in the US. If you are ever given a specific expiration date, check with the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the Port of Entry and consult Immigration Services no later than 5 days upon reentry to the US.
Keep in mind that you must be able to demonstrate nonimmigrant intent (i.e., that your stay in the US is intended to be temporary and you intend to return abroad rather than remain in the US at the end of your J-1 program). You must maintain residence in a foreign country that you have no intention of abandoning.
Your CBP admission stamp and your I-94 (electronic or paper) should specify your status, “H-1B” (or “H-4”), and the expiration date of the H-1B Approval Notice or an additional 10 days. A 10-day grace period in which to prepare for departure may be added at the discretion of the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. If an incorrect expiration date is given, check with the CBP officer at the Port of Entry and consult Immigration Services no later than 5 days upon (re)entry to the US.
Note: If your passport expires prior to the end date on the H-1B (or H-4) Approval Notice, the CBP officer may specify an expiration date on you CBP admission stamp I-94 (electronic paper) to match your passport expiration date. If so, consult Immigration Services within 5 days of (re)entry to the US.
Consult Immigration Services
Make and keep copies of your current immigration documents (i.e., passport, visa, I-94, I-797 Notice of Action, etc.) each time they are updated, including each time a new I-94 record is created for you upon readmission to the US. Please also provide a copy of any new immigration documents to Immigration Services.
Applying for Admission to the US
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). CBP officers must screen all arriving people, goods, and vehicles to make sure they meet all requirements for entry into the United States. J-1s may wish to review the CBP Arrival Procedures for Students or Exchange Visitors and the CBP Know Before You Visit info center.
Before entering another country, contact that country’s consulate or embassy for entry requirements. Additional information about each country’s consulate or embassy within the US can be found here. You may need to obtain a visa to enter that country depending on your country of citizenship and/or the purpose of your visit.
Immigration Services can provide a letter verifying your employment or appointment at Salk. Please notify Immigration Services of your travel dates and plans in advance if you would like a verification letter. If there have been any changes in your employment, such as job title, location, duties, or J-1 funding source(s), consult Immigration Services as far in advance as possible prior to traveling.
What to do upon departure from the US
You will continue to turn it in to the air (or sea) carrier upon departure from the US, unless you are only visiting Mexico, Canada, or the adjacent islands (other than Cuba) before returning to the US to continue in the same nonimmigrant status.
Your exit will be automatically recorded. However, we recommend that you maintain evidence of your departure, such as your boarding pass or admission stamp to another country, in case you ever need to show documentation in the future.
You must record your departure by turning in your paper I-94 to the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) upon entry to Canada or to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) on the US side of the border before departing for Mexico. If you were not issued a paper I-94 upon entry to the US, you will need to maintain evidence of your departure* in case you need it in the future to verify that your departure was within your authorized period of stay. Maintaining evidence of your departure* is recommended, even if you turn in your paper I-94 upon departure from the US.
*Your boarding pass or admission stamp to another country is normally sufficient evidence of departure from the US. You may be able to request and obtain an admission stamp from CBSA upon entry to Canada or from the Instituto Nacional de Migracion (INM) upon entry to Mexico. Alternative evidence may be electronic receipt of transportation ticket, frequent flyer summary or receipts, credit card statement, and/or bank statement documenting a purchase in another country immediately following your departure from the US.
Don’t forget to bring the immigration-related documents you will need for reentry to the US!
Visiting Canada
Canada has introduced a new requirement, Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA), for foreign nationals who are visa-exempt for Canada and will enter Canada by air. To find out if you need to obtain ETA or a visa to visit Canada, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/visas.asp.
Visiting Mexico
Mexico has recently formalized immigration and customs control at the Puerta Este Mexico-San Ysidro pedestrian entry into Tijuana and is in the process of formalizing controls for other means of entry (e.g., by automobile) and other points of entry into the Mexican state of Baja California. To find out if you need a visa to enter Mexico, see http://consulmex.sre.gob.mx/sandiego/index.php/visas. Note that many questions remain unanswered and US visa renewal procedures and processing times at the US Consulate in Tijuana have changed.
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