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Pre-Arrival Information

Scholar Terminology

Passport

Your passport must be valid at all times for identification, extension of stay, and reentry to the U.S. Renew your passport at least six months in advance of the expiration date. You can renew your passport from within the U.S. by bringing or mailing your passport to your country's consulate.

Visa

The visa is a permit to apply to enter the United States. Your visa is the multicolored sticker in your passport with your picture on it. It is obtained from the U.S. consulate or embassy abroad. Visas cannot be obtained from within the U.S. Every time you enter the U.S. you must have a valid visa. An expired visa does not affect your immigration status. Canadian citizens do not require a visa.

Arrival

I-94 Departure Record

The I-94 departure record is the small white card stapled inside your passport by the immigration inspector when you entered the U.S. The I-94 permits you to stay in the U.S. until the expiration date noted on it by the immigration officer. For those with J status, the correct notation on the I-94 is "D/S" (meaning "Duration of Status). For those with H status, the I-94 should be noted with the same end date stated on the I-797 approval notice. For TNs, the I-94 should be noted for employment up to 1 year maximum. You surrender this card every time you leave the country and get a new one each time you re-enter (except when coming from Canada, Mexico or the contiguous islands of the Caribbean).

Status

Status allows you to STAY in the U.S. by indicating your purpose for being here. This is noted on the white I-94 departure record and on your DS-2019 document (J-1 scholars) or I-797A (H-1 scholars). Status is assigned at immigration inspection upon entering the U.S. and may be extended or changed depending on specific immigration regulations.

Length of Stay in the U.S.

DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for J-1 Exchange Visitor Status

The Form DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility is issued to J-1 Scholars by Salk. Upon entering the U.S., the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) officer processes the DS-2019.

Extension of Stay

J-1, H-1B, and TN Scholars should contact the International Services Office for questions relating to extension of stay.

Departure Period

Departure Period is the period of time which scholars may remain in the United States after completing their teaching or research objective.

SEVIS Fee

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (USICE) charges a $100 fee to new J-1 scholars. This fee is in addition to the visa fees charged by the U.S. consulate or embassy. The SEVIS fee must be paid and a receipt obtained before you apply for the visa if you are outside the U.S. or before you apply for change of status if you are in the U.S. The fee can be paid over the internet by credit card, and you must have a printer ready to print the electronic receipt immediately. The fee can also be paid by mail with Form-I-901. See the ICE website at https://www.fmjfee.com/ for more information. Dependents do not have to pay the SEVIS fee, but they do have to pay the visa fees.

How to Obtain a Visa

In order to obtain a visa you will need contact your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate to obtain application information. Plan ahead as the visa application may take longer than in the past. Visa applicants are required to schedule a personal visa interview in advance, and security checks can delay visa issuance by several weeks or months.

Check the website of the U.S. Embassy or Consulate you are planning to visit for hours and instructions for obtaining a visa.  Canadian citizens are visa-exempt and do not need to apply for a visa at a U.S. consulate. Canadians do need pay the SEVIS fee and present the DS-2019 and passport to enter the U.S. with J-1 status.

Each U.S. Embassy and Consulate have different requirements for a visa application. It is very important that you verify with the consulate what is needed to complete the process. Make sure your passport is valid for 6 months from date of visa application, be prepared to show evidence of your financial resources, and bring the offer letter of employment from Salk. The following is a list of items that are also needed to obtain a visa:

For J-1 Scholars

For H-1B Scholars

For TN Scholars

In addition to these documents and others required by the U.S. embassy or consulate where you intend to apply for your visa, be prepared to present the following supporting documents:

Dependents

In order to bring your spouse or children to this country, provide the following information to the International Services Office: Dependent's name as it appears on the passport, birth date, city and country of birth, country of legal residence, country of citizenship, gender, and relationship (spouse or child) to you. We will use this information to process appropriate immigration documents and/or paperwork.

What to Expect at the Port of Entry

Information on what to expect at the port of entry is available at http://www.ice.gov/sevis/factsheet/100104ent_exchng_fs.htm.

United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is an agency within the Department of Homeland Security. CBP officers must screen all arriving people, goods and vehicles to make sure they meet all requirements for entry into the United States.

Relocation Services

The Salk Institute has made relocation services available to you through Relocation Coordinates, Inc. They will contact you and assess your needs concerning relocating to San Diego. There is no cost to you for their services.

Airport Information

The Salk Institute is 11 miles (18 kilometers) northwest of San Diego's Lindbergh Airport (SAN). A taxi to Salk costs about $50-$55 for a one-way trip. Shuttle service costs about $20-$25 for a one-way trip. Please visit the San Diego Lindbergh Airport website at www.san.org.

The Los Angeles Airport (LAX) is 112 miles (180 kilometers) north of The Salk Institute. The website for LAX is www.lawa.org/lax/welcomeLAX.cfm.