Nonimmigrant Visa Unit
Academic or Exchange Visitor Travel
There are two major types of visas for applicants
interested in academic travel: F-1 visas for students and
J-1 visas
for exchange visitors. Please see the sections below for detailed
information on each academic visa type.
F Visas
F-1 visas are for applicants whose primary purpose of
travel to the United States is to study in an academic program. If your primary
purpose of travel is to study, you generally will need a student visa.
Required Documentation for F-1 Visas
In addition to all the documents required in the
Complete the Visa Application Forms section, an F-1 student visa applicant must also have:
Supporting Documentation for F-1 Visas
Applicants for an F-1 visa should be prepared to provide
the following additional documents at the visa interview:
-
Transcripts and diplomas from any previous
institutions attended.
-
Scores from standardized tests required by the
educational institution such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, MCAT, etc.
-
Financial evidence that shows you and/or your sponsors
have sufficient funds to cover your tuition and living expenses during the
period of your intended study. Please bring income tax documents and
original bank books and statements. If you and/or your sponsor own a
business, please bring business registrations, licenses, tax documents, and
original bank books and statements.
Expedited Appointments for F-1 Applicants
Applicants for F-1 student visas should follow the
procedures outlined in the
Make an
Appointment section. The U.S. Embassy tries to accommodate expedited visa requests
for students.
More Information about F-1 Visas
To learn more about F-1 Student Visas, please visit the
Department of State
Student Visas
J Visas
The J-1 visa category encompasses a wide range of programs
designed to enhance mutual understanding between the United States and other
countries through international educational and training programs.
Some of the most popular of these in the Dominican Republic
are the Summer Work Travel and Camp Counselor programs, discussed below. However, it is important to note that the Department of
State administers many other programs allowing foreign nationals the opportunity
to visit the United States as exchange visitors. For more information on these,
please refer to the Department of State's website for exchange visitors.
Summer Work/Travel The Summer Work/Travel program provides
foreign post-secondary students the opportunity to work and travel in the United
States during their summer vacations. Eligible program participants must
be bona fide post-secondary school
students actively pursuing a degree or a full-time course of study at an
accredited educational institution. Applicants must be full-time students
to qualify for this program.
Camp Counselor: Camp Counselors interact directly
with groups of American youth by overseeing their activities in a camp setting
during the US summer season, between May and September. Although non-counseling
chores may be an occasional part of camp life, program participants cannot serve
as "staff" - including (but not limited to) administrative personnel, cooks, or
menial laborers such as dishwashers or janitors. Foreign university students,
youth workers, and other specially qualified individuals at least 18 years of
age may work as counselors in US summer camps for up to four months. Extensions
are not permitted. All program participants must be placed prior to their
arrival in the United States at camping facilities that are either accredited; a
member in good standing of the American Camping Association; or affiliated with
a nationally recognized nonprofit organization; or inspected, evaluated, and
approved by the sponsor. Participants receive pay and benefits commensurate
with those offered to their U.S. counterparts. Sponsors must provide
information on the duties, responsibilities and contractual obligations relative
to accepting a camp counselor position to their participants prior to departure
from the home country. For more information please review the
regulations.
Required Documentation for J-1 Visas
In addition to all the documents required in the
Complete the Visa Application Forms section, a J-1 visa applicant must also have:
- Form DS-2019
-
There are several Dominican organizations that
sponsor students wishing to participate in this type of program,
arranging both their employment and issuance of their forms DS-2019.
All program participants are required to apply through a sponsor
organization.
-
All J-1 visa applicants, as well as their spouses
and dependents, must be registered in the Student and Exchange Visitor
Information System (SEVIS), an Internet-based system that maintains
accurate and current information on non-immigrant students and exchange
visitors and their dependents. Your sponsor is responsible for entering
your information from the Form DS-2019 into SEVIS.
Supporting Documentation for J-1 Visas
Applicants for a J-1 visa should be prepared to provide the
following additional documents at the visa interview:
Expedited Appointments for J-1 Applicants
Applicants for J-1 student visas should follow the
procedures outlined in the Make an Appointment
section. The U.S. Embassy tries to accommodate expedited visa requests for students.
More Information about J-1 Visas
For more information regarding J-1 visas, please refer to
the Department of State’s guide to
exchanges.
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