Issue link: https://resources.twc.edu/i/1502358
5 The Washington Center • International Student's Pre-Arrival/ J-1 Visa Guide J-1 Visas for Canadian Students Canadian passport holders receive their J-1 visa at US port of entry. Make sure that you enter on your J-1 visa and not as a tourist. If you enter on a tourist visa, you will have to depart the US and re-enter in J-1 status which allows you to participate in your internship. You can proceed to the U.S. port of entry directly with the following documents: • DS-2019 and DS-7002 visa forms (sent by The Washington Center in your visa email) • SEVIS I-901 fee payment confirmation or a copy of the receipt: https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/index (be sure to pay this at least three days before you travel to the U.S.) • Your Canadian passport (valid for the duration of your program) • The Customs Officer may also ask for proof of funds to cover expenses while in the U.S. This can include scholarship letters or bank statements indicating that you have sufficient funds to participate in and complete your program. You can use your parents' bank statements for this purpose as well. In this case, the statement must be accompanied by a letter indicating that these funds have been allocated to you in order to complete the program at The Washington Center • If asked, you are coming to the U.S. to study, not work • TWC acceptance letter If you have any questions, please contact visainfo@twc.edu. J-1 Visa Terms • J-1 Visa: The Exchange Visitor (J) non-immigrant visa category is for individuals participating in work-and study- based exchange visitor programs. These intern and trainee programs are designed to allow foreign university students, recent graduates and professionals to come to the United States to gain exposure to U.S. culture and to receive hands-on experience in U.S. business practices in their chosen occupational field. These programs also increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges • DS-7002 Form: The purpose of the DS-7002 is to demonstrate the Intern/Trainee's activities while in the • U.S. and to show that they will be supervised throughout the program and that they will advance through stages of development that build on prior experience • DS-2019 Form: The DS-2019 identifies the exchange visitor and their designated sponsor and provides a • brief description of the exchange visitor's program • DS-160: The basic Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, must be filled out before scheduling your visa appointment at the embassy. Canadian citizens are not required to fill out the DS-160. • SEVIS I-901 Fee: Each exchange visitor is responsible for paying this fee to SEVP, which keeps track of students and exchange visitors and ensures that they maintain their status while in the United States • I-94 Form: An electronic record of your arrival/departure history to the U.S., for the past five years. • Stipend: Any form of payment received from your internship site, including money given for transportation. Internship sites are encouraged, though not required, to provide some form of compensation. • J-1 Visa Registration: As a J-1 Exchange Visitor, you must register your status with TWC upon arrival, by submitting information such as your residential address (if different than TWC housing), your U.S. phone number, and copies of your visa-related documents, as well as completing an online orientation. You will receive instructions prior to the start of your program.