Travelling in J-1 Status
J-1 Travel Document Checklist
- Valid DS-2019 (not expired in Section #3) with a signature from the International Office in the Travel Validation section at bottom. The International Office signature should not be older than 12 months and is valid for multiple entries to the U.S.
- J-2 dependents must have their own valid DS-2019 forms
- Valid J-1 or J-2 visa from a U.S. embassy (except for Canadian citizens who are not required to have a visa)
- Valid passport (see note below)
- If Meharry is not your J-1 program sponsor, please contact them directly (e.g. Fulbright)
- Appointment or offer letter from Meharry
Passports
All international scholars and family members planning to depart from the U.S. and return after a temporary absence must have a valid passport in order to exit the U.S. The passport must also be valid for a minimum of six months into the future at the time of re-entry to the U.S.
Some countries have an agreement with the U.S. that automatically extends passport validity for 6 months, for U.S. entry purposes only.
Visas
Except for Canadian citizens, all international scholars will also need to have a valid J-1 visa in their passport issued by a U.S. embassy or consulate.
J-1 visa cannot be obtained or renewed inside the U.S.