- Receive permission to take a leave of absence from your home institution
- Meet the Funding Requirement
- Meet the English Proficiency Requirement
- Receive official academic appointment from a UW Tacoma academic unit
- Download and complete Part I of the J-1 Visa Intake Form
- Arrange express mail shipping of DS 2019
- Read the J-1 Reference Guide
- Please disregard the “Arrival in Seattle” section
- After receiving DS 2019, make I-901 Fee Payment
- The fee is $180
- Print out a copy of receipt.
- Apply for J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa
- Complete an online DS-160: Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application- a sample can be viewed here
- Non-immigrant visa application processing fee is $160
- Schedule an interview at the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate
- Research and Purchase Health Insurance which meets the Health Insurance Requirement
- Review pre-depature newsletters (the target audiences are new undergraduate/graduate students but new scholars may find some info useful)
- Make travel arrangements
- The Exchange Visitor must arrive in the US on or before, but not more than 30 days before, the start date listed in item 3 of the DS-2019.
- Check In and Orientation with International Students and Scholar Services
- Schedule a time with ISSS staff (approximately 1 hour) within the first two weeks of arrival to Tacoma.
- You will be asked to enter your student ID number on the sign up form, please enter: 1234567
- Bring the following:
- Local Address
- Local Phone Number
- UWT email address (to set up, please visit this page)
- Insurance Compliance Statement (download)
- Original DS-2019
- Original Passport
- Original J-1 Visa
- I-94 printout (to download I-94, please visit this page)
- Bring same documents for dependents if applicable.
- Schedule a time with ISSS staff (approximately 1 hour) within the first two weeks of arrival to Tacoma.
- Meet the Culture Exchange Requirement
- Take the Exit Survey
