Visas
J-1 Visa
Exchange participants who will be attending Dartmouth from an international university and who are not US citizens will need to apply for a J-1 Visa.
J-1 visa eligible students will receive instructions on how to begin this process from the Office of Visa and Immigration Services (OVIS) about three months before the start of their program. Please see the Dates & Deadlines page for more information on when to expect the instructions. These instructions include steps on:
How to claim your Dartmouth account
How to submit information in your Dartmouth account so OVIS can begin processing your DS-2019 certificate. You need a DS-2019 in order to apply for a J-1 visa. Please be aware that one of the forms needed is your Decision Letter that is accessible for download in your Applicant Portal under the "Program Info" tab.
Processing time normally takes about three weeks. OVIS will email you the DS-2019 when it is ready along with more detailed instructions on how to apply for a J-1 visa.
More information on J-1 visas can be found on the Office of Visa and Immigration Services website.
What is a DS-2019?
The DS-2019 is a "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (J-NonImmigrant)".
Simply put, a DS-2019 is an official form issued by the US Department of State that indicates you have been officially accepted to an exchange program. You need a DS-2019 in order to apply for a J-1 visa.
The Office of Visa and Immigration Services (OVIS) will ask that you submit some necessary information to them so that they can apply for the DS-2019 on your behalf. Your OVIS advisor will email you the DS-2019 once it has been processed. Then, you can use the DS-2019 to apply for a J-1 visa.
What if I have an F-1 visa?
Exchange participants who will be attending Dartmouth from a domestic (US-based) university and who are not US citizens probably have an F-1 visa. If you already have an F-1 visa, you will simply stay on your F-1 visa. You do not need to apply for another type of visa. Your home school will remain as the sponsor of your visa, and your home school's visa office will remain as your main contact for all things visa-related.
Please contact your home school's visa office if you have any questions.