DS-2019

Your Certificate of Eligibility—Form DS-2019 for J-1 students/scholars/researchers/interns— is an important document that you will use to apply for your visa, enter the U.S., remain in status during your time at South Dakota Mines.

This section will familiarize you with how to read your initial DS-2019. You must have one to apply for a J visa, and must bring it with you when entering the U.S.

Understanding the DS-2019

A: Your SEVIS ID number is the 9-digit number beginning with “N,” in the upper right-hand corner of the form. Use this number to pay your I-901 fee and apply for your visa
B: The name of your program sponsor
C: Your program number
D: Your Category of Program
E: Financial support information. This portion is primarily used to show that you will have sufficient funding during your visa interview. The amounts listed will always equal the estimated expenses for the entire length of your program, even if you show additional funding. Please note that the funds on the DS-2019 are not binding, therefore updates are not always necessary if the source changes
F: This portion will contain a signature from the A/RO that created your DS-2019. Please feel free to reach out to them with any questions that you may have!
G: This section will only be filled out if you are a transfer J-1 student, otherwise, it will remain blank.

H: This portion will be completed by the visa officer during your interview.
I: The travel endorsement is required for students that are already in the U.S. and wish to travel abroad. This is not necessary for incoming initial students until they enter the U.S. on their J-1 visas.
J: Please sign, date, and put the city and country where you signed the DS-2019 in this section with blue ink.

DRAFT DS-2019

Review your Form DS-2019 to make sure that your personal information, and program dates and information are correct and match your passport identification page.
- Let the Ivanhoe International Center know if your DS-2019 has any errors or if something changes.
- If you won’t arrive by your program start date, contact the Ivanhoe International Center to update your DS-2019.
- If dependents are coming with you, each of them should have their own DS-2019.
CIP Code or Category of Program Code:
- According to US Government guidelines and requirements, the CIP code is a broad code may not reflect the exact title of your program. If you feel this needs to change, please let us know.
- Because every university has different titles for their degrees, the US government must make broad generalizations and parameters regarding the CIP code.
- For Example: South Dakota Mines has registered the Chemical and Biological Sciences under 40.0501- Chemistry. The South Dakota School of Mines and Technology degree name Chemical and Biological Sciences falls under the parameters of this category.

Initial DS-2019

You will receive the final, initial DS-2019 once you confirm all information on the DRAFT is correct. At this point, you will see your SEVIS ID number.This will be used to apply for the visa.
Schedule a visa appointment
- To apply for your J-1 visa (except for citizens of Canada or Bermuda), visit travel.state.gov to find your nearest consulate and review the documents required for your interview. When you receive your visa sticker, please review it for accuracy. Pay the SEVIS I-901 fee at least 3 days before your visa interview.
Pay the I-901 Fee
- Paying the I-901 SEVIS fee is an important step in the process of applying for a visa.
- All prospective J Researchers/Professors/Interns/students must pay the I-901 SEVIS fee to apply for a visa to enter the United States. If you are from a country that participates in the Visa Waiver Program, you must still pay the fee before you enter the country.

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