Mandatory J-1 Exchange Visitor Orientation

In This Section

International Visiting Scholars Home Page

International Visiting Scholars Home Page International Visiting Scholars Home Page Fulbright Scholars J-1 Students KSU Host Department J-1 Exchange Visitor Categories and Eligibility Health Insurance Requirement Obtaining Your DS-2019 Applying for your Visa Pre-Arrival Information and Orientation Entry to the U.S. and Mandated Check-In Mandatory J-1 Exchange Visitor Orientation Maintaining Your Legal Status Tax Information Travel

Fulbright Scholars

J-1 Students

KSU Host Department

J-1 Exchange Visitor Categories and Eligibility

Health Insurance Requirement

Obtaining Your DS-2019

Applying for your Visa

Pre-Arrival Information and Orientation

Entry to the U.S. and Mandated Check-In

Mandatory J-1 Exchange Visitor Orientation

Maintaining Your Legal Status

Tax Information

Travel

We recommend that you arrive before the start of the Orientation Program in order to find housing and become acquainted with KSU. The U.S. Department of State requires us, as your program sponsor, to provide you with an orientation program. After you attend the orientation, International Affairs will validate your arrival in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) database. This validation notifies the Department of Homeland Security that you have arrived and begun your J-1 exchange visitor program and changes your SEVIS record to “ACTIVE” status.

What to Bring

You will need to bring the following documents to your orientation session for you and any accompanying J-2 dependents:

Passport(s)
I-94 Arrival/Departure Record records(s)
DS-2019(s)
Proof of insurance
Local U.S. Address
Emergency Contact information
Local Frankfort phone number or the number of your hosting department at Kentucky State University.

Topics Covered at Orientation

Maintaining immigration status
Medical and evacuation/repatriation insurance, and University Health Services
Employment
Finance and banking concerns
Security and safety
Obtaining a Kentucky Driver’s License and Tips for Safe Driving, University ID, Social Security Number (SSN)
Travel procedures
Intercultural programs and activities
Understanding American life and customs
Local transportation and shopping options to consider
Services provided by KSU/OIA

IMPORTANT: Orientation is mandatory and a part of your J-1 visa requirement. Failure to attend orientation and have your SEVIS record validated may result in future immigration complications as well as problems obtaining a Social Security Number.

Your J-2 dependent family members are welcome to attend the orientation with you if space permits; however, the J-1 Visitor is the only one who is required to attend. If your family members do not accompany you to orientation, please remember to bring their documents and insurance for verification.