F-1/J-1 Visa Application

Complete the DS-160 Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application form. You will need your SEVIS ID (number starting with “N” located at the top of your I-20/DS-2019) to complete this. In addition, J-1 students will need to provide UCSD’s J-1 Program Number. This number is: P-1-02849.

When asked for UC San Diego’s contact information for the DS-160, you may put down the following:

• Contact name: Name of the advisor listed on your I-20/DS-2019 document
• Contact phone: 858-534-3730
• Contact address: 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
• Contact email: istudents@ucsd.edu

New Students: The earliest that an F-1 or J-1 visa can be granted is 365 days before the program start date listed on your SEVIS Form. You may apply for an F-1 or J-1 visa earlier than 365 days before the start date to allow for visa processing and security clearance delays, however, the consulate cannot actually issue the visa until 365 days before the program start date.

Consult the website for the U.S. embassy or consulate that you will visit before your visa appointment. Go to the Nonimmigrant Visa section and follow the instructions. Many people are denied visas when they are unprepared.

Document Requirements for all F and J Visa Interviews:

• Passport which is valid up to six months after date of entry into the U.S.
• Form I-20 (F-1 students) or DS-2019 (J-1 students) with a valid travel signature or copy of your I-797 approval notice
• Evidence of financial support: Bank statement or financial support letter from sponsor or UC San Diego academic department
• Home country address and documentation of home ties (if available)
• Any additional documents required by the specific U.S. embassy or consulate where you are applying for your visa

Additional Requirements:

• F-1 and J-1 Continuing Students:
  • Official UC San Diego Transcript that you can order on TritonLink
  • Graduate students: letter from your academic department verifying program start date, good standing, expected program completion, and brief description of the nature of your research
• F-1 Alumni on F-1 OPT:
  • F-1 OPT Employment Authorization Document (EAD) card
  • Job offer letter or proof of employment (if employed)
• J-1 Alumni on J-1 AT:
  • J-1 Academic Training Authorization Letter
  • Job offer letter or proof of employment (if employed)

Based on information received from various consular officers, the following are recommendations to prepare for your visa interview:

• Listen carefully to what the consular officer asks you and then answer the question directly.
• Be prepared to show strong ties to your home country with official documentation. Ties to your country are ties that compel you to leave the U.S. after you finish your program of study.
• If your family owns a property, take the deeds of papers showing your ownership.
• If you and your family have had numerous past visits to the U.S., take along passports, even old ones - to show that you have many visas and many visits, but after every visit to U.S. you still returned to your home country.
• If you have membership in a professional organization in your home country, bring proof of this membership.
• If you have the prospect of a job offer, get a letter from the company saying that you will be considered for the job upon your return, or that people with the kind of education you are seeking are needed.
• Answer every question truthfully.

Some factors that might work against you in the mind of the consular officer are:

• Someone in the U.S. is promising to support you
• Lack of family ties
• Poor job prospect upon return
• Poor English language ability
• Poor academic record (suggesting that you are not a serious student)

Read more interview tips:

• 10 Points to Remember When Applying for Your Non-Immigrant Visa

Citizens of Canada and Bermuda do not require visas to enter the U.S., although they must present a valid Form I-20  (F-1 students) or Form DS-2019 (J-1 students) to enter the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 student status. ISEO recommends students also have their I-901 fee receipt and proof of funding at the time of admission to the U.S.

See the Information for Citizens of Canada and Bermuda page on the U.S. Department of State website.

Additional resources for Canadian visitors to the United States can be found on the U.S. Embassy and Consulate websites in Canada.

Per the U.S. Department of State (effective September 6, 2025), all applicants for nonimmigrant visas (including F-1 and J-1 students) must schedule their visa appointments in their country of nationality or residence. 

Key details from the Department of State: 

• Applicants must be able to show proof of residence in the country where they apply (if applying in their country of residence). 

• For nationals of countries where the U.S. is not conducting routine visa services, alternative locations have been designated. 

• Scheduling an appointment in a country other than your nationality or residence may make it harder to qualify for a visa. In such cases, fees will not be refunded or transferred. 

• Applicants should check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about visa application requirements, procedures, and services. 
   

Students are strongly encouraged to review the estimated visa appointment wait times posted by the Department of State, prior to making any international travel plans for visa application or renewal. These wait times are only estimated and are subject to change, however may assist with planning time needed to undergo the visa application process. 

For more information, please refer to the official Department of State announcement.  

To travel outside the U.S. to a country other than your home country, remember that a new set of laws will be in effect, and you may need a visa to enter that country. To learn more about visa requirements, contact that country's closest embassy or consulate in the U.S. or visit their website.

You can search for information about foreign countries' embassies and consulates in the U.S. on the U.S. Department of State website.

ISEO cannot advise on other countries' entry-visa requirements.