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Anybody's dc applied for J1 visa for USA study?

8 replies

Purplecarpet · 09/06/2017 12:12

I have questions if anybody has done this about the interview and passport collection etc.

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bridgetreilly · 11/06/2017 19:00

I had a J1 visa about 10 years ago. I went up to the US Embassy in London to get it sorted out. I spent most of the day queuing but the actual interview was only a couple of minutes and very straightforward. They sent the passport back by recorded delivery. It was a hassle, but it wasn't complicated. If you haven't already looked at the UK-Yankee forums, that's where I'd go to get the most recent information and ask detailed questions.

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Needmoresleep · 11/06/2017 19:19

Google J1 and Camp America and you will find their very detailed briefing note. Some is organisation specific but there is a lot that should be useful to general applicants.

Getting a photo that met US requirements was a pain. DD ended up going to a professional photographer. But we got there in the end.

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Purplecarpet · 11/06/2017 20:00

Thanks. Ds has his interview date so I will look at the other websites for any useful tips. I'd forgotten about the photo. I'm freaking out about everything as usual as there seems to be so much to sort out. Are there any websites specific for study at university and all the requirements?

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NiceCardigan · 11/06/2017 20:58

DD1's application was straight forward. On the interview day I just had to hang around outside the American embassy(with all the other friends/relatives etc) as DD1 couldn't take her mobile in and so couldn't let me know she was done.

All the details of what to do were on her home university website.

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Purplecarpet · 11/06/2017 22:46

Ds will be travelling there on his own but I've read on the embassy website that you are allowed to take mobile phones in. No laptops though. He will have a small bag as well with his overnight stuff so hoping that will be ok.

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Leeds2 · 12/06/2017 12:56

I think they have lockers.

My DD went last summer, huge queues to get in but they dealt with it very quickly once she had got in. From memory, she had to take in a form from her US College to show that she had a place to study. If you look on the US Embassy website, I remember that they set out quite clearly exactly what you need.

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Ookmybanana · 12/06/2017 13:05

I used to deal with students applying for their J1 visa and this sounds silly but is quite important - make sure he doesn't have any cuts on his fingers as they take fingerprints and they have to be intact! We had a hairy moment with a student and a blister which nearly scuppered it all!

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Purplecarpet · 12/06/2017 13:39

Thanks. Its all a bit daunting when you haven't done it before and I'm a chronic stress head as well.
We were a bit confused as the website says you need a copy of the Sevis registration and receipt. Is this just the receipt for the fee or are they two separate documents? The US uni did all the registering for Sevis so we haven't any copies. His home uni website is rubbish regarding any information.