Announcements to UMN Departments
ISSS sends email updates to UMN staff and faculty who host J-1 visitors.
If you are not currently receiving these updates and would like to be
included, please send your name and email address to Antonella
Corsi-Bunker and ask to be added to the email list for department
contacts.
Here are Recent Announcements:
UMN Faculty and Staff who work with J Visas
1) NEW ADMINISTRATIVE FEE FORM
As many of you might know, a new Financial System (EFS) will go into effect
at the University of Minnesota starting July 1st, 2008. To meet the new
requirements, ISSS has updated the existing Administrative Fee Forms
included with both Initial and Continuing Scholar DS-2019 Requests
available on our website. Starting
next Monday June 23rd, any Initial or Continuing DS-2019 Request received
by our office and containing the old Administrative Fee Form will not be
processed and will be returned to the department that submitted it.
2) NEW PROCEDURE TO REQUEST THE CHINA CENTER LETTER FOR CHINESE SCHOLARS
COMING ON A J VISA
The China Center has moved its office to
a new location on the East Bank of the University of Minnesota Campus. The
new address is:
150 University International Center, 331 - 17th Ave S.E., Minneapolis, MN 55414
All phone numbers and e-mail addresses remain the same.
Due to the move, ISSS will stop collecting the China Center Invitation
Letter for Chinese scholars (the letter is to be sent to Chinese scholars
along with their Initial DS-2019 Form). Instead, we ask that departments
inviting new Chinese Scholars request the letter to the China Center
directly. To inquire about the specific process to follow to submit the
request, please contact the China Center using the contact information
provided on their website.
3) STUDENT BOYTON HEALTH PLAN MANDATED BY THE UNIVERSITY
ISSS would like to remind you that the University of Minnesota requires all
International scholars and their dependents who come to the University for
a period equal or greater than 30 days to enroll in the University
sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan (SBHP). International scholars and
their dependents cannot waive the University of Minnesota coverage except
when they are fully financed for medical expenses by a government sponsor,
select international organizations, or when they are covered under a US
based employer sponsored plan. If an insurance program is part of this
commitment, the benefits must be equal or greater than those offered by
the SBHP. This requirement ensures that International scholars and their
dependents receive adequate medical coverage and are compliant with US
immigration regulations. Any question related to health insurance coverage
should be directed to Boyton Health Service.
$100 SEVIS Fee charged by the Department of Homeland Security:
The SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) Fee applies to new F-1 and J-1 students and scholars who, starting September 2004, are required to pay a $100 fee before applying for a U.S. entry visa. The fee does not apply to scholars and students who are continuing with the same program (those who are not entering on a new I-20 marked, “Initial” or a new DS-2019 marked, “Begin a new program”. In the case of Canadian citizens, they must pay the fee before going to the U.S. port of entry.
The SEVIS Fee does not apply to J-2 eligible dependents (the spouse and minor children -under age 21- of the principal applicant).
Detailed instructions on how to pay the fee are posted at www.ice.gov/sevis. SEVIS administrators highly recommend that prospective students or exchange visitors visit this Web site and print a set of the illustrated instructions that indicate how to properly complete the form to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. Upon payment of the fee, US entry visa applicants will be sent the Form I-797 receipt, which they will have to bring to the US consulate at the time of their interview.
UMN Departments can select to make SEVIS fee payments on behalf of exchange visitors overseas, by filling out the Form I-901 online. Detailed instructions on how to pay the fee are posted at www.ice.gov/sevis.
If the UMN department fills the form out, they can both request that a copy of the receipt be mailed to the student/scholar's foreign address (when filling out the I-901 application), and they can print a copy of the electronic confirmation of payment (displayed at the end of the transaction) and fax it or overnight mail it to the J-1.
The SEVIS I-901 fee is mandated by Congress to support the US government program office and the automated system that keeps track of students and exchange visitors and ensures that they maintain their status while in the United States.
VISA Application Fee/s charged by the US Consulate:
Some U.S. Consulates and Embassies may require the J-1 visa applicant to pay Visa Application Fee/s. The Fee/s vary depending on the country where the J-1 will apply for the visa.
The Visa Application Fee/s may apply to J-2 eligible dependents (the spouse and minor children -under age 21- of the principal applicant).
Most U.S. Consulates and Embassies have web sites where the J-1 visa applicant can download visa application forms and find information about application fees and requirements.
Our office suggests that visa applicants visit the following website for information: http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/embassies/embassies_1214.html
Last Update:
June 20, 2008
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