J-1 Visa Application Process
Visa Application Process for J-1 Internship & Trainee Candidates
All candidates need to obtain a J-1 Visa in order to start their J-1 Internship or Trainee program in the United States. Being granted a J-1 Visa is a wonderful accomplishment that opens applicants to a world of personal and professional opportunities.
How to apply for a J-1 Visa?
Once instructed by Odyssey, candidates need to schedule an appointment for an in-person interview at the U.S. Embassy. Please remember that the embassies do not accept walk-ins and candidates must review their websites for more information.
We recommend that you consult your embassy’s official website for the list of required documentation as they might require country-specific files. Here is an official list of embassies and their websites from the U.S. Department of State.
In most countries, the embassy requires candidates to fill out a form - DS-160, before scheduling an interview.
How to complete the online DS-160 form?
Access http://ceac.state.gov/genniv
Choose the location where you will have your J-1 visa appointment. Remember that you can no longer change the location where you will have your appointment after selecting one embassy.
Upload a photo that meets the requirements. If the photo meets the requirements and is still not accepted, try to adjust the brightness of the photo.
Complete the DS-160 form with the information from the documents obtained from the J-1 sponsor.
How to schedule a J-1 Visa appointment?
After completing the steps above, you should be able to book an appointment at the U.S. Embassy in the location that you selected. When booking the appointment, you may be asked to give the following information:
You name and address
Your place of birth
Your passport number and nationality
Your e-mail address
Your DS-2019 Exchange Visitor Program Number: P-4-29241 (Internship) or P-4-29242 (Training)
How to pay for a J-1 Visa appointment?
Visa fee: Currently US$160 - non-refundable;
Please refer to the embassy website of your country for information on the payment instructions and methods: credit card, which credit card, debit card, wire transfer, bank payment or others.
Once you have scheduled an appointment at a U.S. Embassy, do not forget to inform Odyssey!
You will receive an email from Odyssey with a link to add your embassy appointment date. It is very important you complete this step so Odyssey can monitor your progress and eventually activate your medical insurance and program status in SEVIS.
If you have any questions in regards to your visa appointment, feel free to reach out to the ITN or Odyssey representative for more information.
