4 October 2026
J-1 visa documents checklist for Indian applicants
What to carry to your J-1 exchange visitor interview in India: DS-2019, SEVIS fee, training plan, funding and the two-year home residency rule.
The J-1 covers research scholars, interns, trainees, professors, physicians and other exchange programs. The officer wants to see a real program, a sponsor that knows you, enough funding, and a plan to come home. This checklist covers what to carry and what to prepare.
Your program sponsor will usually send you guidance; follow it first. Check the US Embassy in India’s visa pages for current rules.
Mandatory: carry these to biometrics and the interview
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid for at least six months beyond your program, plus old passports. |
| Form DS-2019 | Issued by your program sponsor and signed by you. Check your name, program dates and category. |
| SEVIS I-901 fee receipt | US$220 for most J-1 categories at the time of writing (lower for some, such as au pairs and camp counselors; government-sponsored programs may be exempt). Pay on fmjfee.com. |
| DS-160 confirmation page | Stamped at biometrics. |
| Appointment confirmation | From the scheduling portal. |
If you’re an intern or trainee
- Form DS-7002 (Training/Internship Placement Plan), signed by you, your host organisation and your sponsor. Know what you’ll be doing week to week.
- Proof of your current studies (interns) or work experience (trainees): an enrolment letter or experience letters.
Useful if asked: funding
- The funding letter from your host or sponsor: stipend, salary or grant amounts.
- Your own or your family’s bank statements, if you’re covering part of the cost.
- Enough for living costs for the whole program, as shown on your DS-2019.
Useful if asked: background and ties
- Degree certificates and transcripts.
- Letter from your current employer or university confirming your position and that you’ll return to it.
- Your CV, consistent with the program.
- The invitation or offer letter from your host, naming your supervisor.
Know the two-year home residency rule
Some J-1 visitors must return to India for two years after the program before they can apply for certain US visas or a green card (INA section 212(e)). It applies if your program is government-funded, your field is on the skills list for India, or you’re in graduate medical training. Check the box on your DS-2019 and the visa sticker, and be ready to say what you’ll do when you return. Plans that clash with the rule are a red flag.
How to organise them
- One clear folder: passport, DS-2019, SEVIS receipt, DS-160 confirmation and appointment confirmation in front, then the training plan, funding and background documents.
- Printouts only: phones aren’t allowed inside.
- Know your host, supervisor, program dates and funding without looking.
Related checklists
Practise the interview
VisaPrep runs a realistic J-1 mock interview by voice. The AI officer asks about your program, host, funding and return plans like a real officer, then gives you a scorecard. Your first interview is free.