What Is Form DS-2019? A Field-by-Field Guide for J-1 Students, Researchers and Interns
Your DS-2019 sets when you can land and how long your program runs, and flags whether the two-year home rule may apply, so read every box before you pay a fee.
Part of our guide to your SEVIS record.
Form DS-2019, the "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status (J-Nonimmigrant)", is the two-page document your J-1 sponsor creates in SEVIS so you can pay the SEVIS I-901 fee ($220 at the full J rate, in effect as of November 1, 2026), apply for a J-1 visa and enter the United States. For a J-1 visa, the DS-2019 form names you and your sponsor, prints your SEVIS ID (an N plus up to 10 digits) in the top right corner, sets your program dates and category, lists your funding, and holds the box where a consular or immigration officer gives a preliminary view on whether the two-year home residency rule, INA 212(e), applies.
Read it the day it arrives: a wrong birth date or category is cheap to fix before you pay fees and book an interview, and expensive after.
Table 1. What is true for DS-2019 holders, as of 2026-11-01
| Item | Status | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| SEVIS I-901 fee | In effect: $220 full J rate ($350 is the F/M rate) | Pay with the SEVIS ID on your form; "$380" claims are unverified |
| Visa interviews | In effect since 2025-10-01 under State's 2025-09-18 update: J applicants, renewals included, interview in person | Bring the paper form; book early |
| Online-presence review | In effect for F, M and J applicants since June 2025; MIT ISO calls it "already in place" for them | Visa vetting, not the form |
| D/S rule (91 FR 44976) | Blocked by a federal court since 2026-09-14 | D/S still applies to J-1s |
| State's J-1 termination, extension and reinstatement rule (91 FR 48021) | Proposed 2026-07-30; comments closed in late September 2026; no final rule | Current 22 CFR Part 62 governs |
| Exchange Visitor Skills List | In effect since 2024-12-09; China and India removed | Government funding and graduate medical training still trigger 212(e) |
On D/S, summary-judgment replies were due 2026-11-02 and DHS's First Circuit brief is due 2026-11-09; follow the docket. A banner about the rule on ICE's I-901 page does not mean it is in force: the USCIS I-539 page says USCIS "will proceed under the previous regulatory provisions."
What is a DS-2019 used for?
A DS-2019 is the State Department-controlled certificate showing that a designated sponsor has accepted you into a specific J-1 exchange program. You use it to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, apply for a J-1 or J-2 visa at a US embassy or consulate, and seek admission from CBP, and later to travel, extend, transfer or change category.
The State Department's detailed description of the DS-2019 says the form "can only be produced through the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)" and that "No blank Forms DS-2019 exist." The current text of 22 CFR 62.12 lets the sponsor's Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) sign with digital signature software and email the form to you, but State's DS-2019 FAQ says you must still present paper at the consulate and port of entry, and use printed forms for Social Security, driver's license and re-entry.
You may receive more than one DS-2019. 22 CFR 62.12 lets sponsors issue one for initial entry, extensions, transfers, replacements, re-entry, category changes, reinstatement and "substantial changes in funding or changes in primary sites of activity." Keep every version.
How to read the DS-2019 form for your J-1 visa, field by field
State's page describes blocks 1 to 5 and 7. The other parts below come from the sample DS-2019 that DHS publishes on Study in the States. It is a 07-2011 edition, so your layout may differ slightly, and your own form governs.
Table 2. The DS-2019 field by field, as of 2026-11
| Part of the form | What it shows | What to check | Who fixes an error |
|---|---|---|---|
| SEVIS ID (top right, page 1) | N plus up to 10 digits, e.g. N0001234567 | Same number on your I-901 confirmation and visa application | Sponsor's RO or ARO |
| Block 1, identity | Name, gender, birth date and place, citizenship, country of legal permanent residence, position code, primary site of activity | Exact passport spelling; dates are mm-dd-yyyy | RO or ARO updates SEVIS and issues a new form |
| Block 2, sponsor | Program sponsor, program number, official program description, purpose of this form | Sponsor is on State's list; purpose and number of accompanying family members are right | RO or ARO |
| Block 3, form covers period | Program start ("From") and end ("To") dates | Matches your offer or admission letter | RO or ARO; an extension needs a new form |
| Block 4, category | Exchange visitor category, subject/field code, remarks | Category matches the work you will actually do | RO or ARO; a category change needs a new form |
| Block 5, financial support | Estimated funding by source (sponsor, US government, your government, personal, others) and a total | Any government money, which can trigger 212(e) | RO or ARO |
| Block 6, official use | Space for State Department or DHS use, or the RO's certification that a notification copy went to State | Nothing for you to complete | Not applicable |
| Block 7, Responsible Officer | Name, address, phone, signature and date of the officer who prepared the form | 22 CFR 62.12 lets only an RO or ARO whose name is printed on the form sign it | RO or ARO |
| Block 8, transfer statement | Releasing sponsor's statement | Used only for program transfers | RO or ARO |
| Lower left, 212(e) endorsement | Officer marks "Not subject" or "Subject" based on government financing, the Skills List or PL 94-484 (graduate medical training) | Whether it was filled in, and on which ground | State Department makes the final call |
| Lower right, travel validation | RO or ARO signature and date confirming good standing | Current before any trip abroad | RO or ARO |
| Exchange visitor certification | Your signature, place and date | Sign before the interview; the J-1 parent signs a J-2 form for a child under 14 | You |
| Page 2 | 212(e) rule, extensions and transfers, stay limits, admission documents, change of status, insurance | Read it once, fully | Not applicable |
Finding the SEVIS ID number on your form
It is in the top right-hand corner of page 1: State describes an "alpha" character (N) followed by up to 10 digits, such as N0001234567. A J-2 dependent's form carries its own SEVIS ID (on the DHS sample, the J-1 reads N0000147766 and the spouse N0000147767), and the numbers differ by a single digit, so read them off the right form. ICE's I-901 SEVIS fee page says you print your payment confirmation at fmjfee.com by entering that SEVIS ID, your last name and your date of birth.
How do you check the sponsor and program number?
Block 2 gives the sponsor's program number and the categories it is designated for. On the DHS sample, the fictional sponsor carries program number P-4-16511, and the printed 212(e) box itself notes that all USAID participants (G-2-00263) and all alien physicians sponsored by P-3-04510 are subject to the two-year rule, so the program number can matter as much as the checkboxes. Look your sponsor up in State's list of designated sponsors before you pay anyone.
What does the DS-2019 program end date control?
State's participant FAQ says "You may not arrive more than 30 days before the program start date shown on your DS-2019" and that after completing your program "you have a grace period of 30 days to depart." If your sponsor terminates you for just cause, State says you lose that 30-day period. The end date never extends itself: your sponsor "may extend your program up to its maximum length" by issuing a new DS-2019, which our guide to J-1 program extensions covers. Because the fixed-period rule is blocked, CBP still admits J-1s for "D/S", and that duration runs on the block 3 dates plus the 30-day departure period.
Why does the category in block 4 cap your stay?
Each category has its own stay limit, printed on page 2 of the form and set in 22 CFR Part 62. Under 22 CFR 62.20, professors and research scholars can stay up to five years, counted from the initial program begin date in SEVIS, followed by a two-year bar on returning in that category, which is separate from 212(e); our explainer on the 24-month bar vs 212(e) untangles them. Page 2 adds that J-1 students may get sponsor-recommended academic training of up to 18 months after the degree, or up to 36 months for post-doctoral training. State's participant FAQ adds: "An Exchange Visitor Visa holder is only allowed to perform the activity listed on his/her Form DS-2019."
Does my DS-2019 show whether I am subject to the two-year home residency rule?
Usually, but only as a preliminary view. The lower left box on page 1 is the "Preliminary Endorsement of Consular or Immigration Officer Regarding Section 212(e)," completed by a consular or immigration officer, and the form itself says: "THE U. S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE FINAL DETERMINATION REGARDING 212 (e)."
The box offers "Not subject" or "Subject" on one or more grounds: government financing, the Exchange Visitor Skills List, or PL 94-484 (graduate medical education or training). Page 2 explains that programs "financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly" by your government or the US government trigger the rule, which is why block 5 matters years later. It adds that marriage to a US citizen or permanent resident, or the birth of a child in the United States, "DOES NOT REMOVE THIS REQUIREMENT." Your J-1 visa may carry a similar annotation; compare the two.
The revised Skills List of 2024-12-09 removed China and India (along with Saudi Arabia, South Korea and the UAE); funding and graduate medical training still trigger 212(e).
An older form can be out of date in your favor. The same notice says exchange visitors who were subject because of an earlier Skills List "will no longer be subject to that requirement if their country is not designated in this revised list." So a pre-December 2024 "Subject" mark on the Skills List ground alone may no longer reflect your position if your country is off the revised list; a mark on government financing or graduate medical training is unaffected.
Common misconception: "My box says not subject, so 212(e) can never apply to me." Correction: the box is a preliminary view that State can override, and a blank box proves nothing either way. For a definitive answer, the 2024 notice points to an advisory opinion from State's Waiver Review Division, explained on State's two-year requirement and waiver pages. Talk to a licensed immigration attorney before relying on any mark; our guide to the five 212(e) waiver pathways covers strategy.
Who signs the DS-2019 for travel?
Your sponsor's RO or ARO signs the Travel Validation section, the lower right box on page 1. State's FAQ says the officer signs, either digitally or in ink, "to denote travel approval," and warns: "Without a valid travel signature, the exchange visitor may be unable to re-enter the United States."
How long a signature lasts is printed on page 2. The DHS sample says it "is valid for up to one year* or until the end date in item 3 on page 1 of this Form, or to the validation date authorized by the Responsible Officer, whichever occurs sooner," with a maximum of six months for short-term scholars and four months for camp counselors and Summer Work Travel.
A travel signature is not a visa. State's participant FAQ says that if you travel abroad after your J-1 visa has expired, "you must apply for a new J-1 visa" to re-enter, and that now means an in-person interview. Ask your RO or ARO before booking any trip, including a short one to Canada or Mexico. Check the live global visa wait times page, not a number quoted online.
How the DS-2019 connects to SEVIS, the visa and the I-94
The form, your SEVIS record, the visa and your I-94 are separate records that must agree. In order:
- Check every block against your passport and offer letter; ask your sponsor's RO or ARO to correct SEVIS before you pay anything.
- Verify your sponsor in State's list of designated sponsors on j1visa.state.gov.
- Print the DS-2019 if it arrived by email, and sign the exchange visitor certification on page 1.
- Pay the I-901 fee at fmjfee.com with your SEVIS ID and print the confirmation (see our step-by-step guide to paying the SEVIS I-901 fee).
- Complete the DS-160 with program details that match the DS-2019, then book an in-person interview at a US embassy or consulate, generally in your country of nationality or residence.
- Review the 212(e) box and any visa annotation when your passport comes back from the consulate.
- Present your passport, visa and DS-2019 to CBP, arriving no more than 30 days before the block 3 start date.
- Download your record from the CBP I-94 website and confirm it shows J-1 and D/S.
- Report to your sponsor's check-in so the RO or ARO can validate your SEVIS record.
Keep the records distinct. According to Al Jazeera (2026-10-20), a State Department official put visa revocations since January 2025 at more than 300,000, with no breakdown by visa class or for students. A revoked visa is not, by itself, a terminated SEVIS record or a loss of status. If you get notice about either, contact your RO or ARO, and a licensed immigration attorney about a revocation.
DS-2019 vs I-20: what is different?
Both forms come out of SEVIS. The status-level differences are in our comparison of how F-1 and J-1 status differ, and our field-by-field I-20 guide covers the F-1 form. At the document level:
Table 3. DS-2019 vs I-20, as of 2026-11
| DS-2019 (J-1) | I-20 (F-1) | |
|---|---|---|
| Issued by | RO or ARO of a State-designated sponsor | DSO of an SEVP-certified school |
| Program run by | State Department (Exchange Visitor Program) | SEVP, part of ICE |
| I-901 fee | $220 full J rate ($35 special J categories, $0 government visitors) | $350 |
| Travel signature | RO or ARO; up to one year on the DHS sample (shorter for some categories) | DSO; Boston University's ISSO says a signature is "generally valid for one year"; students on OPT should ask their DSO |
| Two-year home residency box | Yes, the 212(e) endorsement | None |
| Grace period after completion | 30 days | 60 days (D/S rule blocked) |
| Work tied to the form | The activity listed, plus sponsor-authorized academic training for J-1 students | CPT through the DSO; OPT through a DSO recommendation and a USCIS EAD |
A worked example: one research scholar's DS-2019 timeline
Say a postdoctoral research scholar receives a DS-2019 by email in November 2026. Block 3 reads 01-15-2027 to 01-14-2029, block 4 reads Research Scholar, and block 5 lists only the host university's funds.
Table 4. Illustrative timeline built from the rules above
| Date | What happens | Why |
|---|---|---|
| November 2026 | Prints the form, signs page 1, pays the $220 I-901 fee | Needed before the interview |
| Before arrival | Interviews in person; the officer may complete the 212(e) box | State's 2025-09-18 update |
| 2026-12-16 | Earliest arrival | 30 days before the 2027-01-15 start |
| 2027-01-15 | Program starts; checks in with the sponsor | Block 3 |
| 2027-11-20 | ARO signs the travel validation for a December trip | Good standing |
| 2028-11-20 | Latest that signature can last | One-year limit on the sample form |
| 2029-01-14 | Program ends unless the sponsor extends it | Block 3 |
| 2029-02-13 | 30-day grace period ends | State's participant FAQ |
| January 2032 | Outer limit for any extension | Five years from the program begin date in SEVIS (22 CFR 62.20) |
Change one fact: if block 5 had listed a home-government fellowship, the officer could mark "Subject" on government financing, which would shape any later H-1B, L-1 or green card plan. That is a question for a licensed immigration attorney, ideally before the program starts; the RO or ARO handles SEVIS and the form itself.
Common mistakes
- Replacing a lost form with a photocopy. State's FAQ says to ask your sponsor for a new one, and 22 CFR 62.12 requires sponsors to use the SEVIS reprint function.
- Ignoring a small mismatch. Sponsors must enter "accurate, current, and updated information" in SEVIS; ask for a corrected form before the interview.
- Assuming India or China is still on the Skills List. Both were removed on 2024-12-09 (see is India on the J-1 Skills List?), but funding and graduate medical training still trigger 212(e).
- Traveling with a stale travel signature or an expired visa. Check the signature date against the page 2 limit, and remember that an expired visa means a new in-person interview abroad before you can return.
- Paying the wrong fee, or paying on a lookalike site. On ICE's page as of 2026-11-01, the full J rate is $220 and special J categories pay $35; $350 is for F and M.
- Letting block 3 lapse. An extension needs a new DS-2019 from your sponsor before the end date; the 30-day grace period is for departure.
Frequently asked questions
What is a DS-2019 used for?
The DS-2019 is the certificate a State Department-designated sponsor generates in SEVIS to show it has accepted you into a specific J-1 exchange program. You use it to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee ($220 at the full J rate as of November 1, 2026), apply for a J-1 or J-2 visa, and seek admission from CBP. You keep using the paper form for re-entry after travel and for Social Security number and driver's license applications. It is not a visa.
Where is the SEVIS number on the DS-2019?
In the top right-hand corner of page 1. The State Department describes it as the letter N followed by up to 10 digits, for example N0001234567. You use that number to pay the I-901 fee and to print your payment confirmation at fmjfee.com, so check that the two match before your visa interview.
What is the difference between a DS-2019 and an I-20?
A DS-2019 is issued by the Responsible Officer of a State Department-designated exchange sponsor for J-1 status, while an I-20 is issued by the DSO of an SEVP-certified school for F-1 or M-1 status. As of November 1, 2026, the I-901 fee is $220 for J and $350 for F and M, the J-1 grace period after completing a program is 30 days versus 60 for F-1, and only the DS-2019 has a box for the 212(e) two-year home residency endorsement.
Who signs the DS-2019 for travel?
Your sponsor's Responsible Officer or Alternate Responsible Officer signs the Travel Validation section, in ink or with a digital signature, to confirm you are in good standing. The State Department warns that without a valid travel signature you may be unable to re-enter the United States. On the sample DS-2019 that DHS publishes, the signature is valid for up to one year (six months for short-term scholars, four for camp counselors and Summer Work Travel), or until the program end date or an earlier date the officer sets, whichever comes first.
Does my DS-2019 show whether I am subject to the two-year home residency rule?
Usually, but only as a preliminary view. The lower left box of page 1 is where a consular or immigration officer marks you as not subject or subject based on government financing, the Exchange Visitor Skills List or graduate medical training, and the form itself says the State Department reserves the right to make the final determination. If the box is blank or unclear, ask the State Department for an advisory opinion or talk to an immigration attorney.
Sources
- State Department, Detailed Description of the DS-2019
- State Department, DS-2019 Frequently Asked Questions
- State Department, Common Questions for Participants
- DHS Study in the States, sample Form DS-2019 (PDF)
- 22 CFR 62.12, Control of Forms DS-2019 (eCFR)
- 22 CFR 62.20, Professors and research scholars (eCFR)
- ICE, I-901 SEVIS Fee
- State Department, interview waiver update (2025-09-18)
- Federal Register, revised Exchange Visitor Skills List (2024-12-09)
- Federal Register, proposed J-1 termination, extension and reinstatement rule (2026-07-30)
- USCIS, Form I-539 page (D/S rule status)
- CourtListener, D/S case docket
- State Department, two-year requirement and waivers
- Boston University ISSO, current travel advisory
How we checked this: we read the State Department's DS-2019 pages, the DHS sample DS-2019 (07-2011 edition), 22 CFR 62.12 and 62.20 on eCFR, ICE's I-901 fee page, USCIS's I-539 page, the 2024 Skills List notice and the D/S case docket on 2026-11-01. Fees and statuses are as of that date; your own form and your sponsor's instructions govern.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice; your own DS-2019 and I-94, and your sponsor's RO or ARO, govern your case, and a licensed immigration attorney should weigh in on 212(e) or any change of status.
If a J-1 program is your route into a US career and you want a job search built around sponsorship from the start, F1Jobs can help you plan it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a DS-2019 used for?
The DS-2019 is the certificate a State Department-designated sponsor generates in SEVIS to show it has accepted you into a specific J-1 exchange program. You use it to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee ($220 at the full J rate as of November 1, 2026), apply for a J-1 or J-2 visa, and seek admission from CBP. You keep using the paper form for re-entry after travel and for Social Security number and driver's license applications. It is not a visa.
Where is the SEVIS number on the DS-2019?
In the top right-hand corner of page 1. The State Department describes it as the letter N followed by up to 10 digits, for example N0001234567. You use that number to pay the I-901 fee and to print your payment confirmation at fmjfee.com, so check that the two match before your visa interview.
What is the difference between a DS-2019 and an I-20?
A DS-2019 is issued by the Responsible Officer of a State Department-designated exchange sponsor for J-1 status, while an I-20 is issued by the DSO of an SEVP-certified school for F-1 or M-1 status. As of November 1, 2026, the I-901 fee is $220 for J and $350 for F and M, the J-1 grace period after completing a program is 30 days versus 60 for F-1, and only the DS-2019 has a box for the 212(e) two-year home residency endorsement.
Who signs the DS-2019 for travel?
Your sponsor's Responsible Officer or Alternate Responsible Officer signs the Travel Validation section, in ink or with a digital signature, to confirm you are in good standing. The State Department warns that without a valid travel signature you may be unable to re-enter the United States. On the sample DS-2019 that DHS publishes, the signature is valid for up to one year (six months for short-term scholars, four for camp counselors and Summer Work Travel), or until the program end date or an earlier date the officer sets, whichever comes first.
Does my DS-2019 show whether I am subject to the two-year home residency rule?
Usually, but only as a preliminary view. The lower left box of page 1 is where a consular or immigration officer marks you as not subject or subject based on government financing, the Exchange Visitor Skills List or graduate medical training, and the form itself says the State Department reserves the right to make the final determination. If the box is blank or unclear, ask the State Department for an advisory opinion or talk to an immigration attorney.