Required Documentation
Understanding your immigration documents is very important for maintaining your legal status as a J-1 international student at PSU.
Passport
You must ensure that your passport is kept valid and never allowed to expire. If you need to renew your passport contact your Embassy or Consulate, and allow plenty of time for processing. International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) can provide contact information for your country’s Embassy or Consulate. For more information about passport laws, see the US Department of State.
Form I-94
Form I-94 is a small white card that is stapled to your passport upon entry into the US. It contains important information including how long you have permission to stay. For J-1 students this is identified as “D/S,“ Duration of Status. This date matches the completion date on your DS-2019 form. Your I-94 Card also contains your Admission Number, known also as your I-94 number. You need to provide this number when checking in at ISSS.
If your I-94 Card has been lost or stolen, notify ISSS immediately. You will need to apply for a replacement of your card from the US government.
Visa
Your visa gives you permission to enter the US and is the only immigration document that is allowed to expire while you are here. It is a travel document that allows you to “knock at the door” at the United States to ask for entry as a J-1 student. It does not indicate your allowed length of stay. (See your DS-2019.) You cannot obtain a new visa while in the US. If you have an expired visa and plan to travel outside the US, you need to plan to apply for a visa at a US Consulate while you are outside the United States before you return. (You may travel to Canada, Mexico or other contiguous territories on an expired visa in some cases even if you have an expired visa. Contact an ISSS advisor for more details.)
DS-2019
This document will be provided to you by Portland State University or your primary program sponsors and proves your J-1 status and must be kept up-to-date at all times.
Financial Support Documents
These documents demonstrate your ability to finance your education. They may be bank statements, letters of assistantship, scholarship, fellowship, or another proof of funding. You are required to provide financial support documents by law.