Helpful Terminology

Student Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)

The purpose of the U.S. Department of State’s Exchange Visitor Program is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges. Through this program, people from other countries have the opportunity to participate in educational and cultural programs in the United States and return home to share their experiences, encouraging Americans to participate in similar programs abroad.
The Exchange Visitor Program allows East Carolina University to host Visiting Scholars and Student Interns.

Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

It is a web-based system used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to track and monitor exchange visitors in the United States. It is managed by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. SEVIS helps DHS, the Department of State, and other relevant agencies manage information about international students and exchange visitors during their stay in the U.S.

Responsible Officers (ROs) and Alternate Responsible Officers (AROs)

An employee or officer of a sponsor who has been nominated by the sponsor and approved by the Department of State (DOS) to carry out the Exchange Visitor Program duties.
The Officer will be the primary point of contact for any questions related to J-1 visas or the J-2 visas of dependents.

Visiting Scholar

Refers to an international in the following J-1 Exchange Visitor Program categories. Professor, Research Scholar, Short-Term Scholar, and Specialist.

J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa

The J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued by the United States to foreign nationals participating in educational and cultural exchange programs.

J-2 Dependent

Dependents of J-1 Exchange Visitors can include spouses and unmarried children until the age of 21. Domestic partners are not eligible for J-2 status and must obtain another immigration status (such as B-2 or Visa Waiver Program) to enter the US.
J-2 dependents are added to the J-1’s SEVIS record and issued their own Form DS-2019.

Form DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility

This form is a Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, issued by a designated U.S. Department of State sponsor, ECU. It’s a crucial document for individuals participating in J-1 Exchange Visitor Programs, allowing them to apply for a J-1 visa and enter the U.S. The form includes details about the program, the visitor, and the sponsor.

When accepted into the visitor program, the Exchange Visitor is issued a Form DS-2019.

Form DS-7002 Internship Placement Plan

The DS-7002 form is a Training/Internship Placement Plan required only for the J-1 Student Intern category. It outlines the details of the training program, including the goals, objectives, and specific activities the exchange visitor will undertake. This form is crucial for demonstrating the educational and cultural exchange aspects of the program to the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. embassy or consulate during the visa interview.

I-901 SEVIS Fee

This fee covers the costs of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), an online database used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and designated sponsor organizations to track temporary visitors to the United States. Visit the SEVIS I-901 on the DHS website for more information.

DS-160 Online Non-immigrant Visa Application

It is an online application form used to apply for a non-immigrant visa to the United States. This form confirms the purpose of your visit.

DS-160 Non-immigrant Visa Application Processing Fee

The DS-160 fee, which is the application processing fee for most non-immigrant visas to the United States, is also commonly known as the Machine Readable Visa (MRV) fee. Each county varies in its methods for paying the fee and determining when it is due. Refer to the instructions listed on the DS-160 application or the local U.S. embassy website for additional information.