| If you are new to the J-1 process at UC Merced, download the J-1 Process Overview Flowchart for roles and responsibilities prior to inviting a foreign scholar. |  |
DS-2019 Request Documents
The hosting department must complete the following documents and submit to OIA along with the appropriate supporting documents requested within the forms.
UC Merced now requires export control review for all J-1 visa applicants. All sponsoring units must complete the required Visa Screening form and contact the UC Merced Export Controls office at exportcontrols@umcerced.edu prior to requesting a DS-2019 processing from OIA. Once certification of export control review is obtained, the Export Controls office will issue a certifying letter to the sponsoring units. Sponsoring units must include a copy of this letter with other DS-2019 request documents submitted to OIA.
Once OIA receives a completed J-1 packet, we will review the request, create the DS-2019 and send it to the UC Merced hosting department along with pre-arrival information for the scholar. It is the hosting department's responsibility to mail these documents to the scholar.
After the scholar has received the DS-2019 they must pay the SEVIS fee, attend a visa interview at a U.S embassy/consulate and obtain a visa stamp to enter the U.S.
OIA will contact the scholar for a check-in appointment within two weeks of their program start date at UC Merced. If there are any changes to the scholars program dates, the hosting department must inform OIA as soon as possible so we may issue the scholar an updates and accurate DS-2019.
