Forms, Resources and FAQ

Form Glossary

DS-2019
The DS-2019 is your Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. This legal document is issued by a program sponsor approved by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) to host exchange visitors. This form is used to apply for your J-1 visa and must be presented at the U.S. port of entry every time you arrive in the U.S. to participate in your exchange program.

The information on the DS-2019 must be kept up-to-date at all times. If your major changes, financial information changes, category of participation changes, your site of activity changes, and so forth, then you must contact the RO immediately to make the necessary changes on your DS-2019. The DS-2019 is only valid during the period from and to dates on the form.

F-1 Visa
The F-1 student visa is issued by the U.S. Department of State at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. The F-1 student visa is your entry visa into the U.S. allowing you to attend Regis as a full-time academic student. Canadian citizens are visa-exempt.

Your F-1 visa stamp is placed inside your passport. Visas are issued by the U.S. Department of State and are issued for the purpose of engaging in the activity that is associated with the visa type. Your F-1 visa must be valid upon your entry into the U.S. but can expire while you are in the U.S. as long as you have a valid I-20. You must renew your F-1 at the U.S. embassy in your home country before you can gain re-entry into the U.S. to continue studying. If you bring dependents with you (spouse and/or children), then they will be issued an F-2 visa, and the same rules apply when they enter the U.S. in that status.

I-20
The Form I-20 “Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status” is the document that will be issued from Regis University that links you specifically to our university for your studies. The I-20 requires that you are:

1. An academic student
2. Attending your university as a full-time student (12 credit hours per 16-week period for undergraduate students; 6 credit hours per 16-week period for graduate students)
3. Campus-based (not an online student)
4. Not working with the exception of permitted employment opportunities such as Work Study, Curricular Practical Training, or Optional Practical Training

This form is used to apply for your F-1 visa and must be presented at the U.S. port of entry every time you arrive in the U.S. to continue classes.The information on the I-20 must be kept up-to-date at all times. If your major changes, financial information changes, work authorization changes, and so forth, then you must contact the DSO immediately to make the necessary changes on your I-20. The I-20 is only valid during the program start and end dates on the form.

I-94 Arrival/Departure Record
The I-94 document is issued at the port of entry every time you enter the U.S. You will be given an admission record number, which is the record that entails your date of entry, class of admission, and admit until date. As a student entering in F-1 status, your I-94 record will have an admit until date of D/S, or duration of status. This means that you can remain in the U.S. in F-1 status as long as you are maintaining status and your I-20 is valid. Your passport will be stamped at the port of entry indicating the admit until date D/S. Be sure that D/S is indicated on both your I-94 and the stamp in your passport every time you enter the U.S. in F-1 status. Your I-94 document can be downloaded online at theU.S. Customs & Border Protection site.

J-1 Visa
Your J-1 visa stamp is placed inside your passport. Visas are issued by the U.S. Department of State and are issued for the purpose of engaging in the activity that is associated with the visa type. Your J-1 visa must be valid upon your entry into the U.S. but does not to remain valid while you are in the U.S. as long as you have a valid DS-2019. You must renew your J-1 visa at the U.S. embassy in your home country before you can gain re-entry into the U.S. to continue studying. If you bring dependents with you (spouse and/or children), then they will be issued a J-2 visa, and the same rules apply when they enter the U.S. in that status.

Passport
A passport is a legal document that establishes your citizenship and legal identity. Your passport must be valid at all times while you are in the U.S. In addition, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future upon your entry into the U.S. If you need to renew your passport, then you must do so in your home country or at your embassy in the United States.