In April of 2023, for the first time ever, the U.S. Department of State issued regulations allowing distribution of scanned DS-2019s by program sponsors. Hard-copy printouts of these scanned DS-2019s have the same authority as their paper originals. Since that change, ISO has issued both scanned DS-2019s to increase speed and efficiency as well as provided the original paper DS-2019s to support units and scholars during this regulatory transition.
Effective January 1, 2025, in response to unit feedback, ISO will no longer issue paper DS-2019s. The scanned DS-2019 uploaded to the visa request Manage Files tool will be the only DS-2019 provided and should be printed (2-sided) and used by the scholar as their authentic visa document. Units will be responsible for providing these scanned DS-2019s to scholars who have not yet arrived in the U.S. or had an EID associated with their submitted visa request(s). We encourage units to include EIDs on any J visa requests where the exchange visitor is already at the UW and has an active EID. When the EID is included on the visa request, the visa request system automatically shares the DS-2019 with the scholar.
Scholars should print the DS-2019 (2-sided) for their records and carry it with them during any international travel. They will also need to provide a printed, double-sided hardcopy of the DS-2019 in order to obtain a J visa stamp at a consulate prior to entering the U.S.
We hope that this change will reduce unnecessary administrative burden and mailing costs for both ISO and units.