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Academic Personnel

Mandatory Remote J-1 Check-In and Travel Validation Signature

J-1 exchange visitors new to the UW (including those transferring from another institution in the U.S.) must receive an orientation and be validated in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) no later than 30 days after the program start date indicated in Part 3 of the DS-2019 form. Exchange visitors must go through this orientation so that their arrival on campus can be reported to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security as required by federal law. Exchange visitors should initiate the check-in process as soon as possible upon arrival in the U.S., and remain in the U.S. until the process has completed and they have obtained a travel validation signature from ISO.

REMINDER

Stay in the U.S. for Your Check-In

Please remember to complete your J-1 check-in and validation process inside the U.S. before traveling. Do not leave the country until ISO has validated your record in SEVIS and provided a travel validation signature.

Remote Check-In Procedures

ISO conducts all check-ins remotely over email. All check-in requirements can be met by remote check-in and validation.

Exchange visitors should email acadvisa@uw.edu to request a remote check-in and validation as soon as possible after arrival in the United States. Exchange visitors will be required to review orientation information and complete a remote check-in and validation form confirming their arrival. The form collects U.S. contact information from the scholar and requires a signature from their UW faculty sponsor confirming that they have arrived on campus. Once the form is completed and signed, the exchange visitor will return it to ISO along with the following documents:

J-2 documents are not required for check-in. Upon receipt of all documents, ISO will validate the exchange visitor’s record in SEVIS. Failure to be validated in SEVIS within 30 days of the start date on the DS-2019 causes automatic revocation of the exchange visitor’s lawful J-1 status and may lead to detention and deportation if not remedied immediately. Exchange visitors are not eligible to return to the U.S. from international travel if they have not been validated in SEVIS and received a travel validation signature from ISO.

Travel Validation Signature

Upon completion of check-in and validation, exchange visitors and their dependents are eligible to receive a “travel validation signature” from ISO. They may do so by:

  1. Attending ISO walk-in hours at Gerberding Hall, or
  2. If walk-in hours are not convenient, by emailing acadvisa@uw.edu to ask for an in-person appointment.

The travel validation signature is necessary to allow exchange visitors to return from international travel. A travel validation signature is valid for up to 12 months; if a DS-2019 is still valid but the travel validation signature has expired, exchange visitors should obtain a new travel validation signature from ISO to support international travel.