J1 Summer Work and Travel Visa Procedure
Application Package Submission Procedures
Interview Procedures
- Each student applicant must pay the non-refundable visa fee ($131) at a Union Bank branch in Bulgaria and the non-refundable SEVIS fee ($35) and complete all the forms.
- Applicants must appear for their interview on the date at the appointed hour.
- Students failing to qualify for J-1 visas will receive their passports and supplemental application materials immediately following the interview.
- Qualifying applicants' passports will be received via DHL at the address they have specified on the DHL waybill approximately 2-4 business days after the interview. Applicants should not expect to travel less than five working days after their interview. Applicants should never purchase tickets prior to their interview. We will not expedite the issuance of visas on the basis of pre-purchased tickets. Also, please remember that occasionally, due to circumstances beyond our control, our computer systems are “down” and we cannot physically issue visas.
- If an applicant will not be able to arrive in the U.S. in time for the beginning date of the program, as reflected in the DS-2019, the application MUST BE SUSPENDED until the beginning date is amended in the SEVIS system and a new DS-2019 issued.
- J1 SWT and H2B applicants refused visas pursuant to section 214(b) may not reapply for either a J1 SWT or an H2B visa during the same season. If a candidate who was refused a J1 or H2B visa wishes to apply for a different class of visa within 12 months of his or her refusal, he should send a letter to the Consular Section requesting permission to do so. Only when written permission is received may a refused candidate reapply within 12 months of the refusal. The Consular Section recommends, however, that applicants denied visas do not reapply unless they can demonstrate a substantial change in their circumstances.
- Applicants will be charged a nonrefundable application fee of $100 each time they apply for a visa, regardless of whether a visa is issued.
- Applicants who were denied a SWT J-1 visa for Summer 2006 may apply for the 2007 Summer Program without using the written request for reapplication procedure. All other applicants who were denied non-immigrant visas within the last 12 months and wish to reapply should follow the written reapplication instructions printed on the refusal letter they were given following their interview.
Missed Appointment or Incomplete Application Policy
- Applicants who submit incomplete packages or miss their appointments will be denied pursuant to 221(g) and must schedule a new interview, which may result in the loss of the opportunity to participate in the 2006 SWT program.
- J1 companies will be responsible for rescheduling missed interviews.
- Individual J1 applicants (applying without J1 company) must reschedule a missed appointment themselves.
Application Package Details
The application package must include:
A travel document (passport) valid for at least 6 months beyond the applicant's intended date of departure from the United States;
Completed Bar-Coded DS 156 Form (nonimmigrant visa application) completed in English and available on-line at https://evisaforms.state.gov/ds156.asp with a 5x5 cm photo (NOTE: The computer printout is three pages and includes a 3-D barcode on the third page. This barcode MUST be submitted as well or the application will be rejected as incomplete); Supplemental Form DS-157 for all applicants above the age of 16;
Supplemental Form DS-158 (supplemental information form required of all J visa applicants). – the DS-157 and DS-158 may be filled out on computer or by hand. This form must include ALL employment regardless of whether or not it is “official”;
DS-2019 form (acceptance to a designated exchange visitor program);
$35 SEVIS fee payment receipt (only for J1 SWT participants, not H2B);
Union bank payment receipt;
Student book;
“Uverenie” issued by the university;
DHL airway bill and the top part of the Authorization release form; and
Job Offer Letter and any other documents that might illustrate ties to Bulgaria. (These documents are not compulsory and will be viewed by the Embassy as additional information.)
Applicants:
Although there are no formal age restrictions for participants, applicants who are not of normal student age will receive greater scrutiny;
First and final-year students may apply, but may have more difficulty proving sufficient ties to Bulgaria. Less than one year of university may not be deemed a sufficiently significant investment in one’s education to establish ties. Similarly, students having only their “State” exam, which may be postponed for several years, may also have difficulties persuading Consular Officers that they are bona-fide students with sufficient ties to Bulgaria.
Repeat participants are welcomed. Previous participation in the program, however, does not guarantee that future applications will be successful.
Correspondent students do not qualify for the program.
Applicants must have a good command of English to qualify for the program.
Non-Immigrant Visas
General Information
How Do I Apply?
Types of Visas
J1 Visa FAQ
Documents NIV
Questions NIV
Unionbank Branches
Immigrant Visas
