New J-1 Arrival Check In with the Center for Global Health

After arriving in the United States, all new MUSC J-1 exchange visitors (including J-1 transfers) are required to complete the J-1 arrival check in process with the MUSC Center for Global Health. This is very important and is required for the validation of the initial J-1 SEVIS record.

New J-1 exchange visitors must have their J-1 SEVIS record validated within 30 days of the J-1 program start date. If the SEVIS record is not validated within 30 days of the program start date, the SEVIS record will be automatically terminated, and the exchange visitor will no longer be permitted to remain in the United States in J-1 status.

We highly recommend that you complete the new J-1 arrival check in process as soon as possible after arriving in the United States. Although you will not complete the check in process until after your arrival, you must begin planning for the J-1 check in process in advance, prior to your arrival.

Before Arriving in the United States

1: Register for New J-1 Arrival Orientation session

All new J-1 exchange visitors must attend the MUSC New J-1 Arrival Orientation after arriving in the United States. The New J-1 Arrival Orientation session is a virtual meeting, so you will need access to a computer with a video camera and reliable internet service. Orientation sessions are currently held on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. As soon as you know the date that you will arrive in the United States, please contact the Center for Global Health, provide your arrival date, and request to be registered for an orientation session. Once registered, you will receive an email with further details on the orientation date and how to access the meeting.

2: Complete Insurance Verification request

Complete the J-1 Insurance Verification form with your insurance details. Log in to your Terra Dotta portal, navigate to the Requests tab, and click Insurance Verification. Upload the completed J-1 Insurance Verification form and fill in the required information. Refer to the insurance section of the J-1 Pre-Arrival Guide for more details on the J-1 insurance requirements.

3: Prepare document copies

After you arrive in the United States, you will submit copies of your passport biographic page, J-1 visa stamp, signed Form DS-2019, and I-94 admission record. You will not have access to your I-94 admission record until after you arrive in the U.S. However, prior to arriving in the U.S., you should prepare and save PDF copies of your passport biographic page, J-1 visa stamp, and Form DS-2019 so that you will be ready to submit these documents as soon as you arrive.

After Arriving in the United States

4: Retrieve I-94 record

As soon as you arrive in the United States, you will retrieve your I-94 admission record from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection I-94 website. You will download the I-94 record as a PDF document and save for your own records. If you have J-2 dependents, you will repeat these steps to retrieve the I-94 admission records for each J-2 dependent. Refer to the J-1 Pre-Arrival Guide and the MUSC New J-1 Travel to the United States webpage for more details on the I-94 admission record.

5: Complete New J-1 Initial Arrival request

Log in to your Terra Dotta portal, navigate to the Requests tab, and click New J-1 Initial Arrival. Read the instructions carefully and fill in the required information. You will upload copies of your I-94 record, J-1 visa, passport biographic page, and signed Form DS-2019. All documents must be in PDF format and follow all guidelines provided in the instructions. If you have accompanying J-2 dependents, you will also upload copies of your dependents’ I-94 records, J-2 visas, J-2 passport biographic pages, and J-2 Forms DS-2019.

6: Attend New J-1 Arrival Orientation session

After registering for the J-1 orientation session, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access the virtual session. During the orientation, you will receive important information about the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program and maintaining J-1 status in the United States. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions about your J-1 status. If your travel to the United States is delayed, or if you need to reschedule your orientation session for any reason, please contact the Center for Global Health.

SEVIS Validation

In order for your J-1 SEVIS record to be validated, the following must be completed:

Insurance Verification request
New J-1 Initial Arrival request
New J-1 Exchange Visitor Arrival Orientation session

You also must provide a current U.S. residential (home) address and a U.S. phone number in order for your J-1 SEVIS record to be validated. The current US address can be a temporary address (such as a hotel), if you have not yet secured long-term housing arrangements at the time that you arrive in the United States. You will be able to update your address in Terra Dotta at a later time, if your address changes.

Once your J-1 SEVIS record has been validated, you will receive an email confirming the SEVIS validation.

It is in your best interest to have your J-1 SEVIS record validated as soon as possible after your arrival in the United States. If your J-1 SEVIS record is not validated within 30 days of your J-1 program start date, your J-1 SEVIS record will become automatically invalid, and you will not be able to remain in the United States in J-1 status.

In addition, you will not be able to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) until at least two (2) days after your J-1 SEVIS record is validated and at least ten (10) days after your arrival in the United States. You will also not be able to apply for other benefits (such as a South Carolina driver’s license) until your J-1 SEVIS record has been validated.