Your DS-2019 is a two-page document issued by your J-1 sponsor, and it is the key document supporting your J-1 visa application. Its official name is the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status.
In plain terms, the DS-2019 confirms that a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor has screened and selected you for a specific exchange program. It identifies your sponsor, exchange category, program dates, and other key details about your program.
You'll use the DS-2019 throughout the J-1 process: it supports your visa application, identifies your SEVIS record, and must be presented when you enter the United States. But receiving one does not guarantee a visa; the consular officer makes the final visa decision.
Intrax Global Internships has been a U.S. Department of State designated J-1 sponsor since 2003, which puts us on the issuing side of this form. In this guide, we’ll help you understand everything you need to know about the DS-2019.
What Is the DS-2019 Form?
The DS-2019 is the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, a two-page government form generated through SEVIS that certifies you have been screened, selected, and sponsored for a specific exchange program in the United States.
Think of it as proof that somebody vouched for you.
The State Department calls it the basic document of the Exchange Visitor Program. In practice, it does one specific job: it permits you to request an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate and ask for a J-1 visa. You need a DS-2019 to apply for a J-1 visa and schedule the associated visa process.
It helps to picture the consular officer on the other side of the window. They have your passport, your application, and only a few minutes. Your DS-2019 tells them, on one page, who vetted you, what you will be doing in the United States, how long you will be here, and how the program is funded.
The Exchange Visitor Program has run under the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act since 1961, and the State Department reports that around 300,000 exchange visitors from 200 countries and territories take part each year across many different program categories. Those categories range from au pairs to research scholars to camp counselors. Two of them, intern and trainee, are the ones that Intrax Global Internships sponsors, and they are among the most common routes for university students and early-career professionals into U.S. companies.
Who Issues the DS-2019 for a J-1 Visa?
Only a sponsor designated by the U.S. Department of State can issue a DS-2019.
That is a short list, and it excludes several organizations people assume can help: embassies, USCIS, your university, and the company hosting your internship (unless it holds a designation of its own).
Designated sponsors are organizations the State Department has authorized to screen participants, issue forms, and supervise exchange programs from application through departure. You can look up any sponsor on the State Department's official sponsor list, and you should, before you pay anyone anything. Intrax, which runs Global Internships, has held that designation since 2003.
There is another layer of oversight inside each sponsor organization. Only the sponsor's Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) may sign a DS-2019. These designated officials are responsible for administering the exchange program and safeguarding the controlled forms issued to their organization.
Federal regulation classifies the DS-2019 as a controlled document of the Department of State, which is why the State Department puts the next part as plainly as the federal government ever puts anything: "No blank Forms DS-2019 exist." The form is built one participant at a time inside SEVIS. If someone offers to sell you one, hand you a blank template, or "arrange" a form outside a sponsor relationship, walk away. If you are still choosing who to work with, our guide to J-1 visa sponsors covers what to look for.
How to Read Your DS-2019
When your form arrives, four fields deserve a slow, careful read. These are the ones that cause problems later. A problem you catch today only means paperwork, while the same problem caught at the embassy could result in a canceled interview. Those four fields are:
- Your name and biographical details (Item 1): Check it against your passport character by character, including middle names, accents, and hyphens. A mismatch here is a common reason for reissuing a form.
- Your program start and end dates (Item 3): These two dates control when you may enter the country, when you can start working, and when you have to wrap up. They are the most consequential lines on the form.
- Your category and field (Item 4): This should read intern or trainee, alongside a subject or field of training that matches the job you accepted.
- Your financial support (Item 5): A breakout of the estimated funding behind your program. Review the amounts to make sure they are consistent with the financial information you provided to your sponsor.
The rest of the form is context. Item 2 identifies your sponsor and carries the sponsor's SEVIS program number, which looks like P-1-00057 and describes the organization rather than you. Item 7 carries the name, signature, and contact details of the sponsor officer who printed your form, which gives you a paper trail if anything ever needs correcting.
One number sits outside the numbered items. Your SEVIS ID is printed in the top right corner: the letter N followed by up to ten digits, like N0001234567. You will need it to complete your DS-160 and to reference your record with anyone at your sponsor. Our guide to the J-1 visa exchange number explains how it differs from the program number.
Finally, sign page one yourself to acknowledge the certification statement on page two. Keep the signed form in a safe place: you'll need the DS-2019 for your J-1 visa application and should carry it with your passport and visa when you travel to the United States.
How Do I Get My DS-2019?
You get a DS-2019 by applying through a designated sponsor, who issues it once your placement, your training plan, and your screening are all complete.
Here is how that process works at Intrax Global Internships:
- Pick a designated sponsor: Confirm they appear on the State Department's list before anything else.
- Lock in your placement: The DS-2019 certifies one specific program, so your host company, your role, and your dates have to be settled before a form can exist. If you are still looking, our team handles visa sponsorship and placement together.
- Get your DS-7002 signed: This step applies to interns and trainees only, and it is the one that surprises people. Federal regulation is explicit here: under 22 CFR 62.22, a sponsor may not deliver your DS-2019 until an individualized Form DS-7002 has been completed and signed by every required party. Our DS-7002 guide walks through it section by section.
- Clear screening: Your sponsor verifies your eligibility and documentation and must establish that you have sufficient English proficiency to participate successfully in the program. For J-1 interns, eligibility also requires that you are currently enrolled in a qualifying post-secondary institution or graduated within the previous 12 months. Trainees have different eligibility requirements based on their education and professional experience.
- Receive your form: Intrax issues the DS-2019 within two weeks once your application is complete and your phone interview is done. Since April 27, 2023, sponsors have been permitted to sign forms digitally and send them by email, so yours will most likely arrive as a PDF you print at home. You should keep the printed form for your visa application and travel to the United States.
The key takeaway is that DS-2019 issuance is the end of the sponsorship application process, not the beginning. Your placement, documentation, training plan, and screening all need to be completed first. If you are building a calendar around this, our breakdown of J-1 visa processing time explains the full timeline.
DS-2019 vs DS-160: What's the Difference?
The DS-2019 is your Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status. The DS-160 is your actual online nonimmigrant visa application. You need both, but they serve very different purposes.
The easiest way to remember the difference is to think about who completes each form. Your designated J-1 sponsor generates the DS-2019 through SEVIS and provides it to you. You complete the DS-160 yourself online through the Department of State's Consular Electronic Application Center. The DS-160 includes your personal, travel, education, and work history. Once you upload a photo and pay the fee ($185 at the time of writing), it produces a confirmation page with a barcode that you bring to your visa interview.
Nearly every nonimmigrant visa applicant files a DS-160, from tourists to executives. The DS-2019 is far narrower: it exists only inside the Exchange Visitor Program, for J-1 exchange visitors and their eligible J-2 dependents.
The order matters too. When you complete the DS-160, you'll be asked for the SEVIS ID printed on your DS-2019, so you'll need your DS-2019 available first. The DS-160 then becomes part of your visa application, alongside your DS-2019 and other required documents.
Interns and trainees carry a third document to that interview: the DS-7002. Consular officers sometimes ask about the training phases it describes, so read all three together beforehand and make sure the information is consistent across your program, training plan, and visa application.
How Much Does a DS-2019 Cost?
There is no separate U.S. government fee for issuing a DS-2019. Instead, the cost of getting one comes from your J-1 sponsor's program fees and several separate government and program expenses.
For Intrax Global Internships participants, the current costs include:
- Application fee: $350, covering eligibility review and DS-2019 processing.
- Program fee: $660 to $975 for interns and $760 to $1,180 for trainees, depending on program duration. Our J-1 visa cost guide itemizes every tier, and the current schedule lives on the cost and benefits page.
- Travel health insurance: around $390 for a typical program. Coverage is mandatory for every exchange visitor. Our guide to J-1 visa health insurance explains the minimums.
- SEVIS I-901 fee: $220, which Intrax pays on your behalf. With other sponsors, you may be responsible for this fee.
- DS-160 visa application fee: $185, for J-1 interns and trainees, paid to the U.S. government when you book your consular appointment.
- Visa issuance/reciprocity fee: Some J-1 applicants must pay an additional fee after visa approval, depending on their nationality and the U.S. reciprocity schedule for their country. The amount varies by country, and some applicants owe no reciprocity fee at all.
The important distinction is that the DS-2019 itself isn't what you're paying for. Your sponsor's fees cover the screening, program administration, sponsorship, and related services required to participate in the J-1 program, while government fees such as SEVIS and the visa application fee are separate costs.
Many of the cost estimates floating around for J-1 internships are years out of date, so be careful what you budget against. Government fees change periodically too. Confirm current amounts on the State Department's fee schedule before you pay anything.
Check Your DS-2019 Before Your Visa Interview
Your DS-2019 is reviewed alongside your passport, DS-160, and SEVIS information, and it’s important that all the information matches.
Before your visa interview, confirm:
- The name on your DS-2019 matches your passport exactly
- Your date of birth is right
- Your program dates match the approved program dates in your internship or training plan
- Your category and field describe the placement you accepted
- The funding figures are accurate and consistent with your program
If something is wrong, tell your sponsor immediately. Sponsors can correct errors and reprint forms through SEVIS. A correction handled the week your form arrives is a non-event. The same correction discovered at the embassy window can lead to delays or require you to obtain a corrected form before the application can proceed.
What Happens After Your DS-2019 Arrives?
Getting your DS-2019 means you've cleared an important sponsorship step. Next comes the visa application, travel, and eventually your arrival in the United States. Here is what the rest of the path looks like.
- Complete your DS-160 and book your interview: You will need the SEVIS ID from your form, and you will need your I-901 fee settled. Bring your passport, DS-2019, DS-7002, and DS-160 confirmation page. Our J-1 visa documents checklist covers the full folder, and these 10 smart tips to confidently answer J-1 visa interview questions will help you walk in ready.
- Time your arrival: You may enter the United States up to 30 days before the program start date on your DS-2019. Do not plan to arrive earlier than that, and remember that CBP ultimately determines admission to the United States.
- Get a travel signature before any international trip: If you leave the country while your program is running, you need a travel validation signature from your sponsor on your DS-2019 to re-enter in J-1 status. The signature generally stays valid for up to one year, or until the end date in Item 3, whichever comes first. Request it well ahead of your trip.
- Know your exit window: After your program end date, you have a 30-day grace period to travel inside the United States and depart. You cannot work during this period. If you leave the country during the grace period, you cannot use the remainder of it to re-enter the United States in J-1 status. Our guide to J-1 visa duration covers how the dates, extensions, and grace period fit together.
Save every DS-2019 you receive, including older versions. Your current form is important during your program, and keeping your previous forms can help document your J-1 history for future visa, immigration, or other official applications. If you're eligible for a J-1 visa Social Security number, your DS-2019 may also be part of the documentation you use when applying after you arrive.
DS-2019 Forms for Spouses and Children
If your spouse or children join you in the United States on J-2 visas, your sponsor issues each eligible dependent their own DS-2019, connected to your J-1 program in SEVIS. Your spouse and children must be approved by your sponsor before they can apply for J-2 visas. J-2 children must be unmarried and under 21.
Two things families should know early. J-2 status depends on the J-1's status, so your dependents can remain in the United States only while you maintain valid J-1 status. Also, not every J-1 category permits dependents: Au Pair, Camp Counselor, Secondary School Student, and Summer Work Travel participants cannot bring spouses or children in J-2 status. Intern and Trainee programs do permit J-2 dependents, although individual sponsors may have additional program policies.
Tell your sponsor early if you plan to bring family so they can issue the necessary forms and explain the application process. J-2 dependents are also subject to the J-1 program's required health insurance coverage, and J-2 spouses may apply for work authorization after arriving in the United States. Our J-2 visa guide covers the application, work rules, and school enrollment for dependents.
What Host Companies Need to Know About the DS-2019
If your company wants to host an international intern or trainee, the DS-2019 documents the participant's approved J-1 exchange program. Only a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor can issue it, and the host company itself plays a minor role in the process.
The host company provides the placement and training environment; the sponsor handles the J-1 sponsorship. Your company supplies the role details, supervisor information, and training plan content, and signs the DS-7002. The sponsor screens the candidate, approves the program, and issues the DS-2019.
Two practical implications are especially important. First, your intern or trainee cannot begin the program before the authorized start date. Build the visa and sponsorship timeline into your hiring plan rather than setting a start date that the participant cannot legally meet.
Second, make sure your I-9 process reflects the participant's J-1 category and employment authorization. J-1 Interns and Trainees may be authorized to work as part of their approved exchange program, but the documents used to establish employment authorization can vary by J-1 category. USCIS provides specific I-9 guidance for J-1 exchange visitors, so employers should verify the participant's passport, Form I-94, DS-2019, and any other required documentation rather than treating the DS-2019 alone as a work permit. Employment must remain within the scope of the participant's authorized J-1 program.
For the wider employer picture, see our guide on how to hire an intern, or talk to the Intrax team about visa sponsorship for a candidate you have already found.
Get Your DS-2019 With Intrax Global Internships
This form rewards preparation more than almost anything else in the process.
The participants who move fastest tend to do the same three things: they choose an experienced sponsor early, they carefully review their DS-7002, and they read their form the day it arrives. That combination routinely saves weeks.
Intrax Global Internships is backed by more than 45 years of international exchange experience and has held its J-1 Trainee sponsor designation since 2003. We issue your DS-2019 within two weeks of a complete application, and one team handles the sponsorship, the paperwork, and the support from placement through your flight home.
Ready to start? Explore visa sponsorship, or contact our team to talk through your program.
Frequently Asked Questions About the DS-2019
Is the DS-2019 the same as a J-1 visa?
No, they are two separate documents with two separate jobs. The DS-2019 is issued by your program sponsor and certifies that you are eligible to apply for J-1 status. The visa itself is a stamp placed in your passport by a U.S. embassy or consulate after your interview, and it allows you to seek admission to the United States. You use the DS-2019 to request the visa, then carry both to the airport, where a Customs and Border Protection officer checks them together.
What is the difference between a DS-2019 and an I-20?
Both are Certificates of Eligibility, but they support different visa categories under different federal agencies. The DS-2019 supports the J-1 exchange visitor visa and is issued by a State Department-designated sponsor. The I-20 supports the F-1 student visa and is issued by a school's designated school official under Department of Homeland Security rules. Intrax Global Internships issues DS-2019 forms only, for J-1 interns and trainees. If you are pursuing F-1 student status instead, your school's international office issues the I-20, not a sponsor like us.
Do you need a new DS-2019 to extend your J-1 program?
Yes. A program extension requires your sponsor to update your SEVIS record and issue an amended DS-2019 with new program end dates before your current form expires. Staying past the dates on your existing form is not an option. Extensions are generally only possible within the maximum program duration allowed for your J-1 category, and your sponsor handles the SEVIS update if the extension is approved.
Can a DS-2019 be transferred to a different sponsor?
No. J-1 sponsor transfers are not permitted for the Intern and Trainee categories. If you want to continue your training or internship under a different sponsor, you generally must end your current program and apply for a new one. That means obtaining a new DS-2019 from the new sponsor and, if applicable, applying for a new J-1 visa before beginning the new program. If you're considering changing sponsors, speak with your current and prospective sponsors as early as possible so you understand your options and avoid jeopardizing your J-1 status.
What happens if your host company or role changes before you receive your DS-2019?
Tell your sponsor immediately. For Intern and Trainee programs, your placement and training plan are part of the approved exchange program, so a change in host company, role, or other material program details may require your sponsor to update the record or issue a new DS-2019. Don't proceed under outdated paperwork; let your sponsor determine what needs to be changed first.
What should I do if I lose my DS-2019?
Contact your sponsor as soon as possible and ask for a replacement. Sponsors can reprint a lost or stolen DS-2019 through SEVIS when necessary. Keep the replacement with your other immigration records, and continue saving previous DS-2019s as well. You may need the form for future visa applications, international travel, or other immigration-related matters.
