J-1 physicians should exercise caution and flexibility when planning international travel, as it comes with inherent risk. International travel restrictions, security and background checks (including review of social media accounts), along with other security-based initiatives can result in delays in visa issuance at U.S. consulates. These delays can compromise a physician’s timely return to the United States. If travel is absolutely necessary, it is important that Intealth-sponsored physicians are aware of the documents they and their dependents must have in order to reenter the United States in J-1 or J-2 status prior to departing the United States.
The following travel information is intended for those physicians who have already entered the United States under Intealth sponsorship and whose U.S. presence has been validated by Intealth in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
Download the Preparation for International Travel information sheet for quick reference.
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The following documents are required for reentry to the United States after international travel:
NOTE: Do not place the above documents in your checked baggage! Carry them with you, as you will need to present them to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer upon your reentry to the United States and prior to securing your baggage.
IMPORTANT:
How to Request a Travel-Validated Form DS-2019 from Intealth
If a J-1 physician or J-2 dependents with international travel plans are not in possession of a valid, travel-validated Form DS-2019, they must submit a Request for Duplicate Form DS-2019. Intealth will process the request within five business days. Once processed, the travel-validated Form DS-2019 will be made available in MyIntealth.
Plan ahead! Make sure to obtain your travel-validated Form DS-2019 well before any planned international travel.
“Visa” and “Visa Status”
It is important to understand that “visa” and “visa status” are two separate things.
A “visa” is the physical stamp affixed to a passport page that permits a foreign national to enter the United States in a specific visa classification. Visas may only be obtained at U.S. consulates outside of the United States. The only time a person requires a valid J-1 “visa” is if she/he is physically outside of the United States and wishes to enter or re-enter the United States in J-1 status.
“Visa status” is the legal condition or manner under which a foreign national is present in the United States. Specifically, visa status determines an individual’s purpose for being in the United States and the objectives she/he is authorized to pursue while in the United States, such as training, studying, or working. J-1 physicians are required to maintain J-1 visa status throughout the duration of their stay in the United States.
Upon entry to the United States, a foreign national’s “visa status” is reflected on Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record , which is issued at the U.S. port-of-entry to every entering nonimmigrant. In the case of physicians sponsored by Intealth, Form I-94 should always reflect “J-1” status with the notation of “D/S,” which stands for “Duration of Status.”
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J-1 physicians and/or their J-2 dependents physically present outside the United States require a valid J visa (stamp) in their passports to reenter the United States in J visa classification. Intealth strongly advises all J-1 physicians to apply for their visas as early as possible and to allow ample time for the visa application review and approval process. The U.S. Department of State website provides general information pertaining to the J visa and travel issues.
Scheduling an Appointment at a U.S. Consulate
Generally, all applicants for nonimmigrant visas are required to schedule an appointment with the consulate so that the consular post can interview the applicant personally. Intealth recommends that J-1 physicians contact the U.S. embassy or consulate where they intend to apply for the visa to inquire about the consulate’s specific application procedures.
The U.S. Department of State website allows you to view the estimated wait times to schedule a visa appointment. If you will be applying for a J visa at a U.S. consulate, it is vital that you request and receive the travel-validated Form DS-2019 from Intealth prior to scheduling a visa appointment at the U.S. consulate.
Note: Some visa applications require further administrative processing, which takes additional time after the visa applicant’s interview by a consular officer. See the U.S. Department of State’s Administrative Processing Information webpage for more information.
Visa Application Documents
To renew a J-1 or J-2 visa, J-1 physicians and their J-2 dependents will need to submit the following documents to a U.S. embassy or consulate:
For more information on Form I-160, Online Nonimmigrant Visa Application, refer to the U.S. Department of State website .
Security Clearances
In recent years, the U.S. Department of State has been performing security checks at all U.S. embassies and consulates. Security checks can take anywhere from five business days to three months or more. A security clearance is based on a number of different factors including, but not limited to, information in your application forms and biographic information. In addition, note that your social media accounts/presence may be reviewed as part of this process.
Therefore, if you need a new visa, please consider seriously your travel plans and factor in the potential for delay associated with security clearances. If visa applicants apply for a visa stamp at a U.S. embassy or consulate in a third country (a country other than their country of citizenship or permanent residence), they must remain in that third country while they wait for visa approval and possible security clearance.
Nonimmigrant Intent
U.S. regulations require the consular officer who considers your visa application to assume that you want to immigrate to or remain permanently in the United States unless you can demonstrate otherwise. In order to qualify for a J-1 or J-2 visa, you must prove that your visit to the United States will be temporary in nature and that you will return to your country after completion of your medical training in the United States. Consular officers refer to this as “nonimmigrant intent .” You should be prepared to prove your nonimmigrant intent by giving the consular officer information and documents that indicate that you have strong ties to your country and a clear intent to return home at the end of your authorized stay. The stronger your financial, employment, and/or family ties to your home country, the more likely it is that the consular officer will believe that you intend to return home.
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Automatic Revalidation
Intealth-sponsored physicians and their J-2 dependents who are traveling to Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands of the United States (except Cuba; see note below) for less than 30 days are not required to have a valid J visa in their passport upon reentry to the United States, as long as they previously entered the United States in a nonimmigrant visa category and have been maintaining valid nonimmigrant status. (See exceptions to this rule below.) To qualify for Automatic Visa Revalidation, J-1 physicians must present the following to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer upon reentry to the United States:
Exceptions to the automatic revalidation rule:
1. Citizens of certain countries are not eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation.
Citizens of certain countries (at the time of this writing, Cuba, Iran, Sudan, and Syria) are not eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation and require a valid J visa each time they reenter the United States. Please be advised that the countries included on this list are subject to change.
2. Individuals who apply for a new visa stamp are not eligible for Automatic Visa Revalidation while their application is pending at a U.S. consulate or if they are denied a visa.
A J-1 physician who chooses to apply for a nonimmigrant visa stamp at a U.S. embassy or consulate in a contiguous territory (Canada, Mexico, or the adjacent islands, except Cuba) is not eligible to return to the United States under Automatic Visa Revalidation while the application is pending or if the application is denied at the U.S. embassy or consulate.
If the visa application is denied, the J-1 applicant will be required to travel directly elsewhere (most likely to his/her home country) to apply again for a U.S. visa stamp before she/he may return to the United States. Please note that this restriction applies to citizens of all countries, not just the four countries noted above.
Note: Adjacent Islands of the United States – Saint Pierre, Miquelon, The Dominican Republic, Haiti, Bermuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica, The Windward and Leeward Islands, Trinidad, Martinique, Other British, French, and Netherlands territory or possessions in or bordering on the Caribbean Sea.
Applying for a Visa at a U.S. Consulate in Canada or Mexico
Applying for a visa at a U.S. Consulate in Canada or Mexico when not a citizen or permanent resident of that country is a courtesy that is not extended to all applicants. J-1 physicians and J-2 dependents should contact the U.S. consulate before making any travel arrangements. Be sure to inform the consular officer of the circumstances of your potential application (country of birth, legal permanent residence) to ensure that you receive complete and correct information. Visa appointments in Canada and Mexico may be scheduled on-line through the U.S. Visa Information Service website .
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What to Expect
When reentering the United States, you must apply for admission via U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). A CBP immigration officer will inspect your documents. Present your passport, visa, and Form DS-2019 to the immigration officer. If all of your documentation is found to be in order, you will be admitted to the United States in J-1 status. You will be issued Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. Form I-94 serves to document the date/place of admission to the United States as well as your status.
As a J-1 physician, your Form I-94 should be notated with J-1 “Duration of Status (D/S).” If your Form I-94 is marked to reflect a visa status other than J-1 (or J-2) or contains a specific end date instead of “D/S” for Duration of Status, politely ask the officer to correct the card to reflect “J-1 D/S” (or “J-2 D/S” for dependents). If you are not able to have your Form I-94 corrected by the officer, notify Intealth immediately for further information on how to correct Form I-94.
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[Last update: February 27, 2026]
