Travel Planning

The Visa Process

The type of visa that you will be applying for is a J-1 visa. It is provided for research scholars who have been approved to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program.

As your designated exchange sponsor, we will provide you with information and documents for your J-1 visa application. ICSI is fortunate to have the Berkeley International Office (BIO) at UC Berkeley processing the documents for its exchange visitors. BIO requests complete application paperwork to be submitted two months in advance of a visitor's anticipated arrival date. Two months is a reasonable amount of time to complete all of the necessary steps toward getting your visa.

BIO will enter your information into the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). SEVIS is an Internet-based system that maintains accurate and current information on all exchange students and scholars in the United States. SEVIS will generate a document called a DS-2019. The Department of Homeland Security requires a payment for the SEVIS fee. ICSI will pay this fee for you. When your SEVIS generated DS-2019 is ready we will send it, as well as your SEVIS fee proof of payment, to you by Federal Express, and package tracking information will be sent to you by email.

Contact your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate for an interview to apply for your visa. The waiting time for an interview appointment can vary, so early visa application is strongly encouraged. Information on appointment and visa processing wait times can be found here. If you will be accompanied by your spouse (husband or wife) and children, they will also be given a Form DS-2019 and can apply at the same time. As part of the visa interview, a quick, two-digit, ink-free fingerprint scan will be taken, as well as a digital photo.

Forms and documents needed for your visa application interview:

  • DS-2019: Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status
  • Form DS-160: Nonimmigrant Visa Application
  • Passport: Valid for at least 6 months beyond intended period of stay
  • ICSI appointment letter
  • SEVIS I-901 receipt

Spouse and Children

If family members will accompany you, each member must have their own DS-2019, and their own visa (known as a J-2). They will be issued a DS-2019 based on the information you provide in the visa questionnaire. You must take the documents with all the valid passports of your family members to the consulate to receive their J-2 visas. Unfortunately, ICSI cannot sponsor visas for ''significant others.''

If any family member will arrive in the US separately from you, please indicate the date of their arrival on the visa questionnaire. They will have to bring their J-2 with them in order to enter the U.S.

Health Insurance

Each J-1 exchange visitor must have health insurance with minimum coverage described below. The health insurance plan must meet all of the following coverage required by UC Berkeley. These requirements also meet those set by the U.S. Department of State:

  • Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness.
  • Annual deductible that does not exceed $250.
  • $10,000 minimum coverage for expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country.
  • $7,500 minimum coverage for expenses associated with repatriation of remains to exchange visitor's home country.
  • Pre-existing conditions must be covered after a 12-month waiting period.
  • Coverage may include a provision for maximum 25 percent coinsurance or co-payment paid by the exchange visitor. Coinsurance must allow for customary & reasonable charges in U.S. dollars, not equivalent cost for services in home country.
  • Coverage cannot exclude benefits for perils inherent to the activities of the program in which the visitor participates
  • Policy must be underwritten by an insurance corporation meeting the U.S. Department of State rating requirements or backed by the full faith and credit of the visitor's home country government, designated sponsor, or exchange visitor's employee group plan.

All scholars must provide proof of insurance that meets all of these requirements or purchase an alternate insurance plan that meets these guidelines within 31 days of arrival.

Additional Information:

Cost of Health Care in U.S.: Health care in the U.S. is very expensive, and many U.S. healthcare providers will not bill international insurance companies. We recommend that you have a readily available income source (such as a credit card with a high spending limit) to pay for treatment of accidents, illnesses, or pre-existing conditions. Be prepared to pay for any and all medical services and to be responsible for submitting claims to the insurance company for reimbursement.

U.S. Government Programs: As a non-immigrant J-1 Exchange Visitor, you and your dependents (family members including spouse and/or children) are not eligible for any state or federally sponsored healthcare programs (such as Medi-Cal or Healthy Families), except in limited circumstances.

The Housing Process

Through the years, ICSI has helped many visitors find suitable housing, and we keep in contact with a number of reliable housing providers in the downtown Berkeley area. The housing questionnaire is your opportunity to let ICSI's Housing Coordinator know your housing preferences and needs. The sooner you fill this out and email it to us, the better the chances are of finding a good place for you to live.

Housing in the Bay Area is among the most expensive in the nation and often housing can be difficult to find; this is especially true of Berkeley. With the University and the many research institutes located here, furnished housing is at a premium and is usually more expensive than unfurnished housing.

Depending on the time of year, your housing needs may be easily accommodated. However, if timing is not ideal, you may need to pay for rent before and after your planned visit, especially for short-term stays that start and end in the middle of the month.

Prices can vary greatly depending on the neighborhood, amenities, and proximity to the campus or schools. A studio apartment, which is one large room for living and sleeping, with a kitchen area and a bathroom, ranges from $800-$1,400. One-bedroom apartments are usually around $1,100-$1,600. Two bedrooms are generally a few hundred higher, but they are a favorite for UC Berkeley student housing and are often difficult to find. Two- and three-bedroom houses are generally $2,000 and up.

Before you arrive, landlords will often want you to sign a formal agreement or lease. Carefully review the terms for any provision that you may find unacceptable, prior to signing the lease.

Check to see if any utilities are in place or are included in your rent. A landlord may charge extra for utilities that are in place and ready for use, or you may need to establish service for some utilities on your own. Most landlords pay for garbage service, but it is commonplace for renters to pay for their own water, gas & electric, telephone, cable, and Internet service.

Upon signing the leasing, you will usually be expected to pay the first and last months' rent, as well as a security deposit equal to one month's rent. A landlord or owner may not consider the unit rented until he or she receives the deposit. The security deposit is used to guarantee occupancy, payment of rent, repair of any damages, and possible cleaning after your stay is over. In most cases, the security deposit will be returned to you in full, provided that there is no damage to the rental unit. You should inspect things thoroughly and make note of any damages when you first arrive, and make sure the landlord is aware as well.

If you have any questions about housing, please contact:
Leah Hitchcock, Housing Coordinator
leahh@ICSI.berkeley.EDU
Phone: (510) 666-2974
Fax: (510) 666-2956

If you have any questions about the visa process, please contact:
Jaci Considine, Visitor Coordinator
jaci@ICSI.berkeley.EDU
Phone: (510) 666-2922
Fax: (510) 666-2956