International Students

IMPORTANT MESSAGE FOR INDIVIDUALS WHO WILL REQUIRE A VISA TO ENTER THE U.S.

Link to and directions for the new VISA request form below:

Participants who are not U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent residents must be admitted to the U.S. in the appropriate visa status.

In the past, the Office of International Services (OIS) advised Institute participants who were not being funded from a U.S. source to apply for a B1/B2 visa for entry to the U.S. as a tourist. On August 19th, 2010, USCIS published guidance on its website that indicates that enrolling in a course is a violation of B1/B2 status. Since BSPH Institute participants do not meet Institutional standards for F-1 student visa sponsorship, the OIS, in cooperation with the BSPH Summer Institutes, will sponsor participants for J-1 Exchange Visitor status. Based on this updated guidance from the United States Citizenship & Immigration Service [USCIS], participants are now strongly encouraged to follow the appropriate steps to secure a J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa for participation in a BSPH Institute. [Note: Internet MPH students who are participating in the Institutes must apply for F-1 student visas since they are pursuing a degree program. Exceptions are made only on a case-by-case basis.]

It can take several months to secure the appropriate visa stamp to enter the United States, so please plan accordingly. Specifically, individuals who will require F1 or J1 visas must submit all required documentation to the Bloomberg School 90 days in advance of the Institute in which they will participate.

Institute participants who do not heed this advice risk being denied entry to the U.S. at the U.S. port of entry by USCIS. If you have any questions about visa sponsorship please contact J1-scholars@jhmi.edu.

For more information, please visit the Office of International Services' website.

To request your J-1 VISA, please follow the instructions below:

The link to the Request Form is available on the Office of International Services’ (OIS) website for download under J1 information Helpful Forms, you will select the form that it is titled School of Public Health, Summer Institute Request Form, and it is a fillable form. OIS We will not be accepting previous year’s versions of the form and we will not accept the standard J1 request form. Please remember that you need to provide a copy of your passport biographical page with the request as well as funding documentation. If you plan to bring a spouse or dependent child that needs visa sponsorship (a J-2), please contact the Institute Coordinator, who will work with OIS in order to make that happen. All requests should be emailed to Ms. Pamela Davis.

FAQs: This is also found on OIS website under J1 information Helpful Forms