International Exchange Students

Prior to Arrival

Official Dartmouth Exchange programs are administered through the Off-Campus Programs’ Office.
Upon admission to the program, Off-Campus Programs’ Office sends forms and information to the exchange student.
Students complete the forms and return them to Off-Campus Programs’ Office together with copies of passport and financial documents as may be required by OVIS.
OVIS prepares the DS-2019 form and a cover letter containing complete instructions for how to obtain a J-1 visa from the consulate in the student’s home country.
Off-Campus Programs’ Office mails the DS-2019 package to the student.

J-1 students may arrive up to 30 days prior to the program start date as listed on the DS-2019 form.
Check-in
- Students must report to OVIS within ___ days of the program end date.
- At check-in OVIS will check the students’ visa documents and copy them, a travel signature will be given by OVIS.
Orientation
- Students beginning their studies in fall term will be invited to attend the International Orientation.
- Students beginning their studies in all terms will be required to attend the Off-Campus Programs’ Orientation the day before classes begin.

Check-in at the start of every term on Bannerstudent.
Full course enrollment every term.
D-plan of 3 consecutive terms of enrollment every year prior to a leave term.
- D-plan codes R O X (and sometimes T) count as enrolled terms.
Report any changes in address to OVIS within 10 days of a change.
No unauthorized work.
Travel signatures every year.
Passport unexpired for at least six (6) months into the future.

During the academic term
- On-campus work authorization may be granted for no more than 20 hours per week.
- Students must receive pre-approval from their OVIS advisor before beginning any on-campus work.
After the program end date
- Off-campus work authorization known as Academic Training may be granted for a maximum of 18 months unless the academic program was less than 18 months; if so, the AT may be granted for no more than the total months in the academic program.
- Students must receive pre-approval from the OVIS advisor before beginning any off-campus work.

Anything that stops a student from enrolling (e.g. suspension) will cause a termination of the visa status.
Not maintaining status will cause a termination of the visa status.

Documents: travel with an unexpired passport, unexpired visa stamp (exception: Canadians do not need a visa stamp), valid DS-2019 with up-to-date travel signature, and Form I-94.

I-94 cards should be taken by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer at the point of departure.

Always get a new I-94 card when re-entering the U.S by land, and a new Admission stamp when re-entering the U.S. by air or sea. After re-entry by air or sea, access and print a copy of your electronic Form I-94 here.
Travel to third countries (not the U.S. and not the home country)
- Find the Embassy website for the destination country.
- Find out if the destination country requires people from your country to have a visa or not.
- Make sure your intended activity in the destination country matches the visa you get for travel to that country.
- Make sure your U.S. visa documents are unexpired so that you can return to your school in the U.S.