Process to extend DS-2019 while on J1 visa (Clinical)

Depending on your institution guidelines, you may have other steps required and you may need to Initiate Clinical Resident/Fellow Continuation Request

Following the initiating the request:

1. Through EVNet, TPL submits an on-line appointment profile

2. Through EVNet, TPL uploads the necessary supporting documents for each applicant (With the exception of the SoN)

3. Through OASIS, applicant accepts on-line appointment profile, pays the $370 administrative/application fee, completes the electronic application, and uploads any documentation (not already submitted by the TPL) needed to complete application

4. Electronically or by mail/courier service, Ministry of Health official or applicant submits the original SoN

 

Once all the documents are received by ECFMG, and the DS2019 is approved, it will be shipped to the TPL.

 

Required documents:

1. Contract or Letter of Offer

2. Form I-644, Supplementary Statement for Graduate Medical Trainees

3. FORM I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record)

4. Statement of Need (SoN) – THE MOST TIME SENSITIVE STEP WILL BE THE SON FROM HOME COUNTRY SO START THIS PROCESS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE (AT LEAST 2-3 MONTHS BEFORE DS2019 END DATE)

5. Return shipping label for expedited delivery to the TPL (optional, but recommended)

 

NOTE:

-All uploaded documents must be in PDF format and must be uploaded one document at a time.

-Link for checklist for continuation of sponsorship: https://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/continuation-accredited.pdf

-Link for checklists for various sponsorship application: https://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/applying-checklists.html

 

Contract or Letter of Offer

The contract or letter of offer must specify:

• Start and end dates of the training year,

• Specialty and subspecialty of the training program/pathway,

• Training level,

• Stipend,

• And must be signed by both the applicant and an appropriate hospital official.

 

Form I-644, Supplementary Statement for Graduate Medical Trainees

The applicant must complete and sign Part 1; the program director or director of graduate medical education of the most recent (not proposed) host program must complete and sign Part 2 of the form. (https://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/i-644form.pdf)

 

Form I-94 (arrival/departure record)

-A photocopy of the applicant’s most recent Form I-94 documenting admission to the United States in J-1 status valid for “Duration of Status – D/S” must be submitted to ECFMG.

-Copies of electronically issued Form I-94 can be downloaded at www.cbp.gov/I94.

 

Statement of Need (SoN)

Link for SoN submission requirements: https://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/applying-general.html#need

-Be issued by the federal/central office of the applicant’s country of most recent legal permanent residence

-Be issued on official Ministry of Health letterhead and addressed to ECFMG

-Exactly follow prescribed wording outlined in the CFR §62.27 (see Statement of Need Instructions for Ministry of Health Officials: https://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/son-instructions-moh.pdf)

-Specify a need that exactly matches the name of the training specialty/subspecialty being pursued
-Contain the official stamp or seal of the issuing government and dated signature of issuing official on the SoN.
-Be issued in English; if not issued in English, a certified word-for-word English translation is required (again, please note that the SoN and any translation must follow regulatory prescribed language)

 

Return shipping label for expedited delivery to the TPL (optional, but recommended)

-If an application is approved, ECFMG will issue Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Visa Status, to the TPL via first-class U.S. mail.

-ECFMG is not authorized to release the Form DS-2019 directly to an applicant.

-For expedited and trackable delivery, applicants must upload a prepaid/preaddressed courier service shipping label at the time of application (prior to application review by EVSP).

-EVSP staff cannot complete a shipping label on behalf of an applicant or institution.

-See https://www.ecfmg.org/evsp/applicants-regulations-supporting-documentation.html for additional information on the use of shipping labels.