Visa Resources and FAQ

Applying for visas

FAQ: What do I need in order to apply for my visa?

Please refer to the OISS website to learn more about how to apply for the J-1 student visa. Y-VISP will pay for your SEVIS fee (I-901 SEVIS Payment). You are responsible for all other fees related to your visa.

FAQ: Where can students apply for their visa?

The best practice is to apply in your home country or in the country where you are a student. You can also apply at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the world that accepts applications from Third Country Nationals (TCNs). It is your responsibility to check with the U.S. mission in the country you plan to apply for a U.S. visa to find out if they will accept your J-1 visa application as a TCN.

FAQ: How can I find the estimated wait time to get a visa appointment at a specific U.S. Embassy or Consulate?

Link to check wait times for visas at embassies and consulates.

Difficulty Securing a Visa Appointment

FAQ: What support can I receive if I'm struggling to receive a visa appointment?

Some U.S. Embassy and Consulates offer an option to request an expedited appointment under specific circumstances. Please check the website of the U.S. Embassy and Consulate to find out how you can request an expedited appointment. If the U.S. consulate has any questions regarding your studies at Yale, please contact OISS. If your visa application is delayed or denied for any reason, please email Ozan Say, your OISS adviser, immediately.

Academic Training in Spring

FAQ: If a Yale-NUS student participates in Y-VISP in the fall only, can they use Academic Training to participate in an internship or research opportunity in the spring?

Yale-NUS requires their students to return to continue their studies at Yale-NUS in the spring. The exception is Yale-NUS students participating in Y-VISP during their final semester who do not need to take any courses during the spring. They would still be considered a student at YNC during the Spring as study abroad would delay their graduation by one semester. The Academic Training eligible opportunity must start within 30 days of the end date on their DS-2019.

FAQ: If a Y-VISP student not from Yale-NUS student participates in Y-VISP in the fall only, can they use Academic Training to participate in an internship or research opportunity in the spring?

You must check with your home university. It is up to them to decide whether or not you must return to continue your studies or if you may stay in the U.S. to use Academic Training. If they decide you may stay, it is up to your home university to determine how this may affect your registration status and graduation date.