DS-2019: Official immigration document issued to J-1 and J-2 visa holders. The DS-2019 must be kept accurate and up to date while in the United States.
F-1: Refers to an immigration status that is used primarily for degree-seeking students who are funded by self or family. F-2 is an immigration status that is the dependent of F-1.
I-20: Official immigration document issued to F-1 and F-2 visa holders. The I-20 must be kept accurate and up to date while in the United States.
I-94 card: Small white card that is issued upon arrival in the United States. It is used to verify arrival to and departure from the US. For F or J visa holders, the I-94 card is generally stamped “D/S” which indicates that you are allowed to stay in the country for the “Duration of Status” (i.e. as long as you are maintaining legal immigration status)
Immigration status: May also be referred to as “visa status” but is separate and distinct from the actual visa stamp. Status refers to your legal eligibility to be in the country. A student who is “maintaining status” is legally in the United States and is eligible for benefits of whichever status they maintain. A student who fails to meet the terms and conditions of their status is considered “out of status” and may be at risk for removal from the United States.
J-1: Refers to an immigration status that is used primarily for students attending school in the US through an exchange program, or for students who are funded by external organizations (rather than self or family). The J-1 category is also used for visiting scholars and researchers. J-2 is an immigration status that is the dependent of J-1.
SEVIS: The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System is a web-based database that is used by the Department of Homeland Security to track and monitor information for F-1 and J-1 students, scholars, and their dependents. Information stored in SEVIS is accessible to various federal agencies. Universities that are approved to host international students are required to maintain accurate information in the SEVIS system for all international students and scholars on their campuses.
Visa: A stamp that is placed in the passport that allows a foreign national to request permission to enter the country. For F and J visa holders, the visa must be valid on the date of entry into the United States but may expire while in the United States as long as you maintain your legal immigration status. Visas may only be issued at a US Embassy or Consulate abroad and may therefore not be renewed or replaced within the US.