J-1 Visa Information
Learn more about the visa application process.
International visiting students and scholars make up an important part of The King’s College (TKC) community and add diversity of thought and experience to the classroom. We are excited to see you take steps to join us on campus for a semester, and want to be a resource for you throughout the application process.
International Visiting Students
Students interested in participating in NYC Semester at The King’s College must fulfill the admissions requirements of the program and complete an application.
Please visit the NYC Semester page and select your program of interest for more information on applying.
Below, please find additional requirements for NYC Semester as a J-1 Student.
Requirements for the NYC Semester in Journalism as a J-1 Student
- TOEFL Score (Internet Based Test–score of 83 or better) or IELTS Score (score of 6.5 or better) or Duolingo Score (score of 105 or better).
- An additional writing sample may be submitted in lieu of the TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo tests. The writing sample must be a graded college level research paper or essay of at least 500 words.
- Another option is to write an essay that answers the following questions in 250-300 words:
- Why do you think you are an ideal applicant (what strengths and skill sets do you have and how will NYC Semester help you grow)?
- What do you plan to accomplish during your semester away (state what your goals are)?
For students applying to NYCJ: Please include which medium and beat you are most interested to pursue and your internship goals.
- Applicants must complete a phone/video interview with a representative of the college.
General J-1 Visa Information
Should you be accepted to NYC Semester, the first step towards your J-1 Visa is applying for your DS-2019 through The King’s College. In accordance with the U.S. Department of State, newly admitted students of NYC Semester and visiting Fellows of the McCandlish Phillips Journalism Institute (MPJI) who are not citizens or residents of the U.S. must obtain a Form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status) from The King’s College and apply for a J-1 Visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate before traveling to the U.S.
Please read below for instructions on how to obtain a The King’s College DS-2019 and J-1 Visa.
Application deadlines:
- June 1st (for fall semester)
- November 15th (for spring semester)
Visiting students and Fellows are required to complete the DS-2019 application, and once completed and submitted back to the college, the J-1 Administrator will approve or deny the student of the DS-2019. Denial of a DS-2019 will occur if there is a failure to provide evidence of ability to pay (scholarship funds may be used as proof of ability to pay), but denial is not limited to this reason.
If approved, the student will receive a “Letter of Approval” and the college will send his/her DS-2019 via post. The student will use the DS-2019 to apply for the J-1 Visa.
MPJI Fellows and Arne Fjeldstad Scholarship recipients will be reimbursed for SEVIS and Visa application fees after check-in.
After you receive your DS-2019 from The King’s College, please remember to pay your mandatory, one-time $220 SEVIS I-901 fee online. Please print out and retain a copy of your SEVIS fee payment receipt. You must present proof of payment of your SEVIS Fee at your J-1 Visa interview and when entering the U.S. The student will also be responsible to pay the mandatory one-time $160 DS-160 visa application processing fee** through the government website.
Schedule an appointment for a visa interview at a U.S. Embassy/Consulate in your home country. For more information regarding visa application requirements and to schedule an appointment, please contact your local U.S. Embassy/Consulate (which can be located using http://www.usembassy.gov).
**Canadian citizens are exempt from paying the DS-160 application fee and from Step 3, but must present their valid passport, DS-2019 issued by The King’s College, SEVIS fee payment receipt at the port of entry to the U.S., and will hold J-1 status in the U.S. during their studies at The King’s College.
You may only enter the U.S. with your J-1 Visa and DS-2019 up to (but no earlier) than 30 days before the start date indicated on your DS-2019. After approval of the J-1 Visa and before you arrive on campus, payment of the remaining 50% of applicable tuition and housing fees will be required.
(MPJI Fellows will complete a separate orientation with MPJI staff instead)
J-1 students are required by the U.S. Department of State to complete a J-1 Visa Workshop and a Visa Check-In to validate their J-1 status in the U.S. You will be notified during NSO (or by MPJI staff for Fellows) as to where and when to complete these elements.
Failure to complete your check-in requirement in a timely manner or to complete all elements of the NSO for internationals will result in severe consequences for your visa status within the U.S.
Students will be provided with a Welcome Brochure at their check-in meeting, which can be accessed digitally here.
Visa Workshop & Check-In
J-1 students are required by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) and The King’s College to complete a J-1 Visa Workshop and Visa Check-In to validate their J-1 status in the U.S. If you fail to check-in with The King’s College within 30 days after the start date indicated on your DS-2019, you will automatically fall out of J-1 visa status affecting your ability to participate in your studies and remain in the U.S.
Please bring the following documents to your Visa Check-In Session:
- Copy of page 1 of your DS-2019 issued by The King’s College
- Copy of your I-94 Admission Record
- Electronic I-94: After your arrival to the U.S., access and print online at www.cbp.gov/i94
- Copy of your J-1 Visa (Canadian citizens exempt)
- Copy of your Passport Photo Page
- Original Passport and DS-2019 issued by The King’s College
Please Note: Only make copies of the documents listed above AFTER your arrival to the U.S. Please plan accordingly. You will not be able to complete the visa check-in if you do not have the documents listed above.
Mandatory Address Reporting
All J-1 students are required to have a valid local and overseas address at all times.
- Mailing Address: Must reflect your local U.S. address in the New York City area where you will be residing during your studies at The King’s College.
- Permanent Address: Must reflect an overseas address or the address in your home country.
Failure to comply with visa check-in requirements in a timely manner will result in termination of your J-1 status.
For more information about the DS-2019 and the J-1 Visa, visit the U.S. Department of State website at: http://j1visa.state.gov/participants/how-to-apply/.
Health Insurance
Health insurance requirements for J-1 international visiting students and scholars
J-1 International students and scholars are required to have health insurance that meets the minimum coverage requirements put forward by the Federal Government. According to the Federal Government, program participants and their dependents are required to have medical insurance coverage with the following minimum benefits:
- Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
- Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
- A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
Plans that meet or exceed these coverage levels may be obtained through International Student Insurance.
Tuition, Costs, and Fees
2020-2021 Financial Information for J-1 Visa International Visiting Students at The King’s College
The prices below reflect a non-partner J-1 rate without scholarships. Please contact nycsemester@tkc.edu to find out the current partner school rate and scholarship opportunities.
Estimated direct costs
| Tuition | $18,500 |
| Intl. student support fee | $4,700 |
| Activity Fee | $250 |
| TimelyMD | $95 |
| Housing | $7,200 |
| Subtotal | $30,745 |
Estimated indirect costs
| Food | $1,432 |
| Books | $400 |
| Misc. | $925 |
| Transportation | $2,000 |
| Health Insurance | $200 |
| SEVIS processing fee | $220 |
| Visa app fee | $160 |
| Subtotal | $5,337 |
Total
$36,082
Payment Policies and Schedules
- If approved for the DS-2019, the student will receive a “Letter of Approval” and will then be responsible to pay 50% of the applicable program and housing fees.
- Once the 50% of applicable tuition and housing fees have been received by the college, the college will send his/her DS-2019 via post. The student will use the DS-2019 to apply for the J-1 Visa.
- Note: Student must provide proof of paying the $220 I-901 SEVIS processing fee in order to apply for the J-1 Visa. The student will also be responsible to pay the $160 visa application processing fee through the government website.
- After approval of the J-1 Visa and before the student arrives on campus, payment of the remaining 50% of applicable tuition and housing fees will be required.
- A J-1 Visa student withdrawing from The King’s College following the contract execution date (May 1st or December 1st) will be responsible for the full semester of housing charges.
- A J-1 Visa student may submit a letter of appeal for refund of housing payments and release of housing contract payment obligations. This letter should explain in detail the reason for his/her withdraw from the NYC Semester or visiting semester program.
- The Housing Appeals Committee will meet only if there are extenuating circumstances that need to be reviewed.
- If a student’s J-1 Visa is not approved by the Consular Officers at his/her U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or he/she is not allowed entry into the United States at the Port of Entry, the student will not be held responsible for tuition or housing charges and will be issued a refund of payments made to The King’s College.
- If the College cancels the program, payments will be refunded in full within 60 days.
- Refunds for tuition payments made will be issued in keeping with the College’s semester refund schedule:
- Before the end of the 1st week: 100%
- Before the end of the 2nd week: 75%
- Before the end of the 3rd week: 50%
- Before the end of the 4th week: 25%
- After the end of the 4th week: No Refund