I-94 Cards

What is the DS-2019 Form?

• The DS-2019 form indicates a participant’s duration of status (DS). It is an official State Department form printed from the SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor System) computer system in our office. An Au Pair must have a DS-2019 form in order to apply for the J-1 visa at the American Embassy or Consulate in her home country.
• The dates on the DS-2019 form indicate the dates of the program participation and is the Au Pairs document showing the time she is legally permitted to reside in the United States and work as an Au Pair.
• The 13th month is not indicated on the DS-2019 form because it is an optional 30 days for domestic travel purposes ONLY and is not considered a part of the Au Pair’s program.
• The DS-2019 should always reflect the Au Pair’s current U.S. address. This is why it is imperative that Local Coordinators inform us if a family moves with their Au Pair (even if it is just across town). We send updated DS-2019 forms to all transitioned Au Pairs.
• THE DS-2019 IS NOT A VISA, NOR DOES IT SERVE THE SAME PURPOSE AS A VISA.

What is a J-1 Visa?

• The J-1 Visa (like any Visa) is a permit to ENTER the United States from another country. A visa does not indicate how long a person may STAY in the United States. The J-1 Visa is pasted into the Au Pair’s passport.
• J-1 Au Pair Visas are generally “multiple entry” visas meaning that, as long as travel occurs within the specified dates on the visa, the Au Pair may leave and re-enter the United States.
• Most J-1 Au Pair Visas are stamped as valid for one year, however, this is completely at the discretion of the issuing Consular Officer who may stamp the visa for 6 months, 1 year, 5 years, etc.
• Once the J-1 Visa expires, it does NOT mean that the Au Pair is in the United States illegally as long as she is in possession of a valid DS-2019 form.
• However, once the Au Pair’s visa expires, it means that she cannot leave the United States and re-enter.
• Once an Au Pair receives a J-1 Visa, she is authorized to travel to the U.S., but it does not guarantee entry. Immigration and Border Control have the authority to deny admission to the U.S. and to determine how long a person may stay in the country.
• The J-1 Au Pair Visa can only be granted one time in a person’s life, but they may apply for another kind of J-1 Visa, such as a Work and Travel J-1 Visa, etc.
• Au Pairs accepted for the Extension Program do NOT receive new visas, but rather new DS-2019 forms indicating the new length of their program. This is why most Au Pairs on the Extension Program will not be able to leave the U.S. and re-enter.

What happens if an Au Pair’s J-1 Visa is denied?

• Almost all Au Pair visas that are denied are given a 214-B denial from a Consular Officer.
• 214-B means that the “Applicant has given insufficient evidence of intent to return to home country”
• If an Au Pair wishes to re-apply for the J-1 Visa and is given that option by the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, Au Pair USA may send a letter of support to the Embassy or Consulate on behalf of the participant if appropriate.
• Host Families may wish to contact their local Congress-person about the Visa Denial, but they should not try to contact the Embassy or Consulate Directly.
• Granting or denying a visa is at the sole discretion of the United States Consular Officer. InterExchange Au Pair USA is not a governmental agency, but rather a private, non-profit and has no power to alter a Consular Officer’s final decision.

What is the I-94 Card?

• The I-94 card is also known as the “Arrival-Departure Record” and is created by the Immigration officer when an Au Pair arrives at a U.S. Port of Entry. The Immigration officer keeps the Arrival portion of the card and returns the endorsed Departure portion to the Au Pair. When the Au Pair exits the U.S., she will surrender the Departure card to an airline representative or Immigration/Customs officer. If an Au Pair re-enters the U.S., she will be given a new I-94 card.

About Au Pairs Traveling Internationally During their Program Year

• The J-1 Au Pair Visa does not permit entry into any other country and therefore, cannot facilitate an Au Pair’s travel to another foreign country (including Canada and Mexico).
• Au Pairs must check with the Embassy or Consulate of the country they wish to visit to see if they need a visitor/tourist visa to visit that country. A helpful website for locating Embassies is www.embassyworld.com. Au Pair USA cannot assist Au Pairs in receiving tourist visas to visit other countries.
• Au Pairs should also check that their J-1 Visa is still valid, permitting them to re-enter the United States after their trip and that their DS-2019 form has been signed by a State Department designated officer in the New York office. One signature is valid for an Au Pair’s entire program and most forms are now signed at orientation. Local Coordinators cannot sign DS-2019 forms under any circumstances.