REQUEST FOR TRAVEL VALIDATION FORM

J-1 Exchange Visitors traveling outside of the United States AFTER their initial arrival must obtain the signature of their respective
Alternate Responsible Officer in the box located in the lower right-hand corner of their Forms DS-2019 (Travel Validation by Responsible
Officer). This signature not only authorizes J-1 Exchange Visitors to travel outside and re-enter the United States, but also indicates they
are maintaining J-1 status.
A travel signature issued by an Alternate Responsible Officer is valid for twelve (12) months after the date of issue, or until the end date of a
Form DS-2019, whichever comes first. Once a Form is signed, it is valid for all subsequent travel within the aforementioned time frame.
Only a designated Institute of International Education (IIE) Alternate Responsible Officer can sign a Form DS-2019 for Brazil Scientific
Mobility Program (BSMP) students. A supervisor or advisor at a host institution cannot sign a Form DS-2019.
If you need a travel validation signature on your Form DS-2019 to travel outside of the United States, please send us via Certified Mail or
Express Courier Service (FedEx, DHL, etc.):
Your completed Request for Travel Validation Form (this form must be completed in its entirety)
Your Original Form DS-2019
Self-Addressed Prepaid Envelope (see page 2), to return your signed Form DS-2019. IIE will not pay for postage to return your
Form DS-2019.
You will send these two forms and one self-addressed prepaid envelope to:
Institute of International Education
Brazil Scientific Mobility Program - Immigration
809 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
1-212 984-5420
Exchange Visitor Name: ________________________________________________________IIE ID: ________________________
U.S. Host Institution: _________________________________________________________________________________________
International Travel Destination(s): ______________________________________________________________________________
Expected Start Date of Travel: ____________________________Expected End Date of Travel: ______________________________
Address on the Self-Addressed Prepaid Envelope:
Name: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________
Address Line 1:_____________________________________________ Address Line 2:___________________________________
City: __________________________________ State: ______________________ Zip Code: _______________________________
Email: ______________________________________________ Telephone: _____________________________________________
I understand that it is CAPES and CNPq program policy that BSMP students remain in the U.S. for their entire scholarship period.
Moreover, should I choose to travel outside the U.S. during my program I am willfully breaking program policy and will be fully
responsible for any consequences that are a result thereof. I also understand that CAPES, CNPq and IIE are not responsible for any
expenses or actions related to not complying with this policy.
_______________________________________________
Exchange Visitor Signature

_______________________
Date

Endorsement of Host Institution Advisor

I hereby approve of the aforementioned travel plans and certify that this Exchange Visitor is maintaining full-time status and is in
good standing with our institution at the present time.
________________________________________
Name of Advisor at Host Institution

_____________________________________
Signature

___________________
Date

REQUEST FOR TRAVEL VALDIATION CHECKLIST

For IIE to validate your travel request, you must follow the instructions below. Please allow two weeks for processing. This
does not including shipping time.
What do I need to send?
Completed Request for Travel Validation Form
Original Form DS-2019
Self-Addressed Prepaid Envelope, which will be used to send you your Form DS-2019 once it is signed. IIE will
not pay for postage to return your Form DS-2019. You can purchase a prepaid envelope from any mail carrier
(USPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.
How do I send it?
You can send your package via Certified Mail or Express Courier Service (USPS, FedEx, DHL, etc.)
Please refer to this link on How to Send Certified Mail: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RG6Xrvtl0v8
Please make sure both the TO and FROM addresses are fully legible and written correctly on the envelopes to
ensure accurate delivery of your documents.
IIE will not provide tracking information for your shipments. If you wish to track your Form DS-2019, be sure to
record the tracking numbers for BOTH your package to IIE and your self-addressed pre-paid envelope that IIE will
return to you.
When do I send it?
Please allow two weeks for processing. This does not include shipping time.
For urgent and more secure shipping options please visit a USPS, FedEx or DHL location nearest you. For more
information on shipping through these vendors please visit their locations or their websites.
Where do I send it?
Institute of International Education
Brazil Scientific Mobility Program Immigration
809 United Nations Plaza
New York, NY 10017
1-212 984-5420

Additional Information for International Travel

In order to comply with BSMP travel policy and hopefully eliminate any unnecessary complications when re-entering the
United States, please follow the steps outlined below:
1.

Confirm that your dates of travel do not interfere with any coursework, examinations, or Academic Training and
that you have verified this information with your academic, international student or Academic Training advisors. If
your travels do interfere with your program in any respect, you are fully responsible for obtaining prior
authorization from your professors, advisors, CAPES/CNPq and IIE and making any alternate accommodations to
ensure you complete your program in good standing.

2.

Check to make sure your passport is valid for at least six (6) months beyond your date of entry into the U.S.

3.

Check to make sure you have obtained any necessary third-country tourist or transit visas. IIE is not able to
provide assistance with tourist visas and is not a resource on any visa issues unrelated to your participation in
BSMP.

4.

Check to make sure your Form DS-2019 has been signed for travel by an IIE Alternative Responsible Officer in the
lower right-hand corner in the Travel Validation by Responsible Officer section.
A. If you need to obtain a travel signature on your Form DS-2019, please
include a pre-paid self-addressed envelope or shipping label in the package
that you send to IIE. When completing the self-addressed envelope,
remember that the sender is IIE and the delivery address is your mailing
address.
B. If your Form DS-2019 is already signed, you only need to send the first
page of this completed form via email to BSWBimmigration@iie.org. DO
NOT mail your Form DS-2019 if this box is already signed.
Remember: The Travel Validation Signature is valid for twelve (12) months after
the date of issue, or until the end date of a Form DS-2019, whichever comes first.
You will not need additional signatures for future travel within this period.

5.

Make sure your J-1 visa is valid and is approved for Multiple Entries. Please see below. M is for Multiple; S
is for Single.

6.

Bring a printed copy of your electronic Form I-94 with you, in case you need to reference it. It is important to note
that if you leave and re-enter the U.S. during your authorized program, your previous Form I-94 will be overwritten
and a new automated record will be created.

7.

It is strongly recommended that you also carry with you:

Evidence of participation in your exchange program, such as your Terms of Appointment, an offer/award
letter or other official correspondence/documents from your host institution.
Evidence of your financial resources, such as an award/offer letter and/or personal bank statements.
If the U.S. CBP officer at the port-of-entry cannot verify your information or you do not have all of the required
documentation, you may be directed to secondary inspection. During this interview the U.S. CBP official will
conduct additional research to verify your information, without causing delays for other arriving individuals.

Important Note: If you intend to visit Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands for less than 30 days and the J-1 visa in
your passport has expired, you do not need to obtain a new visa for re-entry into the U.S. This process is called Automatic
Revalidation. You will have to meet the requirements below:

You have only been in Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands for less than 30 days.

Your electronic Form I-94 record states that you are in J-1 status. To access your electronic Form I-94, please see
this link: https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/request.html.

You did not apply for a U.S. visa while in Canada or Mexico.