This page contains helpful pre-arrival information, from applying for your visa to making travel arrangements and arriving in Houston.

Information on SEVIS Fee Requirement for J-1 Exchange Visitors

All J-1 exchange visitors coming to the United States must pay the I-901 SEVIS Fee of $220, which funds the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) and SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). This fee is separate from the visa application fee and will not be refunded if the visa application is denied.

Who must pay the SEVIS fee

Exchange visitors are required to pay the SEVIS fee if they are:

• New applicants for J-1 Exchange Visitor Status.
• An individual in the U.S. applying for a change of status to J-1.
• An Exchange Visitor who is in a U.S. government sponsored program and who is transferring to a non-U.S. government sponsored program.
• An Exchange Visitor applying for a change of category (e.g., J-1 student to J-1 researcher).
• A J-1 Exchange Visitor applying for reinstatement for a substantive violation.

Once paid, the I-901 SEVIS fee is non-refundable unless paid by mistake, even if your visa is denied or you choose not to come to the United States. If your visa is denied and you reapply within 12 months, you will typically not need to pay the fee again.

J-2 dependents are not required to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee.

For more information, please see https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/faq.

Procedures for payment of the SEVIS fee

Currently, individuals can pay the fee by credit or debit card online, by check or money order mailed to SEVP, and by using Western Union Quick Pay. Please note that exchange visitors from certain countries cannot pay by credit card online.

Online payments can be made at https://www.fmjfee.com. When paying the fee, please list your name exactly as it is on your DS-2019.

For more information about the I-901 SEVIS fee, please see https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901.

For frequently asked questions, please see https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901/faq.

Applying for your Visa

Coming from abroad

Upon receiving your DS-2019, you must apply for your J-1 visa at a U.S. consulate or embassy (*See exception for Canadian citizens below). We recommend visiting the website of the U.S. Embassy/Consulate where you wish to apply for your visa and follow the procedures for documentation, scheduling your interview, etc. We also have some tips for the visa application process, including a list of helpful videos at https://oiss.rice.edu/visa-tips. In general, you will need to present:

1. A valid passport.
2. A DS-2019 “Certificate of Eligibility” for a temporary stay in the U.S.
3. Proof of Financial Support showing the funds required for the duration of stay in the U.S. (as indicated on the DS-2019).
4. Proof of payment of the I-901 SEVIS fee (see more information above).
5. Completed visa application form (DS-160) – indicate your name as stated on your passport and your DS-2019 to ensure your name on your visa stamp will be displayed correctly.

*Canadian exception: Canadian citizens are not required to obtain a visa stamp in their passports to enter the U.S. on a J-1 status. Instead, they are adjudicated at the Port of Entry when they cross the border into the United States. Please make sure to present your DS-2019 at the Port of Entry and specify to the officer that you are seeking J-1 visa status. Make sure to pay your I-901 SEVIS fee in advance, as the payment cannot be made at the Port of Entry

Upon clearing immigration, check your I-94 record to ensure it grants J-1 status for “D/S” (duration of status). For dependents, it should show J-2 status for “D/S.” If it is incorrect, contact OISS immediately. You can download/print your I-94 admission record by visiting https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home.

Administrative Processing

Only two outcomes are possible at the end of the visa appointment: the consular officer will either issue or refuse the visa. Sometimes, the consular officer may determine that additional information is required before the visa can be issued, and the application must go through further administrative processing. If you need administrative processing, the consular officer will let you know about it at the end of the interview. Although your visa application will be refused at that time, you may be determined to qualify for the visa once the case-specific administrative processing is completed. Therefore, in the case of administrative processing, a visa refusal may not be the final answer. The duration of the administrative processing will vary based on the individual circumstances of each case. For more information, please see the U.S. Department of State's webpage on administrative processing.

Health Insurance

Every person in J-1 or J-2 status is required to maintain a government-mandated minimum level of health insurance for the full duration of their stay in J status. Government regulations stipulate that if J-1 students or scholars willfully fail to maintain the required level of health insurance, their participation in the J-1 program will be subject to termination.

At the time of your mandatory immigration check in at OISS, you will be required to show proof of health insurance for you and your family. Failure to maintain adequate health insurance can, by law, result in the termination of your J-1 status. Please visit our Scholar Health Insurance webpage for more information on the J-1 health insurance requirements and the acceptable options to meet them.

Rationale

In the United States it is unwise not to have adequate health insurance. Not only does having health insurance permit access to better and more timely health care, but it also provides the only protection against the potentially enormous cost of medical services. Since a single day of hospitalization and medical treatment can cost thousands of dollars, many hospitals and doctors refuse to treat uninsured patients except in life-threatening emergencies. As a result, most Americans rely on health insurance to make sure that they will receive the care they need, when they need it. Unfortunately, although in many countries the government bears the expense of health care for its residents, individuals and families in the United States are responsible for the costs themselves.

Additional Information

How to choose a policy
All Rice international J-1 scholars and their dependents are required to maintain health insurance coverage for the full duration of their J visa status.

Options to meet the legal requirements for J visa holders at Rice University:
1. For Rice benefits eligible employees: Rice benefits plan through Aetna + supplemental medical evacuation and repatriation (ME&R) coverage through Betins (+ ISI short-term coverage for interim period, if applicable)
2. For Unpaid J-1 Academic Visitors: (a) Wellfleet insurance plan for Rice scholars or (b) ISI International Student Health Insurance: "Select" OR "Elite" options only

Note to unpaid J-1 Academic Visitors: Unlike J-1 employees of Rice University, unpaid J-1 Academic Visitors scholars do not qualify for participation in Rice’s Aetna insurance plan. Therefore, the J-1 Academic Visitor and their family members will need to select health insurance by Wellfleet or ISI "Select" or "Elite" plans.

Considerations in choosing a plan include:

1. Deductible amounts. Most insurance policies require their holders to pay part of their health expenses themselves (called the deductible) before the company pays anything. Under some policies the deductible is a yearly figure, and the holders must pay up to that amount only once each year. Under other plans, the deductible must be paid each time there is an illness or injury. The J regulations require that you select a policy where the deductible is no more than $500 per accident or illness, but many policies offer a lower, more advantageous one. In choosing insurance, think carefully about how much you can afford to pay out of your own pocket each time you are sick or injured, and weigh the deductible against the premium before you decide.
2. Co-insurance. Usually an insurance policy only pays a percentage of the medical expenses, even after the deductible is paid. The policy might pay 80%, for example, and the remaining 20% (which holders still have to pay) is called the co-insurance. For example: $3,000 in medical expenses covered by a policy with a $400 deductible and a 20% co-insurance would cover $2,080 of your expenses and require you to pay $400 in deductible and $520 in co-insurance. The J regulations require that insurance policy you choose must pay at least 75% of covered medical expenses.
3. Life/per-occurrence maximums. Many insurance policies limit the amount they will pay for any single individual’s medical bills or for any specific illness or injury. Exchange Visitors must have insurance with a maximum no lower than $100,000 for each specific illness or injury, which may be enough for most conditions. Major illnesses, however, can cost the patient several times that amount.
4. Benefit periods. Some insurance policies limit the amount of time they will go on paying for each illness or injury. In that case, after the benefit period for a condition has expired, the policy holders must pay the full cost of continuing treatment of the illness, even if they are still insured by the company. A policy with a long benefit period provides the best coverage.
5. Exclusions. Most insurance policies exclude coverage for certain conditions. The J regulations require that if a particular activity is part of your Exchange Visitor program, your insurance must cover injuries resulting from your participation in that activity. Finally most insurance companies do not pay for treatment of what they consider to be pre-existing conditions. That is, if the policy holder was previously diagnosed and/or treated for a problem before purchasing the insurance, the new insurance policy will not pay for continued treatment of that problem.

Cost
With the broad range of choices, the actual cost for health care in the United States cannot be measured. Much depends on the level of insurance coverage, the number of times the policy holder visits the doctor and/or hospital during their stay here. Estimated charges for the policies accepted by OISS are listed at https://oiss.rice.edu/scholarhealthinsurance. Be sure to include cost estimates for health insurance in planning your budget for your expenses during your stay in the U.S.

For more information, please see our Scholar Health Insurance webpage.

Traveling to the U.S./Houston

Booking your Flight

Houston has two airports – George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) and Hobby Airport (HOU)

Arrival Date – Please consider the following requirements when making your travel plans:
1. Your arrival date may not be more than 30 days before the start date indicated on your DS-2019.
2. If you will be arriving more than 10 days after your indicated start date, you must contact OISS as we may need to amend your DS-2019.
3. Your arrival date must fall within the validity dates on your visa stamp.

Connecting flights – Plan for longer between flights due to U.S. entry procedures if you don't fly directly to Houston. It can take a long time to go through immigration and customs at your initial U.S. port of entry.

Arriving at the Airport

At the airport where you enter the U.S., an immigration officer will inspect your passport, visa, immigration documents (I-20/DS-2019), admission documents from Rice, and letters indicating how you will be financially supported when living in the United States. Keep these items readily available, and do not pack them in your luggage. After arriving in the U.S., you can access your I-94 admission record at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home. The I-94 record is very important because it shows your admission status.

The customs officials may inspect your baggage for illegal materials or have CBP canines sniff for drugs. Additionally, electronic devices, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops, may be opened/unlocked and searched by the officials. If you are uncomfortable with having your electronic property assessed, leaving these items in your checked luggage may be advisable.

Check with your airline or travel agency about restrictions on your airplane carry-on luggage. You must put objects such as knives, sharp scissors, razors, and some liquids in your checked baggage. A list of Prohibited and Restricted Items is available at https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/prohibited-and-restricted-items.

Transportation from the Airport

Ground transportation for George Bush Intercontinental Airport: https://fly2houston.com/iah/ground-transportation.
Ground transportation for Hobby Airport: https://fly2houston.com/hou/ground-transportation.

Taxis and other forms of transportation are known to be very safe and reliable in Houston, as opposed to many other major cities in America. Still, avoid bus, metro, and railway stations at night if you're unaccompanied.

Rice University is located at 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005. It is across from Hermann Park and the Texas Medical Center. For directions to campus, please consult http://www.rice.edu/get-to-rice.

Housing

Temporary Housing – Hotels

It is recommended that hotel reservations be made in advance. Ask if there is a discount for Rice students and staff.

• Hotels near Campus: https://campustravel.com/university/rice-university/
• Hotels near George Bush Intercontinental Airport: https://www.fly2houston.com/iah/other-hotels
• Hotels near Hobby Airport: https://www.fly2houston.com/hou/hotels

Permanent Housing

For off-campus housing resources, including information about utilities, please see our Housing website.

Please note that apartment scams are, unfortunately, very common in the United States. Please always make sure any apartment posting is legitimate before paying any fees or deposits! For more information, please see the USA.gov website on rental scams.

What to Bring

Clothing

Houston weather is hot and humid in the summer and generally mild in the winter, though we occasionally have freezing temperatures. Temperatures are above 90° F (32° C) for much of the summer, but buildings are usually air-conditioned and can get quite cold indoors. Clothing needs range from light summer cotton to medium-weight winter coats, jackets, and sweaters. Rain can be expected at any time of the year. A light raincoat and umbrella are useful. An all-weather coat or jacket is ideal for the winter.

Money

Make sure to bring sufficient funds in U.S. currency to cover large initial expenses, including for hotels, apartment leasing, utility deposits, food, books and supplies, transportation, etc. Scholars paid by Rice may not receive their first paycheck until 2-4 weeks after starting work, due to payroll cycles.

Credit Card

We recommend you apply for a credit card in your home country before coming to Houston, as it will allow you to charge for many initial expenses. In the U.S., you may not be able to get a credit card before you have established your credit history. Also, many people use credit or debit cards instead of cash. For information on opening a bank account in the U.S., please see the Banking website.

Electric Outlet Converter

The U.S. uses Types A and B electrical outlets. Make sure that you have converters/adapters for any electronic devices you bring that will need to be used or charged immediately. For more information, please consult https://www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/plugs-and-sockets/.