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GETTING STARTED: DOCUMENTS YOU NEED TO GET HERE:

As a new incoming visitor to the Institute for Polymers and Organic Solids, there are three major groups of things you need to worry about.

1. Getting your workpermit, and visa to enter the U.S. (if you are arriving from outside the U.S.).

2. Getting your appointment approved before you arrive at UCSB.

3. Getting a place to live while at UCSB.

WORKPERMITS (otherwise known as DS-2019, for J-1 visas) and Visa to enter the U.S.:

There are several visa catagories underwhich to enter the U.S. and be employed to work at UCSB. We usually bring visiting scholars in under the J-1 Exchange Visitor

• The visa document required for this category is the DS-1029 form.
  When you use this to enter, your I-94 card will be granted for "D/S". This D/S means you have been admitted for the period indicated on the DS-2019 document in section 3.
  This DS-2019 document also defines the source(s) of your funding while you are inside the U.S.
• The maximum period allowed in the J category for Teaching and Research is 3 years.
• NOTE: The DS-2019 form must be validated for further travel after the use for initial entry.

Regarding Travel Documents:

• Along with your valid passport you will need a visa stamp from a U.S. Consulate/Embassy
• The visa stamp gives you permission to request U.S. admission in a certain visa category.
• Admission is granted at the U.S. port of entry in the form of a small card (I-94 form) stapled into your passport. This I-94 card indicates the period of stay allowed, as well as the visa category in which you were admitted to the U.S.

You start the J-1 process by being "invited" by UCSB staff on the SEVIS System, a computerized system that interfaces with the INS.
To invite you we need your email address and name.
Once we invite you on SEVIS, you will get an email from the system with a log-on name and password. With this you can then go on-line to fill out the J-1 application, and submit it.
Once submitted, we will get an email saying an application is awaiting our approval; we then approve it and it's submitted to our OISS office which will then process the application. Once the DS-2019 is generated, we can mail it or Fed Ex it to you.

Due to the very laborious process, and the long time needed, we do not often apply for H-1 visas for our visitors.

You can get more information on the various visa catagories, and their requirements, at the following URL:

http://www.oiss.ucsb.edu/forevisacat/evisa.htm

We strongly recommend you look thoroughly through the OISS web site. They are experts on visiting scholars, and can keep both you, and us, from running afoul with the various INS requirements. Especially helpful is the page on Information for scholars:

http://www.oiss.ucsb.edu/InfoScholars.htm

Travel documents special note:

If you wish to enter the U.S. without waiting for the appropriate J or H travel documents, please be aware that a change of status within the U.S. takes from 4 to 6 months to be approved, and you may commence your work only after the approval of the change has been granted.
Also, if you enter on the "waiver program" without a visa, you have waived your permission to change to another visa category after your U.S. arrival, and you cannot extend your stay beyond the 90 day period initially granted.

UCSB EMPLOYMENT FORMS
Or "Getting your appointment approved"

While there will be numerous forms to complete and sign once you get here, there is one form required before you come, the BIOGRAPHY form. This form will be used to process your UCSB appointment, and is very important.
There are three ways to complete the Biography:

• Download the PDF form, complete it, print and sign the last page. You must attach your Curriculum Vita as directed.
• Download the Word document, complete it using Word software, and sign the last page. You must attach your Curriculum Vita as directed.
• If you cannot access either of these forms, we can fax you a form for you to complete and sign. You must attach your Curriculum Vita as directed. Call us at (805) 893-5270 to request the form.

This appointment process applies to all researchers working at UCSB, whether with salary or without salary. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated, and will smooth the process.

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authored by Pat Walker
Last Modified 9/07/2005