Disclaimer: This page is written by volunteers, who went trough the process themselves and want to share their knowledge to others. This is not an official information. If you have questions please refer to the International Scholars Office of MIT , the HumanResources-Department of your faculty, your Professor or other official representatives. If you find a mistake or something missing please correct it after you received your MIT-ID.

How to receive a J1-Visa

  1. The employer (the department of MIT) prepares your DS2019-Form defining your SEVIS-Number
  2. You (and your dependencies) prepare each the DS160-Form. You need to provide (i) a US-Social-Security-Number if someone already worked in the US, (ii) all Social Media-Platforms you used in the last 5 years, (iii) exact dates of your education&work, (iv) exact dates when you have been in the US (which should match the I-94), (v) a contact address in the US (e.g. Department or Professor) (vi) which countries you visited in the last 5years, (vii) a Visa-Photo. The Form spontaneously times out, therefore you will need much time and patience.
  3. Pay the I-901-Fee
  4. Check the waiting times on https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html/ and see if you are still in time
  5. You need to make a profile at https://ustraveldocs.com and pay the MRV-fee
  6. Wait some days till the MRV fee is approved and proceed with the steps at https://ustraveldocs.com
  7. Prepare all documents for the appointment/interview at the embassy, you will definitely need the DS2019-Forms, the Passports and the self-addressed envelopes with enough Posted-stamps for a registered Mail. Bring all other important documents, e.g. married certificate or current printed passport-photo with you, if you forgot documents you might have to reschedule a new appointment.
  8. Check flights
  9. Normally two to three Working-days after the Appointment you will receive the Passports with your Visas
  10. Pack your luggage some days in advance, one large checked baggage(h+b+d≤158cm,18kg-23kg), one hand-luggage (55cm x 35cm x 23cm, 8kg) and a personal under-the-seat-accessware (40cm x 30cm x 15cm  ) will be enough
  11. Book your flight
  12. Make a Covid-19-test not more than 24-hours before the departure of the actual flight entering the US. [Since June 2022 testing is optional.]
  13. Arrive in the US [Have your DS2019-Form always with you (i.e. in the under-the-seat accessory bag), do not put it it in any luggage, since sometimes the overhead bins are limited, and hand-luggage might hast to get checked in as well(for free).]

How to speed up the Visa-process

Be aware that you might need to wait for an J1-Visa-appointment at the embassy over two months, for current waiting times at your US-embassy please check: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html/

  • Be sure your passport and the passport of your dependencies (married spouse and/or children) are valid till 6 Month after the end of the J1-Visa, so if you (or your spouse) want to change the name (e.g. marry) have the passport ready at least 4-5 Month before you start to work.
  • Ask for the SEVIS-Number of your DS2019 and the SEVIS-Numbers of dependencies to get at as soon as possible per email, since the Postal-Mail might take longer than expected. You need the SEVIS-Numbers for the DS160-Forms for yourself and for the DS160-Forms of your dependencies.
  • You and your dependencies should start to fill out the DS160-Form before you receive the DS2019-Form. You will need the DS160-Form for the appointment with the embassy.
  • Have a current (printed) Passport-Photo and as-well make a current (digital) quadratic 600x600px-Visa-Photo (max filesize 240kB).
  • Make a profile at https://ustraveldocs.com/ and pay the MRV-fee, it takes about 2days after arriving at their bank-account till the Fee is marked as paid in their system.

Ariving in the US

  1. Choose a Cell-phone-plan
  2. Request the most recent I94-Form, which you will need for the Social-Security-number, Bank-accounts and the I9-Form.
  3. Ask for a Social-Security-Number, since this will provide you access to American bank-accounts and if you are working this enures that you pay your taxes.
  4. Wait ~5 working-days for your Social-Security-Number to arrive per mail
  5. If you are staying for at least a year in the US, change the Region on your iOS-App-Store or your Google-Play-Store to the US, otherwise Apps (e.g. Bank-App) might not be available for your Smartphone.
  6. Open an American bank-account (for a debit and a credit-card), since some markets&online-shops do not not accept European credit cards and your credit-score depends on it (which you might need for renting). I recommend to take a bank that has a store in all states, if you want to visit other states and has a ATM at MIT. Ensure that you take cash (≥200$) with you when opening a bank account, for a prepaid credit card you should have at least 1500$ on your account.
  7. Apply for a Massachusetts-ID/US-drivers license (otherwise you need your passport for going into bars, such as the MIT-Pub)

Preparing for MIT-enrollment/First day at MIT

  • Take your private Notebook to MIT, because you might not get a Computer from MIT (your PI).
  • Complete the steps at https://ischoportal.mit.edu
  • Ask the HumanResources-Officer of your Department to get the MIT-ID as soon as possible (I received in the evening of my first day at MIT)
  • With the MIT-ID you can request a Kerberos-ID.
  • The Kerberos-ID is necessary for your email-address and digital login-certificates and entering the building and for using the pharos printers at MIT.
  • Look into the MIT-Atlas-system there you can check several optional benefits. e.g. If you would like to get a reduced commuter-ticket (train) you have to tell them at latest 1month and a day before the first of this month. The MIT-ID-Card for employees can be used as a CharlieCard (free Bus&Subway)
  • One the first day of working fill out the I9-Form (via the MIT-System)
  • Go to the MIT-Atlas-system for getting your MIT-Card. This MIT-Card can be used for free public transport.

First weeks&months at MIT

Housing

Price: Housing in Cambridge is very expensive, most post-docs pay around $ 1100-2000 per month for shared living. Be aware that the average rent here is between $3000 and $3900 per bed and month. Boston/Cambridge is the third most expensive city in the US (after Manhattan and San Francisco). It is common to be asked to pay a non-refundable "Broker's Fee" (one month's rent), refundable security deposit (one month's rent), first month's rent, and last month's rent when you sign a lease. Larger buildings can have an advantage of not requiring as much cash up front.

Scam&Fraud&identity theft:Be aware that there are some Scam, do not pay anything before seeing the actual apartment. Do not share your Social-security-number to unknown companies.

Search:

Things to check

  • is it scam
  • how old is the offer (maybe it is outdated and no responce to expect)
  • is there a broker-fee (ask if you are unsure)
  • is there a minimum time to stay
  • heating and electicity and gas and internet included
  • windows, (un-)furnished, working desk, couple-friendly/only females
  • laundry/dishwasher/cooking plate
  • how many bathrooms/bedrooms
  • time with bike (MIT offers 300$ reimbursment for bike-equitment)
  • time with public transport (all Postdocs can travel for free with buses and subway)

Many landlords/agencies require a background-check on their website, there you might have to tell the Social-Security-Number, Phone, Mail, your last landlords (including phone/mail), your last employees (including phone/mail), your credit-score, your income, ... (Check if the site is trustworty.)

change address:

  • change it in your bank-account (debit as well credit)
  • tell Atlas
  • tell ISCHO
  • for Massachusetts-ID: RMV
  • for electric-bill: eversource

 

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