DS-2019

Issued by Minnesota State Mankato, your Form DS-2019 is used to apply for your J-1 visa outside the U.S., apply for F-1 status within the U.S., enter and reenter the U.S. in F-1 status, and prove your eligibility for various F-1 benefits. Your DS-2019 indicates the institution in which you are permitted to study, your program of study, and the dates of eligibility. Your DS-2019 must remain valid at all times. You must request an extension to your program dates prior to its expiration date. Allowing your DS-2019 to expire before you complete your academic program is a violation of J-1 status.

Your DS-2019 is a printout from your SEVIS (Student Exchange Visitor Information System) record.  SEVIS  is an internet-based database that allows schools and federal immigration agencies to exchange data on the status of international students. Information is transmitted electronically throughout a J-1 student’s academic career in the U.S. Each student has a unique SEVIS ID number, which is printed on your DS-2019 in the top right corner.