Sample visa

A visa (stamp or sticker) is an endorsement placed in your passport by a US embassy or consulate abroad which provides permission to travel to a US port of entry and request admission to the US. 

Once an individual entered the US, their visa stamp can expire without affecting their legal stay – as long as they have a valid immigration document (such as Form DS-2019) and a valid I-94. If your visa has expired and you're planning to travel outside the US, you'll need to renew your visa. J-1 visas cannot be renewed from within the US.

Your visa will contain:

• Identifying information to match the information on your passport photo ID page (name, birthdate, passport number, etc.)
• The type or class (such as J-1) in which you plan to enter the US
• The number of times you are permitted to request entry to the US (multiple or single)
• An expiration date
• The institution you will attend (should say Emory University unless you're a transfer student)
• Notification of whether or not you will be subject to other immigration regulations (e.g., two-year home residency requirement)

What is the difference between a visa and status? 

The difference between the visa stamp/sticker and immigration “status” is an important distinction in U.S. immigration.

• A visa (again stamp or sticker) is essentially permission to enter the US to apply for an immigration inspection at a port of entry like an airport
• An immigration status is not a physical document, but legal permission to remain inside the country under specific conditions (e.g., a student to study in a full-time program).
  • Individuals can check their immigration status by retrieving I-94 from the US government website.
• An individual can have an expired visa stamp/sticker but still be in valid immigration status.