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Fulbright Scholars or Participants in Other U.S. Government-sponsored Programs

Fulbright Scholars or other U.S. Government sponsored Exchange Visitor (J) Visa applicants are not required to pay the visa application processing fees if they are participating in a Department of State, a U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), or a U.S. Government funded educational and cultural exchange program that has a program serial number beginning with G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-7 printed on form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J) Status.

Helpful links:

Exchange Visitor Program (J) Visa
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Exchange Programs

It is the responsibility of each traveler to determine whether or not a visa fee is required.

If a traveler needs to apply for a visa that requires paying a visa fee, the traveler should use this service to make an appointment to apply for a visa. Select the option “I have completed the U.S. Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-160) form and I need to apply for a visa.” from the NIV stop page.

If the traveler is eligible to travel without paying the MRV fee, the traveler must come in person to the Consular Section to submit their visa applications Monday through Friday (except for Belgian and U.S. Holidays) between 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. No appointment is necessary for Fulbright Scholars or Participants in Other U.S. Government-sponsored Programs.

The following documents are required per person:

  • a valid passport
  • the original DS-2019 form
  • the printed confirmation page of visa application form DS-160 (https://ceac.state.gov/genniv).  Please make sure that the printed confirmation page of your forms DS-160 show a bar code.
  • one printed full-face color photo (5 cm x 5 cm) on a white background (photo taken within the last 6 months, no glasses).