--- title: U.S. J-1 visa for University Student in Kosovo url: https://theacompany.ai/visa/usa/j-1/college-and-university-student/kosovo language: en visa: U.S. visa for University Student (J-1) destination: United States applying_from: Kosovo embassy: U.S. Embassy Pristina last_checked: 2026-10-11 provider: The A Company (private company, not a government service) government_fee_usd: 185 delivery_eur: 10 service_fee_eur: 100 total_eur: 275 apply_url: https://theacompany.ai/?ask=I%20live%20in%20Kosovo.%20I%20have%20a%20passport%20from%20Kosovo%20and%20no%20other.%20I%20am%20not%20a%20permanent%20resident%20of%20another%20country.%20I%20want%20to%20go%20to%20the%20United%20States.%20Type%20of%20visa%3A%20Exchange%20visitor%20(J1).%20J-1%20program%3A%20College%20and%20University%20Student.%20I%20want%20to%20prepare%20my%20application. contact_url: https://wa.me/38348101040 --- # Apply for a U.S. visa for University Student (J-1) in Kosovo Apply to a school, get admitted through your sponsor, receive your Form DS-2019, fill in the DS-160 application, pay the U.S. visa fee $185, book the visa appointment, prepare the documents, attend the interview, the consular officer decides on your visa, pay DHL €10, get your passport, travel. Ask a question first: https://theacompany.ai/ ## 60,381 customers 5.0, 230 Google reviews https://www.google.com/maps?cid=17562670016065419524 > A very positive experience! Professional, reliable, and supportive throughout the entire process. Thanks to them, applying for a U.S. visa was much easier. The result? Visa approved! 🇺🇸✨ Highly recommended! > > Vlera Kryeziu, 2026-08-08 > I've had a wonderful experience with The A Company. Everything was handled smoothly and fast. Their advices helped us a lot! Very professional! Totally recommend! > > Loriana Pacarizi, 2026-08-07 > I had a great experience with A Company. They guided me through the entire visa application process, answered all my questions, and made everything simple and stress-free. I highly recommend them to anyone looking for… > > Dina Gota, 2026-08-07 > Excellent service and great communication. The team was very helpful and explained everything clearly. Highly recommended! Thanks Nderim! > > Albana Muliqi, 2026-07-27 > Perfect > > Sadat Krasniqi, 2026-06-26 > BIG shoutout to Nderim for all the help with my visa application. I had a ton of questions and he was always super open and ready to help out with whatever I needed. He really made the whole process feel easy. > > Gramos Berisha, 2026-04-10 > A-COMPANY YOU"RE THE BEST 👌 > > Alberina Murati, 2026-02-26 > Everything was handled professionally and correctly! > > For Fun, 2026-02-12 ## What it costs | Item | Amount | Paid to | Note | |---|---|---|---| | Fee for the U.S. visa for University Student (J-1) | $185 | U.S. Department of State | Paid to the U.S. Department of State, before the interview. Not refunded. Participants in some U.S. government programs do not pay it. [2][3] | | DHL's service | €10 | DHL | The passport with the visa delivered home. Only if the visa is approved. [4] | | The A Company's service | €100 | The A Company | The A Company applies to a school for you, applies to your J-1 sponsor for you, fills in the DS-160 application, pays the U.S. visa fee, books the visa appointment, prepares the documents for the interview, and pays DHL for passport delivery. Paid to The A Company, when the service is done. [24] | | **Total per applicant** | **€275** | | | €1 = $1.1195 (2026-10-14): https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/index.en.html ## How to apply 1. **Apply to a school**. A school or institution in the United States that accepts you into its program. For a student visa, the school must be SEVP-approved. For a J-1, Form DS-2019 is issued only after the institution has accepted you. [5] 2. **Get admitted through your sponsor**. A designated sponsor, usually your U.S. college or university, issues your Form DS-2019. A J-1 student is funded by a government, an international organization or a source other than personal or family money, or comes under an exchange agreement. https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/how-to-apply/sponsor-search/ [6][3] 3. **Receive your Form DS-2019**. Once you are accepted, you are registered in SEVIS and your sponsor issues Form DS-2019, the document you need for the J-1 visa. [3] 4. **Fill in the DS-160 application**. The online visa application, at ceac.state.gov. Print its confirmation page and bring it to the interview. https://ceac.state.gov/GenNIV/ [3] 5. **Pay the U.S. visa fee ($185)**. The visa application fee. It is paid from your profile in the online appointment system. By card online, in euros or in dollars, or in cash at VFS in Pristina, Lidhja e Prizrenit St., No. 20, Tophane, with the deposit slip printed from your profile and an ID. This comes before the appointment, because you can book the interview only once it is paid. Then the payment is activated within one business day and can be used to book an appointment for one year. The fee is not returned if the visa is refused. Keep the receipt number, because it cannot be replaced if lost and you need it for the appointment. https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/payment-options [2][8][9] 6. **Book the visa appointment**. Book the interview at the U.S. Embassy in Pristina online, on the official appointment site. You may enter the United States no earlier than 30 days before your program starts. https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/step-4 [10][3] 7. **Prepare the documents for the interview**. Your passport, the DS-160 confirmation, the fee receipt, and your Form DS-2019. The officer may ask for more, such as proof of your plans after the program. [3] 8. **Attend the interview at the U.S. Embassy in Pristina**. A consular officer interviews you and decides whether you qualify for the exchange visitor visa. If it is approved, a visa issuance fee may also apply. [3] 9. **The consular officer decides on your visa**. If the visa is approved, you may pay a visa issuance fee, if one applies to your nationality. You are told how your passport with the visa will be returned to you. [14] 10. **Pay DHL for passport delivery (€10)**. DHL takes your contact information to return your passport. You are directed to the nearest DHL office. In cash or by credit card, paid directly to DHL. Once you complete your consular service at the Embassy. The office works 08:00 to 17:00, Monday to Friday. It costs €10. [4][15] 11. **Get your passport with the U.S. visa**. If your visa is approved, the passport comes back through the courier service. You get an email or a text message once the passport is ready. [16] 12. **Travel to the United States**. Do not buy airline tickets until you have received your visa. If you are allowed to enter, the CBP official gives you an admission stamp or a paper Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record. [17] ## First available appointment: in 15 days - **The first available appointment is in 15 days:** In 15 days. An estimate for the wait time the U.S. Department of State publishes for F, M and J interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Pristina. Updated by the U.S. Department of State on October 21, 2026. Checked by The A Company on November 3, 2026. You book your date after paying the fee. [18] - An estimate for the wait time the U.S. Department of State publishes for F, M and J interviews at the U.S. Embassy in Pristina. Updated by the U.S. Department of State on October 21, 2026. Checked by The A Company on November 3, 2026. You book your date after paying the fee. [18] ## Ask us about J-1 College and University Student - Prepare my application: https://theacompany.ai/?ask=I%20live%20in%20Kosovo.%20I%20have%20a%20passport%20from%20Kosovo%20and%20no%20other.%20I%20am%20not%20a%20permanent%20resident%20of%20another%20country.%20I%20want%20to%20go%20to%20the%20United%20States.%20Type%20of%20visa%3A%20Exchange%20visitor%20(J1).%20J-1%20program%3A%20College%20and%20University%20Student.%20I%20want%20to%20prepare%20my%20application. - WhatsApp: https://wa.me/38348101040 - Ask a question first: https://theacompany.ai/ ## Questions? Answers. ### Who can study on a J-1 student visa? A student funded by a government, an international organization or a source other than personal or family money, or one who comes under an exchange agreement between institutions or governments. Paying from your own money is the F-1 visa. [6] ### How long can I study on a J-1? Until you finish a degree program, or up to 24 months in a non-degree program, academic training included. [6] ### Can a J-1 student work in America? Part time, under certain conditions such as good academic standing, and in academic training approved by your school and your sponsor. [6] ### What is the U.S. exchange visitor visa (J-1)? A visa for people approved to take part in an exchange visitor program in the United States. Its categories include au pair, camp counselor, intern, trainee, teacher, professor and research scholar, physician, college and secondary school student, and Summer Work Travel. You cannot take part in an exchange on a visitor visa or the Visa Waiver Program. [3] ### How do I get the DS-2019 for an exchange visitor visa (J-1)? From your program sponsor. Apply to an exchange program through a pre-approved organization in the United States. Once it accepts you, you are registered in SEVIS and the sponsor sends you the Form DS-2019. Trainees and interns also need Form DS-7002. [3] ### What is the two-year home residency rule for the exchange visitor visa (J-1)? If it applies to you, after your program you must live in your home country for at least 2 years in total before you can get an immigrant visa or an H, L or K visa. It applies if your program was funded by the U.S. government or your own government, if you came for graduate medical education or training, or if your field is on your country's Exchange Visitor Skills List. [3] ### Who can take part in Summer Work Travel on an exchange visitor visa (J-1)? College and university students enrolled full time at a school outside the United States. You may take part for up to 4 months during the long break between academic years, as the Department of State sets it. Extensions are not permitted, and a spouse may not come with you. [19][20] ### How much does the J-1 College and University Student visa cost in Kosovo? $185 to the U.S. Department of State, and €10 to DHL to bring your passport home. [2][4] ### How do I pay the visa fee in Kosovo? Online or at VFS. Online with a debit or credit card, or in cash at the VFS Visa Application Center in Pristina, Lidhja e Prizrenit St., No. 20, Tophane. [8][9] ### How much is a U.S. exchange visitor visa (J-1)? $185. If the visa is approved, an issuance fee may also apply, depending on your nationality. In a U.S. government sponsored exchange (of the Department of State, USAID or another federally funded exchange program), you and your family pay neither fee. [2][3] ### Is the fee refunded if the visa is refused? No. The visa application fee is non-refundable. [2] ### How long is the wait for the interview for a U.S. visa for University Student (J-1) in Pristina? In 15 days. The published wait for F, M and J interviews in Pristina, when last updated on October 21, 2026. [18] ### Can I apply in Skopje or Tirana instead? Generally no. Apply at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country of your nationality or where you live, and be able to show you live there if that is why you apply there. Elsewhere it may be more difficult to qualify, and the fee is not refunded or transferred. [21] ### When can I enter the United States on an exchange visitor visa (J-1)? No earlier than 30 days before your program start date. To arrive earlier you need a separate visitor (B) visa and a change of status from USCIS, approved before your program starts. Apply early: interview wait times vary. [3] ### How long can I stay in the United States after an exchange visitor program (J-1)? 30 days after your program ends, to settle your affairs and leave. In that time you are no longer in J status: you may not work or continue the program, and you should not leave the United States, as you may not be let back in. If your sponsor ends your program for just cause, there is no grace period and you must leave at once. [20][22] ### Which documents do I need for a U.S. exchange visitor visa (J-1)? Your passport, the DS-160 confirmation page, the fee receipt if you paid before the interview, and your Form DS-2019. Trainees and interns also bring Form DS-7002. The embassy may also ask for proof of the purpose of your travel, that you will leave the United States after it, and that you can pay its costs. [3] ## Still have a question? Ask a question first: https://theacompany.ai/ ## Official sources Every sourced sentence is checked against its page daily; all were last checked by 2026-10-11. The linked page is the authority. 1. The A Company on Google (google.com): https://www.google.com/maps?cid=17562670016065419524 2. Fees for Visa Services (travel.state.gov): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html 3. Exchange Visitor Visa (travel.state.gov): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange.html 4. Passport/Visa collection locations and timings, Kosovo (ustraveldocs.com): https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/collection-locations 5. BridgeUSAPrograms (j1visa.state.gov): https://j1visa.state.gov/programs/college-and-university-student 6. College and University Student (j1visa.state.gov): https://j1visa.state.gov/programs/college-and-university-student/ 7. eCFR :: 22 CFR Part 62 -- Exchange Visitor Program (www.ecfr.gov): https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-22/chapter-I/subchapter-G/part-62 8. Bank and payment options, Kosovo (ustraveldocs.com): https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/payment-options 9. Payment locations, Kosovo (ustraveldocs.com): https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/payment-locations 10. Schedule your appointment, Kosovo (ustraveldocs.com): https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/step-4 11. Apply for an expedited appointment, Kosovo (ustraveldocs.com): https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/expedited-appointment 12. www-fmjfee-com-i901fee-home-html-34cb27 (www.fmjfee.com): https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/home.html 13. U.S. Embassy in Kosovo: Visas (xk.usembassy.gov): https://xk.usembassy.gov/visas/ 14. About DS-2019 - BridgeUSAParticipants (j1visa.state.gov): https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/how-to-apply/about-ds-2019 15. DHL Express Kosovo: Help and Support (mydhl.express.dhl): https://mydhl.express.dhl/kv/en/help-and-support.html 16. USTravelDocs (www.ustraveldocs.com): https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/step-6 17. Exchange Visitor Visa (travel.state.gov): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange.html 18. Global Visa Wait Times (travel.state.gov): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/global-visa-wait-times.html 19. Summer Work Travel Resource Page (j1visa.state.gov): https://j1visa.state.gov/summer-work-travel-resource-page 20. Common Questions (j1visa.state.gov): https://j1visa.state.gov/basics/common-questions/ 21. Adjudicating Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants in their Country of Residence (travel.state.gov): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/News/visas-news/adjudicating-niv-applicants-in-their-country-of-residence.html 22. Adjustments and Extensions (j1visa.state.gov): https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/current/adjustments-and-extensions 23. The A Company: our numbers (theacompany.ai): https://theacompany.ai/ 24. The A Company: the j-1-college service (theacompany.ai): https://theacompany.ai/ The A Company is a private company, not a government institution. It does not represent any government, yet. ## More questions, answered in the chat ### How do I find a sponsor for a U.S. exchange visitor visa (J-1)? On BridgeUSA’s list of designated sponsors, at j1visa.state.gov, by program. Many sponsors can place participants anywhere in the United States, whatever their own address. Ask each sponsor for the details. (Designated Sponsor Organizations By Program: https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/how-to-apply/sponsor-search/, 2026-10-23) ### Can the two-year home residency rule (J-1) be waived? Possibly. You may request a waiver with Form DS-3035, the J-1 Visa Waiver Recommendation Application, on one basis only: a No Objection Statement from your government, a request by an interested U.S. federal agency, persecution, exceptional hardship to a U.S. citizen or permanent resident spouse or child, or a request by a state public health department. Requests from exchange visitors who received U.S. government funding are generally denied. (Waiver of the Exchange Visitor Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange/waiver-of-the-exchange-visitor.html, 2026-10-11; FAQs: Waiver of the Exchange Visitor Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange/waiver-of-the-exchange-visitor/exchange-waiver-faqs.html, 2026-10-11) ### Can I work on an exchange visitor visa (J-1)? Only in the activity on your Form DS-2019, as the rules of your exchange category allow and with your sponsor's approval. USCIS explains more on its Exchange Visitors and Employment Authorization pages. (Common Questions: https://j1visa.state.gov/basics/common-questions/, 2026-10-23; Exchange Visitor Visa: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange.html, 2026-10-11) ### Can my spouse and children come with me on a J-2 visa? Yes, if your program category allows it. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 each need their own DS-2019 from your sponsor, a copy of your J-1 visa and proof of relationship, but they do not pay the SEVIS fee. They may come with you or join you later, and your children may attend school. In most cases a J-2 may work, with an Employment Authorization Document from USCIS applied for after arriving, but that money cannot support the J-1. (Exchange Visitor Visa: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange.html, 2026-10-11; About the J-2 Visa: https://j1visa.state.gov/basics/j2-visa/, 2026-10-23) ### Does the two-year home residency rule apply to my J-2 spouse and children? Yes. A J-2 spouse or child has the same requirement as the J-1. If you apply for a waiver, they are included in your application. (FAQs: Waiver of the Exchange Visitor Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange/waiver-of-the-exchange-visitor/exchange-waiver-faqs.html, 2026-10-11) ### Who can be a camp counselor on an exchange visitor visa (J-1)? Post-secondary students, youth workers and teachers, to work at camps across the United States. You may take part for up to 4 months during the long break between academic years. Extensions are not permitted, and a spouse may not come with you. (Camp Counselor Program Resource Page: https://j1visa.state.gov/camp-counselor-program-resource-page, 2026-10-23; Common Questions: https://j1visa.state.gov/basics/common-questions/, 2026-10-23) ### Who can be an intern on an exchange visitor visa (J-1)? A student at a degree or certificate granting post-secondary school outside the United States, or a graduate of one no more than 12 months before the program starts. You may not work in unskilled or casual labor, childcare, elder care or patient care, or in a position with more than 20 percent clerical or office work. You also need Form DS-7002. (Intern: https://j1visa.state.gov/programs/intern, 2026-10-23; Exchange Visitor Visa: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange.html, 2026-10-11) ### Who can be a trainee on an exchange visitor visa (J-1)? A professional with a degree or professional certificate from a post-secondary school outside the United States and at least 1 year of related work experience outside the United States, or with 5 years of work experience outside the United States in the field. The training is full time, at least 32 hours a week. It may not be ordinary employment, repeat your past experience or training, or be unskilled, childcare, elder care or patient care work, or more than 20 percent clerical or office work. You also need Form DS-7002. (Trainee: https://j1visa.state.gov/programs/trainee, 2026-10-23; Exchange Visitor Visa: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange.html, 2026-10-11) ### Who can teach in the United States on an exchange visitor visa (J-1)? A teacher qualified to teach in primary or secondary schools in their own country, with a degree equal to a U.S. bachelor's in education or the subject, at least 2 years of teaching or related experience and enough English, coming to teach full time at an accredited primary or secondary school that meets the state's standards. You must be working as a teacher when you apply, with some exceptions. The exchange lasts 3 years; the host school may ask for extensions of whole years. You may take part again after living outside the United States for 2 years. (Teacher: https://j1visa.state.gov/programs/teacher, 2026-10-23) ### Can I study in the United States on an exchange visitor visa (J-1)? Yes, through a sponsor. College and university students take a full course of study at an accredited post-secondary school in the United States, and may train as a student intern where it serves their degree at home. Secondary school students study at an accredited public or private secondary school for a semester or an academic year, living with a host family or at a boarding school, and a spouse may not come with them. The other student visa, F-1, is for full-time study at any grade level at an SEVP-certified school. (Studying at U.S. Universities and Colleges: F-1 versus J-1 Visas: https://j1visa.state.gov/basics/other-u-s-visas/studying-at-u-s-universities-and-colleges-f-1-versus-j-1-visas, 2026-10-23; Secondary School Student Program Sponsor Resource Page: https://j1visa.state.gov/secondary-school-resource-page, 2026-10-23; Common Questions: https://j1visa.state.gov/basics/common-questions/, 2026-10-23) ### What does a physician need for an exchange visitor visa (J-1)? A Statement of Need from the government of the country of your most recent legal permanent residence, assuring that your country needs the skills you will gain. It cannot be waived. The physician category is for foreign medical graduates in graduate medical education or training at accredited schools of medicine or scientific institutions, and its sponsor is Intealth (ECFMG). Graduate medical education makes the two-year home residency rule apply. (Exchange Visitor Program Information: https://j1visa.state.gov/faqs/, 2026-10-23; Physician Program Resource Page: https://j1visa.state.gov/physician-program-resource-page, 2026-10-23; Designated Sponsor Organizations By Program: https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/how-to-apply/sponsor-search/, 2026-10-23; Exchange Visitor Visa: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange.html, 2026-10-11) ### Who do I call if my exchange visitor sponsor (J-1) does not help me? The Department of State's helpline, at any time: 1-866-283-9090 or jvisas@state.gov. Anyone worried about a participant may call it too. No sponsor may threaten to end your program or punish you for complaining or asking someone outside for help. For other questions about your program, call your sponsor, whose name and number are on your Form DS-2019. (Common Questions: https://j1visa.state.gov/basics/common-questions/, 2026-10-23) ### Can I extend my exchange visitor program (J-1)? Yes, up to your category's maximum length. Your sponsor decides and issues you a new Form DS-2019. Beyond the maximum, only some categories allow it, in exceptional or unusual circumstances, with the Department of State's approval and a non-refundable fee of $367. Summer Work Travel and camp counselor programs cannot be extended. (Common Questions: https://j1visa.state.gov/basics/common-questions/, 2026-10-23; Adjustments and Extensions: https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/current/adjustments-and-extensions, 2026-10-23; Summer Work Travel Resource Page: https://j1visa.state.gov/summer-work-travel-resource-page, 2026-10-23; Camp Counselor Program Resource Page: https://j1visa.state.gov/camp-counselor-program-resource-page, 2026-10-23) ### Can I change my sponsor or category on an exchange visitor visa (J-1)? Your sponsor, yes, within the same category and at the responsible officers' discretion. Not every category allows it, and it does not extend your program's maximum length. Your category, only if the new one is closely related to your original goal and needed because of unusual or exceptional circumstances: your sponsor asks the Department of State, for a non-refundable fee of $367. If it says no, you go home within 30 days of its notice or by your program's end date, whichever is later. For a new program in another category with another sponsor after this one, you need a new J-1 visa. (Adjustments and Extensions: https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/current/adjustments-and-extensions, 2026-10-23; Common Questions: https://j1visa.state.gov/basics/common-questions/, 2026-10-23) ### I have dual citizenship. Which passport do I use to travel to the United States? If one of them is a U.S. passport, that one. Every U.S. citizen, dual citizens too, must enter and leave the United States on a U.S. passport. A U.S. citizen is not eligible for a visa. (About Visas - The Basics: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/frequently-asked-questions/about-basics.html, 2026-10-11) ### Can I fill in the DS-160 in my own language? No. Every question is answered in English, in English letters. The only exception is your full name in your native alphabet, where it asks for it. (Step 2: Complete the DS-160: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/step-2, 2026-10-22) ### Can I save the DS-160 and finish it later? Yes, for 30 days. You can return to a partially completed application for 30 days. The session expires if you stop for more than 20 minutes. (DS-160: Frequently Asked Questions: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application/ds-160-faqs.html, 2026-10-11; Step 2: Complete the DS-160: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/step-2, 2026-10-22) ### I lost my DS-160 confirmation page. Can I print it again? Yes. On ceac.state.gov, choose the embassy or consulate where you apply, select “Retrieve Application”, and enter your application ID. From there you can view and print the confirmation page. (DS-160: Frequently Asked Questions: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application/ds-160-faqs.html, 2026-10-11) ### Do I pay the SEVIS fee for an exchange visitor visa (J-1)? Usually, yes. Once you are told your SEVIS registration is active, pay the SEVIS I-901 fee. In some cases it is not required; your program sponsor will tell you. Your J-2 spouse and children do not pay it. (Exchange Visitor Visa: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/study/exchange.html, 2026-10-11) ### How long is the paid fee valid? One year. You can use it to book an appointment within one year of paying. It cannot be transferred to someone else. (Bank and payment options, Kosovo: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/payment-options, 2026-10-22) ### Can I travel outside the United States during an exchange visitor program (J-1)? Yes, with your sponsor's approval. Before you leave, your sponsor's officer signs the travel section of your Form DS-2019, and you show the paper form to come back; without that signature you may not be let back in. If your J-1 visa has expired, you need a new one from your home country to return. If you stay in the United States, you do not need to renew it. (DS-2019 Frequently Asked Questions: https://j1visa.state.gov/participants/how-to-apply/about-ds-2019/ds-2019-frequently-asked-questions, 2026-10-23; Common Questions: https://j1visa.state.gov/basics/common-questions/, 2026-10-23) ### Can I get an earlier appointment for urgent travel? Yes, you can request one. For an unforeseen travel need, once you have paid the fee for a regular appointment. It depends on availability at the Embassy. (Apply for an expedited appointment, Kosovo: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/expedited-appointment, 2026-10-22) ### Can a company get me an earlier appointment? No. Everyone books through the Embassy’s appointment system, and no one is given priority. Claims of faster access are fraudulent. (U.S. Embassy in Kosovo: Nonimmigrant Visa FAQ: https://xk.usembassy.gov/frequently-asked-questions-nonimmigrant-visa/, 2026-10-11) ### Do I bring the whole DS-160 to the interview? No. Only the confirmation page, with your application ID on it, so the Embassy can retrieve your DS-160. (DS-160: Frequently Asked Questions: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/forms/ds-160-online-nonimmigrant-visa-application/ds-160-faqs.html, 2026-10-11) ### What are the photo requirements for a U.S. visa? 2 x 2 inches (51 x 51 mm), in color, in front of a plain white or off-white background, taken within the last 6 months, showing how you look now, and without eyeglasses. Glasses are allowed only in rare medical cases, with a statement signed by a medical professional. (Photo Requirements: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos.html, 2026-10-11; Photo Frequently Asked Questions: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/photos/frequently-asked-questions.html, 2026-10-11) ### How long does administrative processing take? Most cases within 60 days of the interview. You are told at the interview if your application needs it. (U.S. Embassy in Kosovo: Nonimmigrant Visa FAQ: https://xk.usembassy.gov/frequently-asked-questions-nonimmigrant-visa/, 2026-10-11) ### My visa was refused under 221(g). What does it mean? That the officer did not yet have everything needed to decide. You are told which documents are missing and how to send them; send them within 1 year of the refusal, or you must apply again and pay the fee again. Sometimes it means administrative processing instead, and the embassy contacts you when it is done. (Visa Denials: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/visa-denials.html, 2026-10-11) ### How do I get my passport back in Kosovo, and what does it cost? By DHL, to your address, for €10. If your visa is approved, the passport is mailed to your local address. After the interview you go to the DHL office near the Embassy, give your contact details and pay €10 there, in cash or by card. (Passport/Visa collection locations and timings, Kosovo: https://www.ustraveldocs.com/xk/en/collection-locations, 2026-10-12) ### My passport expired, but the U.S. visa in it is still valid. Do I need a new visa? No. Travel with both passports, as long as the visa is valid, undamaged, and the right type for your trip. Both passports should be from the same country. Do not move the visa into the new passport: it would no longer be valid. (About Visas - The Basics: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/frequently-asked-questions/about-basics.html, 2026-10-11) ### My visa expires while I am in the United States. Is that a problem? No. You may stay until the date on your I-94 or admission stamp, even if the visa expires before then. (About Visas - The Basics: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/frequently-asked-questions/about-basics.html, 2026-10-11) ### I changed my name. Is my U.S. visa in my old name still valid? First you need a new passport. When your name legally changes through marriage, divorce, or a court order, you get a new passport, and the State Department then recommends applying for a new visa, to make travel easier. (About Visas - The Basics: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/frequently-asked-questions/about-basics.html, 2026-10-11) ### My passport with my U.S. visa was lost or stolen. What do I do? Report it to the police, then email the U.S. embassy or consulate that issued the visa. Your own country’s embassy replaces the passport. A U.S. visa cannot be replaced inside the United States: you apply in person at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, with a written account of the loss and the police report. If you are in the United States, you may stay until the date on your I-94. (Lost and Stolen Passports, Visas, and Arrival/Departure Records (Form I-94): https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/lost-stolen-visas.html, 2026-10-11) ### There is a mistake on my U.S. visa. What do I do? Contact the nonimmigrant visa section of the embassy or consulate that issued it. Check the visa as soon as you receive it: everything on it should match your passport. (About Visas - The Basics: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/frequently-asked-questions/about-basics.html, 2026-10-11) ### Does a U.S. visa guarantee entry into the United States? No. A visa lets you travel to a U.S. port of entry and ask to be admitted. A CBP officer there decides whether you enter. (About Visas - The Basics: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/frequently-asked-questions/about-basics.html, 2026-10-11; What the Visa Expiration Date Means: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/visa-expiration-date.html, 2026-10-11) ### I am in the United States as a visitor. Can I change to student status there? Yes, you can apply to USCIS before your authorized stay expires. Do not start school until USCIS approves the change. Some cannot change, such as those admitted in transit (C), as crew (D), or as a fiancé(e) (K). (Change My Nonimmigrant Status: https://www.uscis.gov/visit-the-united-states/change-my-nonimmigrant-status, 2026-10-15) ### I did not turn in my paper I-94 when I left. What do I do? Visitors no longer fill in a paper I-94: CBP takes arrivals and departures from electronic travel records, and records a departure by air or sea from the carrier’s passenger list. If you were given a paper I-94, it should be handed to the airline, the Canadian border agency (CBSA), or CBP when you leave; if you did not, see CBP’s website. (Arrival/Departure Forms: I-94: https://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/i-94, 2026-10-15; About Visas - The Basics: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/frequently-asked-questions/about-basics.html, 2026-10-11) ### Can The A Company guarantee my visa? No. Nobody can: a consular officer interviews you and decides whether you qualify. (U.S. Embassy in Kosovo: Nonimmigrant Visa FAQ: https://xk.usembassy.gov/frequently-asked-questions-nonimmigrant-visa/, 2026-10-11)