Valencia's International College Program with Academic Training
at the Walt Disney World© Resort
Pre-Arrival Information
Visa Application & Interview
Housing
What to Pack
Travel and Entry into the United States
Orlando International Airport
Transportation
Embassy Interview Checklist_VCC
Visa Application & Interview
Please review the steps below for details on applying for a visa. Once you are done reviewing the information below, please refer to the Embassy Interview Checklist to help prepare for your interview.
Students interested in Valencia's International College Program will need to apply for the nonimmigrant Exchange Visitor (J-1) visa (College/University Student category). Even if you already have a tourist visa, you will still need a J-1 visa to participate in this program.
- Read the U. S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program Welcome Brochure to learn more about the Exchange Visitor program and the J-1 visa rules that will apply to you during your stay in the United States.
- Review the Form DS-2019 (this form is also known as the “Certificate of Eligibility
for Exchange Visitor Status.")
- Check your name, date of birth, and all other personal information for accuracy. If there are any errors, let us know immediately.
- Sign at the bottom where it says your name and date.
- Make a copy of this for your records to leave at home with a family member along with a copy of your passport.
- Pay the SEVIS fee. SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) is a computer system that collects and maintains information on the current status of nonimmigrant exchange visitors during their stay in the United States. You must have your DS-2019 before you can pay the SEVIS fee. You may schedule your visa interview before you pay the SEVIS fee. However, the SEVIS fee payment must be processed at least three business days before your visa interview takes place.
- The easiest way to pay the SEVIS fee is online with a credit card. You must have your DS-2019 form with you in order to do this.
- Be sure to enter your personal information exactly as it appears on your DS-2019.
- The Valencia College Program Number is located on your DS-2019.
- Your SEVIS ID number is printed at the top right of the DS-2019 above the bar code. It starts with the letter “N”.
- When paying the fee online, be sure to have your printer ready before you start the payment process. Do not exit the receipt page until you have successfully printed the receipt, because you will need it to present at the U. S. Consulate to prove that you paid the SEVIS fee. You will not be able to return to the receipt page after you exit it.
- Complete the Form DS-160 (which is your visa application). It is best to make your visa application at the American embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction over your place of permanent residence. Although you are allowed to apply at any U.S. consular office, it may be more difficult to qualify for the visa outside your country of permanent residence. Each consular office has its own specific process, so make sure to check its web site carefully and follow all the rules.
Instructions for Completing the Form DS-160
| Purpose of Your Trip: | Student/Exchange Visa (F, J, M, Q) |
|---|---|
| Intended Date of Arrival: | Refer to DS-2019 |
| Intend Length of Stay in the U. S.: | 6 months |
| Address Where You Will Stay in the U. S. : | 8050 Gables Commons Drive Orlando, Florida 32821 Your exact apartment number is not known yet, but your mail will reach you at this address.) |
| Person/Entity Paying for Your Trip: | Self |
| Contact Person or Organization in the United States | Talia Popovski |
| Organization Name: | Valencia College |
| Relationship to You: | School Official |
| Address and Phone Number of Point of Contact: | 1800 S Kirkman Road, Building 10, Orlando, FL 32811; Business Phone: 407-582-6607 |
| SEVIS Information Page: | Refer to the DS-2019 for SEVIS ID # and institution information |
Important: If the U. S. consular official denies your J-1 visa, inform the coordinator at your university immediately. He or she will communicate this information to Valencia. If you decide to withdraw from the program prior to arrival, notify your university’scoordinator, who will inform Valencia. In either case, any fees paid to the U.S. government are nonrefundable.
Housing
Upon your arrival at Disney’s Vista Way Welcome Center, you will be assigned to an apartment in one of Disney’s student housing complexes. Full information about Disney housing facilities, furnishings and policies is available at Disney International Programs.
What to Pack
Disney will provide you with a list of things to bring. Here are additional suggestions:
- Medical records: If you have any chronic medical problems or have had serious illnesses
or surgeries in the past, bring a letter from your doctor that explains your diagnoses
and treatments, in case a doctor in the U. S. needs to know about them. Make sure
the letter is translated into English, if necessary. It is also helpful to have a
written list of any medications that you take regularly.
- Medications: All of your prescription medications should be in their original containers.
If you take regular medication, it is best to bring enough to last you throughout
your program, if possible. If you need to get a prescription from home refilled while
in the U. S., the pharmacy may require you to present the original prescription from
your doctor. This should be translated into English. Note that some medications
that are sold without restriction in other countries require a doctor’s prescription
in the United States. Therefore, it makes sense to bring a supply of your favorite
medications for pain, cough, allergies, etc. However, be aware that certain drugs
with a high potential for abuse may not be brought into the U. S. and there are severe
penalties for trying to do so. You can find the latest information about this at
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Prohibited and Restricted Items.
- Eye glasses and contact lenses: Bring a copy of these prescriptions. It is helpful
to have a spare pair of prescription glasses. Even if you only wear contact lenses,
you may need glasses if you develop an eye problem that prevents you from wearing
contacts for a while.
- Laptop computer: Even though the Disney housing complexes have computer labs, they
are often crowded and they close early in the evening. We highly recommend that you
bring your own laptop to use in your apartment or you might want to check prices on
the Internet to see if it would be less expensive to buy one after you arrive in the
U. S. instead of in your home country.
- Things that represent your home country: Bring music, photographs, cultural dress,
maps, posters, snacks and other items that will help you remain connected to your
home culture and help you to teach your new friends about it.
- Cooking items: Even if you have not cooked much before, you will need to start in Orlando. Restaurant food is expensive and often not very healthy. Bring your favorite recipes. If your favorite foods call for special spices or ingredients, consider bringing them from home as they may be difficult or impossible to get in the U. S. Food is generally allowed by U.S. Customs as long as it is dry. Do not bring meat, fresh fruits or vegetables as they are prohibited and will be confiscated by U. S. Customs when you enter the U. S.
- Go to Disney International Programs to see all of the requirements for “The Disney Look.” You are expected to be fully
compliant with the appearance requirements when you arrive in Orlando. To know what
you can and can’t wear during your Disney classes, click on “All Female Cast Members”
or “All Male Cast Members” and scroll down to the sections called “Non-Costumed Females”
or “Non-Costumed Males.”
- Warm clothing: Many people don’t realize that Florida can be cold in the winter, especially for people who live in countries near the equator and are not used to cooler temperatures. You can find monthly average temperature charts online. If you will be arriving in January, you will want to bring or plan to buy a medium-weight jacket or coat. Also, Florida buildings are always air conditioned and often feel quite cold, especially to people who are not used to air conditioning. So you will want to have some sweaters or a light jacket to wear inside at any time of the year.
Travel and Entry into the United States
Entry Point/Arrival in Orlando
If you enter the U. S. at any city other than Orlando, you are responsible for getting
yourself to Orlando on your program start date. Please refer to Box 3 on your DS-2019
form for your program start and end dates. You are responsible for purchasing a round-trip
airline ticket to the United States. You may wish to leave your return date open
ended in case your program should end early for any reason, or if you should decide
to stay longer to take advantage of the 30-day grace period for travel in the U. S.
You are allowed to arrive in the U. S. up to 30 days before the program start date. However, you cannot check into housing complex at the Walt Disney World Resort until your program start date, so you will need to arrange for other lodging if you arrive before then. If possible, we recommend that you enter the U. S. at least one day before your program start date. This will allow for any flight delays and give you time to rest from your travels before the busy orientation period begins. Also, by arriving at least a day early, you can check in to Disney’s housing promptly on the morning of your program start date. You will then have the rest of the day to shop for necessities and settle in to your apartment. After that, the next several days and evenings will be full with mandatory meetings.
Arriving after the program start date listed on your DS-2019 could present problems at the U. S. border. A late arrival also would mean missing some of your required orientation sessions. If for any reason you need to arrive in the U. S. after your program start date, please tell your school’s Valencia Disney coordinator, who will contact us.
I-94 Card
During your flight to the U. S., the flight attendant will ask you to complete an arrival card called Form I-94. When filling out the I-94 and all official documents, always use your official name and other information exactly as they appear on your passport.
Immigration Inspection upon Arrival
Upon arrival in the U. S., your documents will be inspected by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security. Have your passport, original DS-2019 (not a photocopy) and Form I-94 ready. The small white I-94 card will be stapled into your passport. Examine your documents immediately after they are returned to you to make sure that the officials did not make any errors (for example, your visa classification – it should say J-1/DS.) If you find an error, tell an official and get it corrected before you leave the airport.
Your DS-2019 and I-94 are important documents! Keep them in a safe place with your passport at all times. During your first day of orientation, Valencia staff will make copies of your documents for our records.