The Famous Form 515-A

Form 515-A is the document that you receive if you fail to present your DS-2019 form at customs when you enter the US. If this happens, the border officer will give you a white paper I-94 card stamped with a finite date, which is 30 days from the day of entry in the United States. This basically means you have 30 days to prove that you can legally remain in the United States.

So what do you have to do? You have to fill in the form 515-A that the border officer issues to you within 30 days – preferably as soon as possible – and send it to the Washington DC address on the form with your original DS-2019 form issued and signed by the Cordell Hull Foundation Responsile Officer.  If everything is correct, the Department of Homeland Security (US Immigration) 

US Immigration then sends to the Cordell Hull Foundation address in New York City your DS-2019 form and a white paper I-94 card amended with a D/S notation which stands for “Duration of Status.” This means you can stay in the US as long as you are in status, which is determined by the travel validation   date in your DS2019 as opposed to the first stamp you get when you are at the border, which gives you 30 days to regulate your situation. 

After the new, updated White I-94 card with expiration date of D/S is received, the Cordell Hull Foundation will then send it to your school supervisor. Needless to say that during this time where you don´t have your DS-2019, you can not leave the US! 

Obviously, this is a tedious and unpleasant process that you really want to avoid. Fortunately, last year it only happened once among 700 teachers (ironically, to a teacher in his second year). The key to avoid this happening? Make sure you always keep your DS-2019 folded and stapled in your passport!