Pre-departure information

Will you be leaving for the US? Your university will be able to offer you more information about the follow-up procedure and what other documents you will need. What you need varies from institution to institution. Most universities have mandatory orientation days for new students prior to the academic year. Below are the main points of interest before departure.

Visa

You always need a visa to study in America. Your university will provide you with the necessary application forms, called certificate of eligibility. If you get a J-1 visa, the university will provide you with a DS-2019 form. If you get an F-1 visa, you will receive an I-20 form. With this form you can start the application process. Follow the instructions provided by the university.

If you live in the Netherlands, the US Consulate General in Amsterdam will process your visa application. Follow the non-immigrant visa application instructions on the consulate’s website. You will be directed to the specific application forms. Follow the accompanying instructions carefully.

You must have paid the visa application fee and the SEVIS fee before the appointment. Have you received a Fulbright scholarship? Then you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee. Bring proof of payment and don’t forget to have an American-size passport photo taken and brought with you. It is helpful to make a list of required documents before your appointment; consider that you might have to bring your original admission letter from the university, a recent bank statement proving your ability to pay the fees, amongst other relevant documents and information.

During the summer months, expect longer wait times for your visa application and processing. You can check current wait times online. Keep in mind that your passport will remain at the consulate for several days, so don’t schedule the appointment too close to your departure.

Before your appointment, visit the consulate website for the most up-to-date information. The consulate also has strict entry rules.

Two year home requirement

Students on J-1 visas may face the two-year home country physical presence requirement, a key provision of the Department of State’s (DOS) Exchange Visitor Program that applies to certain groups of students and scholars going to the United States on J-1 visas.

The Exchange Visitor Program originated in 1961 and stems from the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act. The purpose of this act is to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and those of other countries through educational and cultural exchange.

Among other things, the Fulbright program owes its existence to this law. Participants are expected to return to their countries of origin for a minimum of 2 years at the end of their program so that they actually benefit from the skills and experience the participants gained in the US. The rule thus aims to prevent brain drain.

In principle, the two-year requirement applies to anyone who will study, conduct research or teach in the United States under the Exchange Visitor Program with a J-1 visa and who receives, in whole or in part, a financial contribution from the US or home government. This provision also applies to indirect financial contributions from governments.

How do I know if I fall under the two-year home requirement?

The stamp in your passport and/or on the DS-2019 form indicates whether you actually fall under the two-year requirement. The officer at the consulate will determine if the two-year requirement applies when the J-1 is issued.

Meaning of the two-year requirement, in practice

The two-year requirement takes effect at the end of the (first) stay in the US, and applies to two types of visas: H (temporary worker) and L (intracompany transferee) and to immigration. When one or more of the above conditions apply, J-1 visitors are required to remain in their home country for two years after the end of their program. The two-year home requirement does not apply to other visas. Therefore, going on vacation, attending a conference, or applying for another study visa for further study in the US remains possible.

In practice, this means that it is not possible to take a job in the US, apply for a work permit, or qualify for permanent residence after your stay. After the two-year period, however, this is allowed. These conditions also apply in the case of marriage to an American.

It is possible to apply for a waiver. In practice, however, this is hardly ever granted. The objection is requested from the Department of State.

Insurance

Health insurance

Someone who is going to study abroad temporarily, and therefore does not emigrate, remains in principle part of the Wet langdurige zorg (WLZ). This means that the basic health insurance obligation continues to exist, even if the student is deregistered from the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP). This duty only expires if you start working. Unsure what applies in your situation? The Nuffic offers a handy overview. For more advice, you can also contact the SVB.

Medical care is extremely expensive in the US, therefore it is important to be well-insured for healthcare costs abroad. Reimbursement often takes place according to Dutch standards, and therefore additional insurance may be necessary. Check with your health insurer for cost coverage and required additional insurance to cover healthcare costs in the US.

Working in the US

At some universities, you have the opportunity to work on campus during your studies. Should you start working in the US, you will no longer be entitled to health insurance in the Netherlands. You need to stop the insurance and care allowance yourself. The SVB offers more information on how to do this. Ask them if you will continue to be covered under the Wet langdurige zorg. You can also contact the Zorginstituut Nederland for general questions about health insurance and studying abroad.

Please note, when returning to the Netherlands, there is only the legal right to be accepted for basic insurance. It depends on the policy of the insurer which conditions are used for acceptance for additional insurances.

Health insurance allowance

As long as you have basic insurance in the Netherlands, you are entitled to claim zorgtoeslag.

American university insurance

In some cases, the American university also requires you to take out insurance with them. If this is not the case, you can often apply for a health insurance waiver, provided you can prove that you are adequately insured in the Netherlands. Please note that American health insurance usually does not offer full coverage for costs such as repatriation, etc. If you use insurance from the university, you may need additional insurance.

Other insurance

In addition to health insurance and any supplementary insurance to basic health insurance, it is advisable to be insured for the following items:

  • Liability (third-party) insurance
  • Repatriation and accidents
  • Legal assistance

De-registration from the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP)

Anyone staying abroad for longer than 8 months within a 12-month period is legally obliged to de-register from the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP). You can deregister from 5 days before departure at the Dienst Burgerzaken of the Municipality. The municipality provides a certificate of de-registration. The central government offers more information.

AOW accrual

Also note that deregistering with the BRP may affect the accrual of your AOW. The agency in the Netherlands that regulates AOW benefits is the Sociale Verzekeringsbank (SVB). The advice of the SVB is to report this to the SVB before you leave for the US. The SVB will make a note of your stay in America and the purpose (study) in your file. Also report to the SVB that you have returned to the Netherlands at the end of your stay in the US. If you meet these conditions, you should not have your AOW pension reduced. It is advisable to keep written documentation, such as a printout of the e-mails sent and received.

DigiD

Many government affairs are handled with a DigiD account. Applying for a DigiD account abroad is complicated. Make sure you have created an account before leaving the Netherlands.