Just thought I'd post this for anyone who is considering applying at the last minute for a J1, or for anyone who finds it through a search next year or something :P It might be useful to know what to expect, and know what information to have to hand when doing the application...
First off, I had already secured employment in the states so it might be slightly different if you got with USIT or SAYIT or Go4Less or whoever in terms of timings, but overall the experience should be similar. I believe they book your interview for you, but here's how it goes.
I got a job , signed a contract and my new employers sent out my DS2019. Even though they sent it express mail, it still took over a week to arrive from the states :-o Check the details carefully! It must match any information on your passport exactly. They also sent me out a SEVIS receipt. You must keep this. On it is a number called their SEVIS ID which you will need to do the next bit.
You then fill out a form on the Dublin Embassy website called a DS160. You can find the link here: http://dublin.usembassy.gov/how_to_apply.html IMPORTANT: do this at a computer you can print from ideally or they will have to email you a confirmation page.
You will be asked to upload a photo of yourself. Details of the photo requirements can be found here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/guide/guide_3882.html The website does a check when you upload it to see if it meets specifications, but it's only a computer and doesn't have eyes so judge it yourself - if it doesn't look like the sample photos try again.
Next you will need to fill out your personal details - name, DOB, address, phone and passport info. There's an option to check "Does not apply" in some places - noteably at the "State/Province" field in your address. Then you fill out your travel information. This section asks about what type of visa you're applying for, when you intend to arrive, where you plan on staying in the US, who is paying for the trip - in my case my employer is - the contact details of the person/organisation playing and their relationship to you. It also asks if the party paying has the same address as your home/mailing address, which initially confused me (I always seem to find forms confusing) as I had just given the address where I was staying in the USA and wasn't sure if they meant the same as that address or my Ireland address. I picked no anyway and gave the company address, which seemed to be ok. Then you will be asked about previous visits to the USA, do you have a US driver's license, have you ever had/been refused a visa before.
Then you'll be asked about US contact information - this is someone on the US that can verify your story. In my case this was my employer, although this could be a relative or friend. The next section is family informatoin - all very run of the mill and easy to answer. Next comes work and education info - if you're a student your primary occupation is "Student" - not your part time job. It also has a section for previous employment.
You'll then be asked a myriad questions, to all of which the ideal answer is "No". (Note I'm only saying this out of common sense, I'm not encouraging people to lie about anything!) A sample of these include "Have you ever been involved in, or do you seek to engage in, money laundering?" and "Are you a member or representative of a terrorist organization?" You will also be indirectly asked if you were ever a Nazi. It's the kinda stuff asked on the visa waiver form.
If you have selected a J type visa, you'll then have to supply "Student/Exchange Visa Information". You need point of contact information. This is basically contact info for two friends/ neighbours - NOT family - in ireland that can verify your details and why you're going. Then you enter the SEVIS ID of your visa sponsor and you'll be asked if you intend to study in the US. I picked no so can't tell you if you need to fill in more info if you pick yes. You then electronically sign the document (enter your passport number, iirc) and say whether you had any assistance in filling out the application. You click the submit/continue/whatever they call it button and PRINT the confirmation page. YOU MUST DO THIS. You will be asked for it at the embassy.
Now it's time to book your interview. Phone the number given on the embassy website to book it. (Only a 2 day wait at the moment!)
So when all that is done you need to think about payment and maybe supporting documents. I paid by bank draft and it was really very easy. I think they accept credit card but don't hold me to that. As supporting documents I brought a letter from college stating that I am a full time student, a bank statement and a copy of my employment contract. (not that I was asked for them in the end).
So when I arrived I was about 20 minutes early which wasn't too bad. Don't be really early though, I don't think they let you in if you're way ahead of time. You go into the security hut at the gate and have your personal stuff scanned. You turn off your phone and they keep any electronics you have in a cubby hole in the gatehouse. (you get a card saying which cubby your stuff was put into). Then you're off into the embassy, where you go in and take a double ticket. (number printed twice). Then you take a seat and wait to be called. You're in a little waiting area with desks at standing height sectioned off with glass - bit like in a train station. You'll be called pretty quickly but don't get excited - you're only being called to pay and hand over your application form (This is the confirmation page you printed from the DS160 form), DS2019 and SEVIS receipt. You'll also hand in half of your ticket. You sit back down, wait a while and then get called to be finger printed. Sit back down and then eventually, get called to do your interview. The interview happens at one of the little desk things. I was asked where I was going, what I'd be doing, if I knew what my duties would be there, had I been to the US before, what I was studying, what year I'm in and how many years is in the course. I was then asked to put my index finger on the fingerprint scanner. After all that (which took about 60 seconds..) I was told I qualify for the visa and my passport, documents and visa would be in the post in a couple of days. (WOOOHOO!)
Whenever I get the visa back I'll let ya know!
Oh, bring a book! I was sitting there wishing I had my ipod to listen to and then I thought "Oh I'll text someone" but then I remembered that that too, was in the gatehouse.
i went to belfast yesterday , didnt get asked a single question, went in, handed paperwork over, next booth, fingers scanned, next booth, thumb scan, said my visa will get produced on the day and i got it back this morning, not a single question asked about what i was gonna be doing or anything
Hardly, I was just adding in all the details for the sake of explaining exactly what's filled out in the DS160...
It's just: Get DS2019 and Sevis recepit Make sure DS160 is filled out with photo uploaded Book interview Go to interview, with DS2019, bank draft, DS160 confirmation and sevis receipt Get visa.
The benefit of not being tied to USIT/SAYIT etc is that you can pick your own interview time, too, and can get the cheapest flights - not just the ones they want to sell you.
JNS Thank you so much I've been trawling the internet for this exact information. I don't want to have to go through any of those websites!! One question, do you have to get insurance and bring proof of it too? And also is not having a job lined up a problem in the application process?
My application and embassy experience - Dublin