How Can I Get DS2019 and J1 Visa?

I am from Turkey and I am planning to go on a trip to USA this summer. My problem is that I am not sure what kind of a visa I will need to stay in the USA for two months. I am a college student here and I have heard that from the Internet I cannot apply for a tourist visa. Here in Turkey companies demand $1200 to help to get a visa for working and traveling in the USA and the only thing they do is to get the DS2019 form (which is necessary to get a J1 visa) from some `sponsor` in the USA which I could not be able to reach.
My question is how can I get that DS2019 form by myself and how can I reach those sponsors in the USA? And if it is not possible for me to get a J1 visa by myself, what kind of a visa am I supposed to get to spend my holiday in the USA this summer?
Thanks in advance...
Best Regards.

dognhorsemom

The J-1 visa is specifically for exchange visitors such as scholars and summer workers. You cannot apply for one on your own. For simple tourism, all you need is a B1/B2 visa, which you can apply for in either Ankara or Istanbul, depending on where you live. The internet might have told you that you cannot apply for a tourist visa, but the internet is wrong. Of course you can.

Here is the process:
http://turkey.usembassy.gov/non-immigrant_visas.html

John6757

Have you seen this? http://turkey.usembassy.gov/work_and_travel.html

It's the summer work and travel program. Not only can you travel the US during the summer, you can work and earn some $$, too! Turkey is a huge participant in the program.

Spend some time googling exchange programs in the U.S., or talk to your university, and you may find more. STAY AWAY from paying companies for documentary help with US visas. DO NOT pay for papers to get you a J-1 if all you intend to do is tourism (and do not pay for papers at all unless it's from a reputable entity like the work travel program)

The US system may seem like it is full of useless document requests, but the documents are really important. If the consulate determines you have used fraud (i.e. paid for fake documents), you could be banned for life from ever going to the US!

Alternatively, if you really just want to travel, and not work, the previous answerer was right -- you need a B-2 tourist visa. Could be rather difficult for a university student in Turkey to get, but it all depends on your personal family situation. You'll need to convince the embassy officer of your intent to return to Turkey at the end of your trip to the US. (I think the other answerer gave you a link about this to the US Embassy web site.)

Good luck!

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