Staying Legal as a J-1 Student
RO = Responsible Officer
ARO = Alternate Responsible Officer
SEVIS = Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
Your program sponsor is listed in section 2 of your DS-2019
- If you are required to go through "Special Registration," comply with all rules associated with Special Registration.
- Keep your passport valid at all times.
- Carry your I-94 at all times.
- Carry health insurance throughout your entire J-1 program for yourself and any J-2 dependents.
- Only engage in the program as described in section 4 of your DS-2019.
- Enroll at the school (as indicated on your DS-2019) within 30 days of the report date on the DS-2019 (section 3) and within 20 days of the start of classes every semester thereafter.
- Maintain and complete a full course of study each academic term except during official school breaks and annual vacations.
- Before withdrawing from a course, or under enrolling for an allowable reason such as a medical problem or final term of a degree, obtain approval from your RO/ARO.
- Get a new DS-2019 within 10 day of any change in name, degree level, or program sponsor.
- When changing program sponsors (even between degree levels) be certain the old program sponsor enters the program number of the new sponsor and a release date in SEVIS before your current stay expires. Upon receipt of the new sponsor's SEVIS DS-2019, sign the Exchange Visitor Certification and report to the new sponsor within 30 days of the new report date.
- Report any change of name or address to your program sponsor, OIE and the registrar's office within 10 days of the change. If subject to Special Registration, also notify USCIS (formerly INS/BCIS) within 10 days of the change on Form AR-11SR (http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm)
- Never work (on or off campus) without prior written approval from the RO/ARO designated by your program sponsor.
- Don't work more than 20 hours per week while school is in session, if granted employment authorization for on-campus and/or severe economic hardship.
- Have your DS-2019 signed by the RO/ARO designated by your program sponsor before you travel out of the U.S. if you plan to return to the same program.
- You must have a valid SEVIS DS-2019 if you are applying for a new visa.
- Do not spend an entire semester out of the U.S. without obtaining a new DS-2019 to present at the port-of-entry when re-entering the U.S.
- Don't let your DS-2019 expire. (The expiration date is found in section 3 of your DS-2019)
- During Academic Training, report any change of name or address within 10 days of the occurrence to your program sponsor.
There are almost always exceptions to these rules. Consult an international student advisor or your program sponsor if you have ANY questions BEFORE you do something different.
IMPORTANT THINGS FOR J-1 STUDENTS TO KNOW
HEALTH INSURANCE
Health and accident insurance is REQUIRED by federal law for all J-1 Exchange Visitors and their J-2 dependents during the period of time that an exchange visitor participates in his/her program. An exchange visitor who willfully fails to maintain the insurance coverage shall be subject to termination from the Exchange Visitor program.
TWO YEAR HOME RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT
Some J-1 students are subject to this requirement and some are not. Students receiving direct funding from the U.S. government or their home government will be subject. There is also a Skills List, established between the U.S. government and the individual student's home government. Students studying a skill on the list for their country will be subject to the requirement. Those individuals who are subject must return home for two years before they can apply for permanent residence, an H visa or an L visa. If subject to the two years, exchange visitors cannot apply for any type of change of status from within the U.S. Waivers of this requirement are few, difficult and time-consuming. If the J-1 is subject to the two years, all J-2 dependents are subject as well. For further information about the waiver process, refer to the U.S. Department of State's website: http://travel.state.gov
FULL COURSE OF STUDY REQUIREMENT
Degree-Seeking Students
J-1 students must pursue a full course of study each fall and spring semester. There are a FEW exceptions, such as for a medical problem or a student's final term. In these circumstances, the student must first get approval from the RO/ARO* designated by the program sponsor.
Non-Degree-Seeking Students
The student is required to be engaged full time in a prescribed course of study not to exceed 24 months.
A CHANGE OF MAJOR IS USUALLY CONSIDERED A CHANGE OF PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
Generally speaking, deviation from one's program objective (item #4 on the initial IAP-66/DS-2019) is not allowed. The major can generally only be changed, if it is CLOSELY related. For example, changing from Pre-Business to Business is acceptable. A student can change program levels as long as the student continues to study in the same field.
DEPENDENTS
J-2 dependents can take classes that are avocational or recreational. They cannot study full time unless the J-2 is a child in elementary or secondary school. J-2s can request employment authorization through USCIS (formerly INS/BCIS). Any change in address or name of a J-2 dependent requires notification to the ARO/RO designated by the program sponsor.
PROGRAM EXTENSIONS
Students can request an extension from the RO/ARO* designated by their program sponsor if they need extra time to complete their original program objective. Extensions cannot be granted if a recommendation for a waiver of the two year home residency requirement has been received from the U.S. Dept. of State.
Degree-seeking students must pursue a full course of study and maintain satisfactory advancement towards the completion of their academic program to request an extension.
Non-degree-seeking students must be participating full time in a prescribed course of study and be maintaining satisfactory advancement towards the completion of their academic program to request an extension.
STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
All work authorization must be received in writing from RO/ARO* designated by the program sponsor (#2 on the IAP-66/DS-2019) prior to employment. Students may apply to work part-time (20 hours a week or less) if one of the following three types of employment applies:
1) It is pursuant to the terms of a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship.
2) It occurs on campus
3) It occurs off campus because of a serious, urgent and unforeseen economic circumstance
The student must be in good academic standing (ESU requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0). The student must continue to engage in a full course of study. Employment can be more than 20 hours per week when school is not in session. The approval may be valid up to 12 months, but it is automatically withdrawn if the student's program is terminated.
ACADEMIC TRAINING
Students are eligible to apply for employment authorization (academic training) that is directly related to their major during or after the completion of their studies through the RO/ARO* designated by their program sponsor. Most degree-seeking students are eligible for 18 months of academic training. Full eligibility details are available through your program sponsor.
DURATION OF STATUS
All J-1 students should be admitted to the United States for "duration of status" - meaning they don't have a specific departure date on their I-94, but rather "D/S". This means they may stay in the U.S. as long as they are maintaining their J-1 student status. In addition, J-1 students have a 30-day period after the completion of their program to prepare to depart the U.S. Students cannot work during this 30-day period.
EARLY DEPARTURES
Any time the exchange visitor completes the program more than 30 days prior to the completion date on the IAP-66/DS-2019, the program sponsor must be notified.
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Last Updated July 31, 2007