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J-1: Exchange Visitor
(student, trainee, research scholar, or professor)
J-1 students and scholars are admitted to the U.S. for the period of time noted on your immigration documents. This means you are permitted to remain in this country as a full-time student for the period of time during which you are pursuing one educational program (bachelors, masters, or doctorate) at one institution or during scholarly visit. J-1 students must extend their stay at least 30 days before the expiration of their I-20, or depart no later than 30 days after the completion of their academic program or after the expiration date on the DS2019, whichever comes first.
Full-time enrollment is required to both undergraduate and graduate international students to maintain legal status. Undergraduate students need to maintain a minimum of 12 credit hours. Graduate students need 9 credit hours, or 6 credit hours with an assistantship. Full-time enrollment must be maintained to receive employment, practical training, and other benefits. In addition, failure to maintain full-time enrollment may create many problems in the future.
An exchange visitor travelling outside the U.S. must have a valid passport, visa and a current pink copy of Form DS2019 signed by the responsible officer.
Your passport must be valid at all times. A valid passport is required to hold employment or for travel. If a validation of your passport is necessary during your stay in the U.S., ISS can provide you with the address of your country's nearest Consulate or Embassy. We recommend you begin renewing your passport at least four months in advance of the expiration date.
Keep the I-94 Departure Record card (white card) stapled in your passport. This document indicates your valid status and is used by USCIS for showing any authorized changes. This document is taken when you depart the U.S. (they are inspected, but not taken, at Canadian or Mexican borders.)
The visa in your passport does not govern your length of stay in the U.S. It is only an entry permit and must be valid only when entering the U.S. Always check the validity date of your entry permit before planning a trip outside of the U.S. If it has expired, report to ISS at least two weeks in advance of departure so a duplicate Form DS2019 can be prepared for you to obtain a new visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate in a Foreign Country.
J-1 Students- J-1 students may work pursuant to the terms of a scholarship, fellowship, or graduate assistantship in their field of stay with authorization of their program sponsor. If an economic need arises as a result of an unforeseen change in financial circumstances their Program Sponsor may issue written permission to work part-time when school is in session or full-time during vacation periods. WORKING WITHOUT PERMISSION IS ILLEGAL.
J-1 Scholars- J-1 scholars may work pursuant to the terms of the Form DS2019 issued by their Program Sponsor. J-2 Visa holders may work only after they obtain written permission from USCIS.
All J-1 exchange visitors are required to have insurance covering sickness or accident during their stay in the U.S. Because of the importance and specificity of the insurance requirements, please contact your sponsor for complete information.
If you have a J-1 visa and have completed your degree program, you may be eligible for a maximum of eighteen months of academic training with the approval of your Program Sponsor. Practical training for J-1 visa holders is awarded for one year, renewable for an additional six months. Please consult ISS and your Program Sponsor for further information about your eligibility.
