Requirements for Maintaining J-1 Status

The J-1 student status differs from the F-1 student status in a few distinct ways. A student is usually considered for J-1 status if they are funded by a government entity, are participating in an official exchange program, or are required by their scholarship/sponsor to study as a J-1 student in the United States.

Exchange visitors receive the Form DS-2019 to apply for the J-1 visa stamp. The DS-2019s may be issued by LSU to certain recipients, such as bilateral exchange participants or degree-seeking sponsored students. DS-2019s may also be issued by another agency (like ISEP or Fulbright) to their program participants for the purpose of attending LSU. 

It is very important that international students maintain lawful non-immigrant status in the United States and be well informed and knowledgeable about U.S. immigration rules. International Student Services provides information and advice on immigration-related issues, but it is important to remember that it is your responsibility as a student to maintain your status.

The consequences of not following U.S. immigration rules could result in...

• loss of eligibility for any J-1 benefits, including employment authorization;
• an inability to remain in the United States;
• problems obtaining any U.S. visas or entering the United States in the future.

 

To maintain J-1 status, a student must

 

Report Arrival

Upon arrival to the United States, new J-1 students are required to report to the program sponsor listed on the visa and the DS-2019; this step is necessary for your J-1 immigration record to be validated in SEVIS. A Responsible Officer or Alternate Responsible Officer (RO/ARO) must validate your J-1 program within a 30-day time frame specified by U.S. immigration regulations.

Please be aware that LSU's International Student Services can validate programs only for J-1 students whose DS-2019s have been issued by LSU. If your DS-2019 was issued by an agency (like ISEP or Fulbright), you must report your arrival to that respective agency.

 

Engage in Appropriate Activity

Each J-1 category has a definition and expectations for the activities of the exchange visitor that must be met. For example, J-1 students (whether degree-seeking or non-degree exchange students) must enroll full time during...

1. Each major semester (Fall and Spring).
2. The summer semester, only if you have been admitted to LSU for the summer semester. Full-time enrollment for summer is 6 credit hours.

 

Carry Medical Health Insurance

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has established minimum requirements for insurance that are designed to protect the exchange visitor and their family. All exchange visitors (both J-1 principals and J-2 dependents) are required to have sickness and accident insurance and medical evacuation and repatriation insurance in effect for the duration of their exchange visitor program.

 

Report Address Changes

Immigration rules require that all non-immigrant visa holders report their address in the United States. Depending on who issued your DS-2019, you may need to follow different procedures to update your address.

• DS-2019 issued by LSU: use your myLSU portal to update the "Local Street Address" field. Your address information is then electronically transferred into the SEVIS database and thus reported to U.S. Immigration.
• DS-2019 issued by an agency (such as ISEP or Fulbright): most visa holders use USCIS Form AR-11, but you should check with your program sponsor to see what their address reporting method is.

Regardless of who issued your DS-2019, you must report/update your address within 10 days of any move, even if you move temporarily (e.g., for a summer vacation, internship, etc.).

 

Keep Valid Documents

Your DS-2019 must be valid and accurate at all times, and you must follow proper procedures to request...

• An extended program end date on your DS-2019 if you need more time in your program.
• A change in education level or program of study.
• Your SEVIS record to be transferred to another U.S. school where you have been admitted.

Passports serve as the basis for your student status, demonstrate permission from your country to be in the United States, and are a legal document indicating your identity and country of citizenship. Your passport must remain valid while you are in the U.S. for your lawful stay and work authorization. When traveling internationally, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months in the future.

If your passport will expire during your stay, you should contact your Embassy or Consulate in the U.S. about 3-6 months before the passport expiration date to complete the passport renewal requirements.

 

Work Only with Authorization

J-1 students may be authorized to engage in two kinds of employment:

1. academic training related to the course of study.
2. other employment related to academic funding, on-campus work, or economic necessity.

Each kind of employment has its own criteria and limits, and the Responsible Officer (RO) must authorize the student employment "in advance and in writing," and in SEVIS before any employment can begin. When applying for Academic Training, you must do so before your DS-2019 expires and before the completion of your academic program.

Unauthorized employment is a violation of program status, and your program participation is subject to termination if you engage in unauthorized employment.

 

Abide by Grace Period Rules

J-1 students have three different types of "grace periods" that determine how far in advance of the commencement of classes a new student can be admitted to the United States and how long a student can remain in the United States following the completion of studies or academic training.

A J-1 student...

1. May be admitted to the United States up to 30 days before the program start date listed on the Initial Form DS-2019.
2. May remain in the United States for up to 30 days beyond the completion of the academic program. This grace period can be used to prepare to exit the U.S. or to apply for a new status to remain in the U.S. [if you are not subject to 212(e)].
3. Granted an "authorized early withdrawal" by an ARO/RO, may remain in the United States for up to 15 days following the withdrawal/resignation noted in SEVIS, to prepare to depart the United States.