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By law, you must report to the Office of International Students and Scholars within 30 days of the DS-2019 start date (Item 3), whether this is your first time in the U.S. or you are transferring from another school.

 

• Undergraduates: At least 12 credit hours per semester

• Graduates: Must be registered every semester
  Dropping below full-time or taking a leave of absence requires prior approval from OISS.

• Update your address in PAWS and notify OISS.

• You must list a residential street address (not a P.O. Box or departmental address).

 

J-1 students and J-2 dependents must maintain insurance meeting federal minimums:

1. $50,000 per accident or illness

2. Deductible not over $500 per accident or illness

3. Repatriation of remains: $7,500

4. Medical evacuation: $10,000

Make and store copies of: passport ID page, visa page, I-94 (both sides), and DS-2019.

• Passport: Must be valid at least six months into the future. Renew through your consulate or embassy. You can find the contact information for your consulate at:  

• DS-2019 End Date: The end date of your immigration status is written on your DS-2019 as the end date in item #3 (not the end date of your visa stamp). If you are unable to complete your course of study by that time, you must apply for an extension BEFORE the DS-2019 end date. You must file your program extension with the OISS or your own sponsor at least two months before it expires.  

 

f you transfer schools, programs, or sponsors, OISS must process immigration transfer procedures. Transfers are allowed only if consistent with your original J-1 program purpose.

 

• On-Campus: Up to 20 hours/week during the academic year; full-time during breaks. Must be authorized by your sponsor.  If your DS-2019 was produced by another agency, that agency must give you permission to work on the 杏吧原创campus.

• Off-Campus: Requires written authorization in advance. Off-campus employment is any type of work or services performed in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, food or any other benefit that is not on the 杏吧原创campus. Includes:

  • Academic Training (up to 18 months, related to your field of study).

  • Economic Hardship Employment (if unexpected financial problems arise). Such employment cannot interfere with fulltime pursuit of the exchange visitor's program objectives. Written permission from the program sponsor is required for on-campus as well as off-campus work.

Unauthorized employment is a status violation.

 

Tell OISS if you:

• Permanently leave the U.S. after your program, or

• Change to another visa type (e.g., H-1B).

 

To re-enter the U.S. you need:

• Valid passport  (except Canadians unless entering from outside the Western Hemisphere)

• Valid J-1 (or J-2) visa stamp  (except Canadians)

• Current DS-2019 with travel signature (valid for 12 months)

• Proof of financial support and enrollment  (bank statements and/or scholarship, financial aid or TA/RA letter) 

Traveling to Canada

Before traveling to Canada, come to OISS to check visa requirements.  You can re-enter the U.S. from Canada with an expired U.S. visa stamp if ALL of the following apply to you:

鈥� You have a valid passport with an expired non-immigrant visa stamp, a valid DS-2019, and you keep your I-94 card when leaving the U.S. and entering Canada

鈥� Your visit to Canada will be less than 30 days

鈥� You do NOT apply for a U.S. visa stamp while in Canada

鈥� You are NOT a national of one of the following countries: Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Sudan, Cuba, or North Korea.

Special notes:

• Short trips to Canada (<30 days) may allow re-entry with an expired U.S. visa stamp, if certain conditions are met.

• To renew a visa, apply in person at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad. Applicants are normally required to submit the following documentation:

  • valid passport
  • current passport-size photographs
  • valid Form DS-2019
  • proof of financial support (bank statements and/or scholarship, financial aid or TA/RA letter)
  • proof of enrollment (certificate of enrollment or transcript).   

DS-2019 Endorsement : You need to have a valid signature from OISS staff (or from your sponsoring agency if your DS2019 is not produced by Eastern Illinois University) on your DS-2019 in order to re-enter the U.S. The signature is valid for 12 months.

• J-2 dependents may remain in the U.S. as long as the J-1 is authorized to stay.

• Travel requirements are the same as for J-1s.

J-2 Work Permission:

• a person in J-2 status may apply to uscis for permission to accept employment. permission will be granted only if the employment is intended to support the spouse and children, not the j-1 exchange visitor.
• pick up the application packet at the oiss.
• the processing time for a work permit at the uscis service center is approximately three months.

Visa Stamp: Obtained abroad, used only to enter the U.S. Does not need to remain valid while you stay in the U.S.It is only when you are leaving the U.S. and need to return that you must be sure that you have a valid U.S. visa stamp to reenter the U.S. [Note: Canadian citizens are not required to have a passport (if entering the U.S. from within the Western hemisphere) or visa stamp, but they must show their DS-2019 and proof of Canadian citizenship at the U.S. port of entry.] 

Immigration Status: Granted at entry and documented by your DS-2019 and I-94.

J-1 exchange visitors are usually not allowed to change categories (e.g., from 鈥渟tudent鈥� to 鈥渞esearch scholar鈥�).

Some J-1s are subject to the two-year home residency requirement and cannot change to another visa status inside the U.S. without first fulfilling or waiving that requirement.