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J-1 Student Visa Holder Resources

Two-Year Home Residency Requirement

A J-1 and/or J-2 exchange visitor is subject to the two-year home-country physical presence (foreign residence) requirement based on Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, and Title 22 Part 40 and Part 41 in the Code of Federal Regulations, if one or more of the following conditions exist:

  • The program in which the J-1 exchange visitor is participating is financed in whole or in part directly or indirectly by the United States government or the government of the exchange visitor’s nationality or last residence;
  • The J-1 exchange visitor is a national or resident of a country designated as requiring the services of persons engaged in the field of specialized knowledge or skills in which the exchange visitor was engaged for the duration of their program;
  • The J-1 exchange visitor entered the United States to receive graduate medical education or training.

If the principal J-1 exchange visitor is subject to the two-year residence requirement, all dependents that enter in J-2 status are subject to it as well. The requirement should be marked on both the J visa and DS-2019.

 

If you are not sure whether the INA 212(e) two-year foreign residence applies to you, you may make a written request for an advisory opinion for the applicability of INA 212(e) to your situation. The advisory opinion request should include legible copies of every/all DS-2019/IAP-66 ever issued to you, along with a self-addressed envelope, and should be sent to:

INA 212(e) Advisory Opinion Request
The Waiver Review Division, CA/VO/L/W
SA-1, L-603
U.S. State Department
2401 E Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20522-0106

If an exchange visitor is subject to the two-year home residence requirement, s/he must reside and be physically present in her/his country of nationality or last legal permanent residence for an aggregate of at least two years following departure from the United States before being eligible to apply for an immigrant visa or permanent residence, a nonimmigrant H visa as a temporary worker or trainee, or a nonimmigrant L visa as an intracompany transferee, or a nonimmigrant H or L visa as the spouse or minor child of a person who is a temporary worker or trainee or an intracompany transferee.

Program participants who are subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement, as established by Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, must apply for a waiver of that requirement if they seek to remain in the United States beyond the end date of their programs or if they seek to submit an application to the Immigration and Naturalization Service for a change in visa status.

A waiver may be requested for five statutory bases:

  • a claim of Exceptional Hardship to a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident spouse or child of an exchange visitor if the exchange visitor is required to return to the country of residence;
  • a claim that the participant will be persecuted due to race, religion, or political opinions if he/she returns to the country of residence;
  • a request from an interested US Government Agency on the participant’s behalf;
  • a No Objection Statement from your government; and
  • a request by a designated State Health Department or its equivalent.

Participants must file an application to receive a recommendation for a waiver with the Department of State.

Once an exchange visitor program received notification of the Department of State recommendation for a waiver, the exchange visitor is no longer eligible for further extension of stay (this includes extensions for academic training and transfers to new J programs) or reinstatement to valid program status.

 

J-1 Academic Training

J1 Academic Training is employment, training, or experience related to a student’s major field of study as indicated on their DS-2019. J1 Academic Training may involve sequential or simultaneous activities, either paid or unpaid, with several employers, occurring before or after degree completion, provided that all eligibility requirements are met and approval procedures are followed for each employer and activity, and the maximum eligibility time limits are not exceeded.

For students whose DS-2019’s were issued by ESF, J1 Academic Training authorization is granted by the Office of International Education; for sponsored students (e.g., Fulbright), J1 Academic Training is authorized by your J-1 Program Sponsor.

To be eligible for J-1 Academic Training, you must:

  • be in good academic standing;
  • obtain a letter of recommendation from your academic department (see “ Advisor Recommendation Letter Templates”);
  • have a job offer for a position directly related to your J-1 program of study as indicated on your DS-2019 that will begin no later than 30 days after your program completion; and
  • maintain health insurance coverage that meets the Department of State’s minimum requirements for yourself and any dependents staying with you in the U.S.

Maximum Period of J-1 Academic Training Eligibility

Earning more than one degree does not increase your eligibility for J-1 Academic Training.

Undergraduate and Pre-Doctoral Training (Pre and Post-Completion)

J-1 Academic Training cannot exceed 18  months or the period of the full course of study (whichever is less) inclusive of any prior J1 Academic Training in the U.S. at the current or previous degree level.
Exception: if the training is mandatory and required for completion of the degree program.

Students may work part-time while school is in session and full-time during the summer and winter breaks; All J1 Academic Training is counted as full time, even if employment is on a part-time basis.

J-1 Academic Training before completion of studies will be deducted from the total 18 or 36 months of J1 Academic Training eligibility.

Post-Doctoral Training

J-1 Academic Training may not exceed the amount of time it took for you to complete your full course of study, or 18 months, whichever is shorter. If you receive a Ph.D., however, your post-doctoral training may last as long as 36 months (inclusive of any prior J-1 J1 Academic Training in the U.S.), provided you have a postdoctoral position in an academic institution.

A new DS-2019 must be issued for each 18 month J1 Academic Training authorization period.

Part-Time J-1 Academic Training Is Deducted at the Full-Time Rate

All J1 Academic Training is counted as full time, even if employment is on a part-time basis.

To apply for initial authorization or renewal of your J1 Academic Training, you must submit the following to the Office of International Education:  

  • Academic Advisor Recommendation Form
  • Job offer letter from employer that includes salary information
  • J-1 Academic Training Request Form
  • Proof of funding equivalent to the cost of living for the DS-2019 extension/J-1 Academic Training period as calculated based on the J-1 Student Financial Worksheet
    Financial support can be in the form of salary/stipend/personal bank statement/sponsorship
  • Proof of current and continuous health insurance that meets Department of State’s minimum requirements (for you and dependents)
  • Copies of your: previous DS-2019s, passport, visa, and I-94 card

 

DS-2019: Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status

A DS-2019 reflects your biographical information as well as information pertaining to your program of study in the U.S. It is required for the J-1 student visa application/interview process and must be presented at the U.S. Port of Entry every time you attempt to re-enter the U.S. It is your responsibility to review all of the information on your DS-2019 for accuracy and monitor the end date; it must be accurate at all times. If you require an update (e.g., program name, financials) you must contact the Office of International Education for a new document.

DS-2019 Program Start Date
You may enter the U.S. up to 30 days prior to the program start date indicated in item 3 of your DS-2019. If you intend to enter the U.S. after this start date, please contact the Office of international Education as you may require a new DS-2019 with an updated program start date.

DS-2019 Program End Date
You may remain in the U.S. up to 30 days beyond the program end date indicated on your current DS-2019. The 30-day grace or travel status period is intended to be a period following the end of the exchange visitor’s program and is to be used for domestic travel and/or to prepare for and depart from the U.S., and for no other purpose. You are not eligible work or to depart the U.S. and re-enter the U.S. during this grace period unless you have a new visa status to re-enter on (that allows work, if applicable).

 

Updating and Extending Your I-20

Please use the I-20 Update/ Request Form to request a new I-20 for the following reasons:

  • to replace your lost document;
  • to update your financial information (e.g., change in source of funding, applying for a new visa);
  • for inclusion in your application to change to F-1 student status;
  • to change your level of study (e.g., (MS to PhD); or
  • to add or change a program of study (e.g., adding a major/minor or changing majors/minors).

If you would like to add a dependent spouse and/or child to your F-1 SEVIS record in order to obtain a dependent I-20 for the F-2 visa application process, please follow the process indicated on the Bringing a Dependent web page.

If you are in F-1 status, your I-20 indicates the program completion date of your SEVIS record under the title: Program End Date. If you will not complete your academic program by that program end date, you must apply for an extension of your I-20 end date before your document expires. 

You may lose your lawful F-1 status and all associated benefits if you:

(1) Fail to apply for an extension before your I-20 expires even if you have a valid reason for extension.

OR

(2) You apply for an extension but do not meet the requirements for an extension.

Immigration regulations limit the circumstances for which international students may be granted a program extension. Federal Immigration regulations provide that you may be eligible for an extension if:

You have continually maintained full-time F-1 status
AND

You have compelling academic or medical reasons which resulted in a delay in your program completion.

Examples of acceptable reasons for program extension are:

  • Changes in major / research topic;
  • Unexpected research difficulties;
  • Lost credits upon transfer
  • Documented illness

Examples of unacceptable reasons for program extension are:

  • Repeat of course(s) due to unsatisfactory grade;
  • Additional time to complete “incomplete” course(s);
  • Failure to work closely or consult with academic advisor;
  • Delay of coursework to participate in work experience (CPT) not required for your degree;
  • Participation in CPT when all coursework is complete; or
  • Delay caused by academic probation or suspension.

Please plan ahead and allow at least two weeks for your request to be processed.

  • Complete the I-20 Extension Request Form.
  • Complete the F-1 Financial Worksheet.
  • Attach photocopies of the following documents for you (and your dependents):
    • Proof of financial support equivalent to estimated expenses for the extension period as calculated on the Financial Worksheet
      Acceptable financial documentation includes: current personal bank statement or available balance page of your online account information; assistantship letter; tuition scholarship letter; stipend letter; fellowship letter; and a notarized letter from a sponsor (relative or third-party) indicating their funding commitment to your education along with sponsor’s current bank statement.
    • Enrollment Certification (from the Registrar's Office) to verify full-time enrollment throughout your program.
    • Passport biography page and expiration date page, visa, and I-94 card
    • All prior I-20s (page 1 only if no CPT or OPT authorizations; page 1 and 3 if CPT or OPT has ever been authorized)
    • Proof of valid health insurance including Medical Evacuation and Repatriation coverage
    • Have your Academic Advisor’s complete Part II of the I-20 Extension Request Form and sign.

Submit I-20 Extension Request Form with F-1 Financial Worksheet and required photocopies to the Office of Instruction and Graduate Studies (227 Bray Hall) to obtain the Dean's signature.

Upon review, the Dean will forward your completed request to the Office of International Education. You will be notified via email whether your extension request was approved or denied. If your request was approved, an extended I-20 will be issued and available for pick-up at the Office of International Education. 

The Office of International Education reserves the right to a one-week time frame for reviewing and processing of any submitted requests. Students should anticipate OIE to take the full week and should expect to submit documents early in order to avoid potential complications. If a student requests the extension of an I-20, OPT, or other time-limited visa status, all application materials and required documentations must be submitted to the Office of International Education for review and approval no later than 30 days in advance of the SEVIS deadline for submission of the application materials.