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Maintaining J-1 Status

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You must maintain your status throughout your J program by following U.S. Department of State regulations.  If you do not maintain status your Exchange Visitor Program can be terminated, you will have to leave the U.S., and you may have trouble returning to the U.S. to work or study in the future.

Steps to Maintain Status

  1. Maintain a valid passport & DS-2019.  Do not let them expire!
  2. Keep your immigration documents safe.  When traveling internationally or domestically, carry all of your original immigration documents.
  3. Obtain approval from your advisor in the Center for Global Engagement (CGE) prior to leaving the country.  Restrictions apply to the length of time you may be out of the country.  If you need to travel outside of the U.S. for more than a few weeks you must first contact your advisor to fill out an Out of Country Form, and your J-2 dependents must leave the country with you.                     Travel Information
  4. Report any change of physical address, telephone number, or personal email address within ten days.  Contact your advisor in the CGE each time you move and within ten days of your move so your SEVIS record can be updated.
  5. Maintain required health insurance for you and your dependents at all times                                                                                       Health Insurance Requirements
  6. Never work without first obtaining authorization from your advisor in CGE.  Unauthorized employment will become part of your permanent immigration record.  It can result in denial of future immigration benefits and/or can result in detention and removal (deportation) from the U.S.  You are only allowed to work and be compensated if it is documented on your DS-2019.  You cannot be employed or compensated by any additional entities during your program unless it is reviewed and approved in advance by a scholar advisor.
  7. Engage in your J program activity.
  8. Notify CGE immediately if any serious incident involving you or your dependents occurs.  This may include, but is not limited to, serious illness or injury, death, arrest, missing person, abuse, or negative press. How to Report an Incident
  9. You must leave the U.S. within 30 days from the end of your program.