Rules and Responsibilities for Maintaining J-1 Scholar Status
As a J-1 Exchange Visitor, you are required to maintain your J-1 status by abiding by certain regulatory requirements. Please review the information below carefully by clicking on each heading.
All J-1 Exchange Visitors (EVs) are required to report to the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office within 10 days of the program start date as listed on their Form DS-2019, to complete the check-in process which includes an orientation conducted by ISSS staff. Following the orientation and document review, ISSS will validate the EVs SEVIS record, as required by federal regulation.
Details regarding the orientation will be provided to EVs via email shortly before their arrival in the U.S. or on the Stevens’ campus.
EVs and their dependents are required by law to have health insurance that meets specific minimum requirements throughout the duration of their program. Further information can be found on the ISSS J-1 Insurance Requirements webpage. Please note that “willful failure” on the part of an EV to maintain appropriate health insurance for either themselves or their J-2 dependents for the entire duration of their program is a violation of their J-1 status and may result in the termination of their SEVIS record.
EVs are required to report any changes to their home address and/or contact information to ISSS within 10 days of the change. EVs may report a change in their address and/or contact information by either emailing ISSS at [email protected] or by completing and submitting the ISSS Change of Address intranet form.
EVs may only participate in the activities/objectives for which they are authorized on their Form DS-2019. Failure to maintain the original program objective and/or participating in activities for which they are not authorized is a violation of their J-1 status and may result in the termination of their SEVIS record. Additionally, EVs are only authorized to engage in their program activities on Stevens’ campus.
Please note that ISSS can authorize additional activities, as well as additional “sites of activity” if they are required to complete the EVs program objectives/activities, but authorization must be granted by ISSS in advance. To learn more, please visit the ISSS Additional Sites of Activity/ Occasional Lectures and Short-Term Consultations webpage.
EVs are permitted to work only as described on the Form DS-2019 and their official invitation/offer letter issued by the Division of Human Resources. EVs may receive payment from Stevens for their designated program activities and the payment information will be reflected on their Form DS-2019. If additional funds to support the EV become available from the sponsoring department after the EVs arrival at Stevens, the EV will need to request a revised invitation/offer letter confirming the terms and amount of the payment from the Division of Human Resources and submit it to ISSS. As stated in the previous section, regulations allow for EVs in the Scholar and Professor categories to participate in “occasional lectures and short-term consultations” at off-campus sites, if they are authorized to do so by ISSS in advance. To learn more, please visit the ISSS Additional Sites of Activity/ Occasional Lectures and Short-Term Consultations webpage.
EVs are expected to maintain the following at all times:
Valid DS-2019 (Please note that any previously issued Forms DS-2019, even if expired, should be retained.)
Valid passport with an I-94 stamp with J-1 D/S designation
EVs are admitted to the U.S. for “duration of status” indicated as “D/S” on the I-94 stamp in their passport. This refers to the period of time designated on the Form DS-2019 plus an additional 30-day grace period. The 30-day grace period is intended to allow EVs time to prepare to depart the U.S., or for recreational travel within the U.S. Re-entry from abroad during the 30-day grace period is not permitted.
International travel is permitted for EVs and any J-2 dependents that may accompany them to the U.S., provided that they reenter prior to the program end date indicated on their Form DS-2019. Please keep in mind that before departing the U.S. for a trip abroad, the Form DS-2019 must be signed for travel to allow reentry to the U.S. To request a travel signature on the Form DS-2019, please complete and submit the ISSS Travel Endorsement Request intranet form. To learn more about international travel and the documents EVs will need to have with them, please visit the ISSS Travel Information webpage.