International students admitted to the University of San Diego and in need of nonimmigrant sponsorship from the University will be issued the Form I-20 (F-1 Certificate of Eligibility) or the Form DS-2019 (J-1 Certificate of Eligibility) based on which status their admitted program of study qualifies them for. Students do not get to choose which visa status they will attend under.
F-1 Status
The F-1 student visa is the most common nonimmigrant status used by international students in the United States. Most of the graduate programs at the University of San Diego qualify international students for F-1 student status. Newly admitted students who meet the F-1 eligibility requirements will be issued the Form I-20, F-1 Certificate of Eligibility.
J-1 Status
The J-1 exchange student visa is used for students in specific educational exchange degree programs or under specific sponsorship circumstances. The following four graduate programs at the University of San Diego qualify international students for the J-1 exchange student visa:
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), international double degree with Tecnológico de Monterrey's EGADE Business School in Mexico
- Master of Business Administration (MBA), international double degree with WHU-Otto Beisheim Graduate School of Management in Germany
- Master of Science in Real Estate (MSRE), international double degree with the University of Regensburg International Real Estate Business School (IRE|BS) in Germany
- Master of Science in Conflict Management and Resolution (MSCMR) or Master of Arts in Social Innovation (MASI) with selection by the Rotary Foundation as the Kroc School of Peace Studies Rotary Scholar (only one student selected each year)
Newly admitted students who have been admitted to one of these four programs, and who meet the J-1 eligibility requirements, will be issued the Form DS-2019, J-1 Certificate of Eligibility.
F-1 and J-1: What's the difference?
| F-1 | J-1 | |
| Eligibility document | Form I-20, F-1 Certificate of Eligibility | Form DS-2019, J-1 Certificate of Eligibility |
| Entering the United States | F-1 students may enter the United States within 30 days of the Program Start Date listed on their Form I-20. | J-1 students may enter the United States within 30 days of the Program Start Date listed on their Form DS-2019. |
| Departing the United States | F-1 students are provided a standard grace period after program completion, during which students must make arrangements to depart the United States. | J-1 status are provided a standard grace period after program completion, during which students must make arrangements to depart the United States. |
| On-campus employment | F-1 students are allowed to engage in paid employment on campus as soon as they begin their program of study; no prior work authorization from their F-1 advisor is needed. F-1 students may only work part-time (20 hours or less) during the fall and spring semesters. | J-1 students are required to obtain work authorization from their J-1 advisor before they can enage in paid employment on campus. Students may request work authorization only after they begin their program of study. If approved for work authorization, J-1 students may only work part-time (20 hours or less) during the fall and spring semesters. |
| Post-program off-campus employment | Post-completion "Optional Practical Training (OPT)" is the provision that allows F-1 students to apply for post-program employment relevant to their field of study. OPT is not guaranteed; students must work with their F-1 advisor to apply for post-program work authorization. If successfully approved, F-1 students may engage in up to 12 months of post-completion OPT. An OPT extension for up to an additional 24 months may be possible for students in certain STEM-designated programs. | "Academic Training (AT)" is the provision that allows J-1 students to apply for post-program employment relevant to their program of study. Academic Training is not guaranteed; students must work with their J-1 advisor to apply for post-program work authorization. If successfully approved, J-1 students may engage in Academic Training for a duration of up to 18 months OR the equivalent amount of time of their program of study, whichever is less. |
| Home residency requirement | No requirement. | J-1 students (and their J-2 dependents) may be subject to the Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement. An individual's subjectivity to this requirement is decided on by the US consulate where they apply for their visa stamp, at the time they apply. |
Have additional questions? Please email the Office of Graduate Admission at grads@sandiego.edu.