Welcome to the J-1 Visa Student Reporting Requirements Resource Page!
Policy Information
This page is a resource for J-1 visa policy information set forth by the U.S. Department of State which includes policies applicable to all class levels of student and scholar J-1 visa holders. For all USD specific expectations and procedures for our J-1 undergraduate exchange students, please visit USD Undergraduate Exchange Program.
For questions regarding travel and immigration documents, please Click here to download a quick guide that covers some frequently asked questions and answers.
Please carefully review the following rules, policies and reporting requirements regarding your J-1 status.
Reporting Responsibilities
- You must report any change of local (U.S.) address to OISS within 10 days of your move.
- You must report any changes to your contact information (phone number, email) to OISS within 10 days of the change.
- You must report any incident that constitutes a major medical emergency for yourself or any of your dependents. This will include hospitalization from any accident or prolonged illnesses. You are also required to report critical incidents such as arrest by law enforcement or the violation of local/state/federal laws to OISS.
OISS is required to report such incidents to the Department of State’s J-1 Program Administration. Any situation that prevents you from carrying out your activities, duties, and obligations as a visiting student must be reported.
Documents
Essential documents for the J-1 student/scholar include:
You must maintain a valid passport at all times. Your passport must be valid at least 6 months into the future.
Unless you decide to apply for a California Driver's License or a California Identification Card, your passport will serve as your primary form of identification in most institutions outside of USD.
What to do if your passport gets lost or stolen:
- File a police report
- Contact your nearest embassy to inquire about passport replacement, or obtaining a travel document, within the United States
- Report the incident to OISS
Your J-1 visa is typically valid for the duration of your exchange program at USD. Should you decide to extend your program, you have the option of applying for a renewal of your J-1 visa either in your home country or at the US Consulate in Tijuana, Mexico. However, a visa renewal is not required if you do not plan on traveling outside of the US for the remainder of your exchange visit. Please consult with your USD exchange adviser if you have questions regarding future travel and the possibility of applying for a visa renewal.
What is the 212(e) printed on my J-1 visa page?
212(e) is a two-year home residency requirement to allow you to return to your home country and share what you have learned and experiences during your exchange semester(s) in the U.S. However, if you want to apply for working visas or permanent residency within this two-year period, you will need to file a 212(e) waiver. For more information, please check the U.S. Department of State's information on this topic.
Your Form DS-2019 - Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status is your main status document. It contains vital information about your exchange visit, including the reason and duration of your visit, as well as your host institution. If traveling outside the U.S. while your J-1 program is still active, please carry your Form DS-2019 with you as it will be required for re-entry. Also, make sure that the travel signature on your DS-2019 is still valid.
Note on program duration:
If your Form DS-2019 is expiring and you would like to extend your exchange visit for another academic term, please consult with OISS about the process of program extension. For program extension to be authorized, the J-1 student must obtain the permission of his/her home institution and must provide a few additional requirements. For procedures and deadlines relating to program extension, please consult with your OISS adviser.
If you lose your Form DS-2019, please let your OISS adviser know so we can provide you with a replacement as soon as possible.
The I-94 is the admission record maintained by the US Department of Homeland Security pertaining to your most current arrival in the United States. It contains information on your date of arrival, status upon admission, and your allowable duration of stay (which is generally based on your status of admission). The I-94 is a critical document in processes related to the application of status-related benefits, such as applying for a driver's license and a Social Security Number (if work-eligible), among others.
Retrieve your most recent I-94.
Please note that a new I-94 must be obtained every time you travel overseas and re-enter as a J-1 visitor. If you are encountering issues retrieving your I-94, or need a correction, please refer to this guide I-94 Procedures for Retrieval Corrections
Full-Time Enrollment Requirement
J-1 students must enroll in a full course of study every Fall and Spring Semester.
12 credits minimum for undergraduate exchange and degree-seeking students
9 credits minimum for graduate exchange students, including degree-seeking J-1 scholarship-based graduate students (please note that your graduate program may require a higher minimum loading per semester)
Summer/Intersession enrollment is not permitted for exchange students as it’s not part of the exchange agreement.
It depends on how many courses you are registered for. If you have at least 15 credits, it would be possible to drop a 3-unit class as you would still be left with the minimum number of credits required by your visa status. However, if you are already at the minimum 12 credits, you will not be allowed to drop, even at the expense of your GPA. An unauthorized drop below 12 credits (or 9 for graduate students) constitutes a violation against your visa status.
Please note
OISS attempts to provide the most recent, useful information to our students. However, we make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to here, the iTorero Portal, and in emails coming out of OISS.
Information provided by OISS does not constitute and should not be considered legal advice or a legal opinion, and it may not necessarily reflect the most current legal developments. OISS likewise cannot guarantee the outcome of status-related benefit requests filed with US government agencies. Students should seek the advice of counsel or a tax professional for additional guidance. OISS reminds students and scholars that failure to comply with F-1 and J-1 regulations is a violation of your status, which may result in serious consequences including the termination of your SEVIS record, your inability to re-enter the US, and the accrual of unlawful presence which could lead to your removal from the US.
Direct all questions regarding your F-1 and J-1 status to OISS, internationaloffice@sandiego.edu.