This page is for current and new J-1 students who have been admitted to WashU and have a DS-2019 for study. If you have a different J program sponsor (such as Fulbright), it is essential that you contact your Fulbright adviser regarding maintaining status and authorizations related to enrollment or work.

Maintaining your J-1 visa status

The Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) will maintain your Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) record based on your reporting and applications. OISS is required to validate your SEVIS record upon arrival and continue to monitor your record to confirm that you are maintaining your J-1 immigration status. Do the following to maintain J-1 status (note this is not an exhaustive list):

J-1 documents

As regulated by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), OISS keeps J records and documents for three (3) years following completion of studies or post-completion work authorization period. Remember to keep copies of all of your immigration documents. Originals should be kept safe and used for limited purposes, including travel, immigration applications and social security applications.

If you change your legal name, the change must first be reflected on your passport. Once the change to your passport has been made, email your OISS adviser within 10 days to report the change. They will have you submit a Passport Name Change request in MyOISS.

Considerations for doctoral students

WashU is proud to host international doctoral students in a number of disciplines across campus. As a doctoral student, there are two stages to your academic program. The first is completion of coursework that is required to obtain your degree. The second is thesis/dissertation research and writing. OISS will work with you during each stage. Find more information below:

Doctoral Student Status

Employment

J-1 students are allowed to work on-campus no more than 20 hours per week during the regular semester. Off-campus employment may also be available as Academic Training (AT). However, OISS must pre-authorize any and all employment.

For more information on employment regulations and how to receive authorization, visit the Employment & Taxes page.

Program extensions

J-1 students have a 30-day grace period to remain in the U.S. upon completion of their academic program or their Academic Training period. However, if you need additional time to complete your academic program, you must apply for a program extension. You are eligible to extend your DS-2019 if all of the following are true:

  • the end date on your current DS-2019 has not passed
  • you have continually maintained status
  • you are unable to finish your academic program by the end date on your DS-2019 because of compelling academic or medical reasons

To request an extension based on an academic reason, you must submit the DS-2019 Extension request in MyOISS. Your academic adviser must approve the reason(s) for delayed completion of your program and provide the new expected date of completion. If the reason for the extension is medical, you need authorization from WashU Cares (for Danforth Students) or Student Health Services (for Med Campus). You must provide new financial documents if your funding has changed.

If your extension request is approved, OISS will authorize it in SEVIS and provide you with an updated DS-2019 showing the new program end date.

If your expected end date does not match the end of a semester, contact your OISS adviser for the appropriate form.

If you do not meet the eligibility requirements for a program extension, you will be considered “out of status” if you remain in the U.S. beyond your current DS-2019 end date. Contact your OISS adviser to learn about requirements for a DS-2019 extension.

Health insurance

Department of State (DOS) J-1 Exchange Visitor (EV) Program regulations require that J-1 EVs and their J-2 dependents carry health insurance meeting specific minimum standards (Code of Federal Regulations – 22 CFR 62.14) during the entire length of their J program. This includes periods of authorized academic training. Failure to maintain required insurance coverage can result in termination of J status.

SEVIS transfers

To transfer schools, the J-1 must notify the current J-1 sponsor of the intent to transfer. If the program sponsor is WashU and the transfer is recommended, the program can be updated to reflect the intent to transfer out of the program. Submit a Transfer Out request in MyOISS to complete the SEVIS transfer-out process.

The new sponsor will be able to issue the DS-2019 for the new program after the date when the student is released to the new school. Contact your OISS adviser to request a SEVIS transfer.

212(e) Two-year home residence requirement

The J-1 EV immigration status is meant to be temporary and encourage the exchange of knowledge of skills between countries. Therefore, immigration regulations limit the activities that many EVs can participate in their J-1 EV program ends. OISS can help determine whether someone is submit to the two-year residence requirement.

212(e) Two-year residence requirement

Failure to maintain status

J-1 students have a 30-day grace period to remain in the U.S. upon completion of their academic program or their Academic Training period.

The Illegal Immigrant Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 imposes certain penalties on those who overstay their status in the U.S. and those who are “unlawfully” present for certain periods of time. The law provides penalties for those who stay beyond the period authorized and those who are unlawfully present. If a student stays beyond their authorized time period, they are deemed to have violated their student status and will begin to accrue unlawful presence.

The visa of an individual who stays beyond the authorized period is automatically considered void (even if it appears to be valid in the student’s passport). All future nonimmigrant visa applications must be made in the country of nationality unless the circumstances have been defined as “extraordinary” by the Department of State (DOS).

Overstay periodU.S. admission ban period
More than 180 days but less than 1 year3 years
More than 1 year10 years
Table confirming overstay and ban periods

What to do if you fall out of status

Failure to maintain J-1 status has long lasting consequences that affect your eligibility to study at WashU and to obtain other statuses in the future.

If you fail to maintain status, you may not be able to continue to study at WashU until you have taken the appropriate steps to restore status, if possible. If you believe that you have failed to maintain your status, it is important to notify OISS immediately. Do not ignore this issue as it can make your status situation worse.


Disclaimer statement

Advice on this webpage is specific to J-1 students sponsored by WashU. If you have a different J program sponsor (such as Fulbright), it is essential that you contact your Fulbright adviser regarding maintaining status and authorizations related to enrollment or work.