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J-1 Status Information

All international students in J-1 Exchange Visitor status are obligated to meet certain immigration and Department of State (DOS) regulations in order to maintain their legal immigration status during their stay in the United States. Failure to maintain lawful immigration status may result in serious problems for you, such as the inability to continue studies at Regent University and the need to depart the United States.

Questions regarding the rules and responsibilities of the J-1 immigration status, employment restrictions, and travel and reentry procedures, should be addressed to the OISS and not to any other office on campus.

To maintain your lawful J-1 status in the U. S., it is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to meet the important requirements listed below:

  1. REPORT to the International Student Services Office (OISS) within 30 days of the DS-2019 start date, OR within 1 week of your arrival at Regent, whichever comes first. You will need to bring your passport, DS-2019, I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, and local U.S. address.

  2. MAINTAIN FULL-TIME STATUS each semester. For degree seeking students, full-time status is generally defined as 12 credit hours for undergraduate students, 9 credit hours for graduate students (MA/MS), 6 credit hours for doctoral/PhD students, 10 credit hours for law students (JD/JSD).

    Non-degree students must maintain the "prescribed course of study" which is typically defined in the linkage agreement with your university. (Students who drop out of school or who fail to carry a full course load without prior permission from Regent's OISS will be in violation of their J-1 status.)

  3. STUDY only at the institution authorized on your DS-2019.

  4. KEEP your (and your dependents') immigration documents VALID and CURRENT at all times by following these simple rules:
    • Maintain a valid PASSPORT which is current for at least 6 months into the future. (Passports may be revalidated or reissued in the U.S. at the appropriate embassy. You should contact your country's embassy to find out how far in advance you can apply for a new passport and for guidance on the proper application procedures.)

    • Keep your DS-2019 valid and up-to-date at all times. Make sure that your name is spelled correctly and that all information is correct. You should also check sections 3, 4, and 5 of the DS-2019 on a regular basis and notify the OISS immediately about any changes in your major, degree level, financial support, or program end-date. If necessary, you MUST apply for a program extension at least 30 days in advance of your DS-2019 end-date.

    • FILE TIMELY and APPROPRIATE TRANSFER and EXTENSION REQUESTS at least 30 days BEFORE the end date on your current DS-2019.
  5. MAINTAIN the required HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE for you and all of your J-2 dependents, which are listed in section (f) on page 2 of the DS-2019.

  6. DO NOT WORK on or off-campus WITHOUT PRIOR WRITTEN authorization from the OISS. (On-campus employment is restricted to no more than 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters.)

  7. REPORT a CHANGE OF ADDRESS to the University within 5 days of the change. (The University will report the change to the U.S. government through the SEVIS system.)
    • During web-registration periods at the start of each term, all students are required to confirm or enter their correct addresses in Genisys during the web-registration process before they can register for classes. The U.S. address that you enter/confirm in Genisys during web-registration is the address that Regent is required to report to the government in SEVIS. It is your important responsibility to make sure your current U.S. address is listed correctly in Genisys during web-registration periods and at all other times as well.

    • If your address changes during the middle of the semester/outside of web-registration periods, you must report the new address to TWO separate offices WITHIN 5 DAYS of the change: the OISS AND the Registrar's Office. Students can still use Genisys to report the new address to the Registrar's Office outside of web-registration periods, and should use the "Address/Information Change Form" on the OISS website to report the change to the Office of International Student Services.
  8. NOTIFY the OISS PRIOR TO any PERMANENT DEPARTURES from the U.S. as a J-1 student.

  9. LEAVE the United States within the 30-day grace period of the program end-date on your DS-2019, or within 30 days of your actual completion date, whichever comes first.

Other Important Notes:

  • BEFORE TRAVELING outside the United States for a temporary departure, you should contact the OISS to make sure you have the proper reentry documents and signatures.

  • NOTIFY THE OISS if you plan to change your immigration status.

Special Notes:

OISS Website: Additional immigration related information and request forms (for an I-20/DS-2019 Travel Signature, Dependent DS-2019, Request for a New DS-2019, etc.) are available on the online forms page.

  • Weekly Email Messages, Monthly Newsletters, and Student Responsibility: The OISS newsletters and email messages contain important immigration information that you will need to know for maintaining your lawful J-1 status, so you are expected to read them carefully. If, for any reason, you are not receiving the newsletters or the weekly email messages, it is YOUR responsibility to inform the OISS immediately.

  • Immigration/Employment/Travel Related Questions: If you have any questions or uncertainties about your responsibilities for maintaining your lawful J-1 status, the SEVIS reporting requirements, restrictions on working in the U.S., travel outside the U.S., or if you think you may need to apply for a reinstatement to lawful status, please visit the OISS (Student Center, Room 201) as soon as possible. No other office on campus can assist you with these questions.

  • SEVIS Reporting: All U.S. institutions that sponsor J-1 Exchange Visitors (students, professors, etc.) are required to report various types of information to the government electronically through a system called SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). The information includes, but is not limited to: address changes, violations of status, failure to maintain required health insurance, failure to maintain full-time status, etc.

Important Terms

Admission Number: This is the 11-digit number assigned to you by BCIS. It is on the I-94 card you receive when you first enter the U.S. You will keep this same number throughout your time as a student in the U.S.

DOS: The United States Department of State is the branch of government responsible for administering Exchange Visitor Programs.

"D/S": This notation on your I-94 card stands for "Duration of Status." This means that you have been admitted to the United States for as long as you pursue a full course of study with a valid IAP-66 form, plus a 30-day period within which you must depart the U.S. or begin Academic Training.

Exchange Visitors: Individuals granted entry to the U.S. on an Exchange Visitor Program (with a J visa).

Exchange Visitor Program: The official name of the specific program for which an individual is issued an IAP-66 form and granted J-1 status.

I-94: This is the 3 inch by 4 inch white card stapled in your passport near your visa when you entered the U.S. It shows the date and place of your most recent U.S. entry and is used by the BCIS as a record of when you leave the U.S. This is surrendered to INS or an airline employee each time you leave the U.S.

DS-2019: This is the official SEVIS form issued by your sponsoring institution, which is used to obtain and renew J-1 exchange visitor status. It states your program sponsor, dates authorized in the program, your student classification, and as proof of your J-1 status. Because this is proof of your nonimmigrant status while you are in the U.S., the dates on the DS-2019 form must be kept valid.

USCIS: The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is a branch of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the government office which has authority over all aliens in the United States. The USCIS has authority over SEVIS.

Passport: Your country of foreign residence probably issued this document. Your passport is extremely valuable, so always keep it in a safe place. Replacement and renewal can be done through your country’s embassy in Washington, D.C. Your passport must be kept valid for up to 6 months after your intended stay in the U.S.

Program Sponsor: This is the institution or agency that has issued your IAP-66 form. You must attend this particular institution in order to maintain legal J-1 status. Regent University is your program sponsor.

Responsible Officer (R.O.): This is the individual at the sponsoring institution authorized to approve all program activities of J-1 students. The R.O. at Regent University is the individual whose signature can be found at the bottom of your SEVIS DS-2019 form.

Social Security Number: This important identification number is required of all employees in the U.S. An application and information on how/where to apply is available from the OISS.

Visa: This is the entry permit stamped or affixed to a page inside your passport by an U.S. consular officer. It is only used to enter the U.S. and does not need to be renewed while you are in this country; however an expired visa must be renewed if you go outside the U.S. and seek to return. A new visa can only be obtained outside the U.S.

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