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Check In. You must notify your Responsible Officer of your contact information (address, phone, etc.) When you check in, your International Student Advisor/Responsible Officer will collect information to help provide better advice and services to you while in J-1 status. ISS will also try to catch any mistakes that might have been made when your documents were processed at the port of entry. You should check in again each time your contact information changes or you reenter the USA.
If your sponsoring institution is not The New School and your Responsible Officer does not work at ISS, you should still check in with ISS. The Responsible Officer here works closely with other Responsible Officers to make sure that you get the information and services you need.
Report Changes of Address Within 10 days of each move to your Responsible Officer.
Attend Orientation. U.S. Department of State regulations require J-1 students to:
- Learn the names of your Responsible Officers.
- Learn about your rights and responsibilities while in J-1 Exchange Visitor status.
- Get all the information you need to make the most of your exchange visit.
Keep Up To Date on Department of State (DOS) & Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Regulations. After attending Orientation, your must follow all the regulations, and you must keep up to date if there are any changes. By checking in, you enable ISS to help you keep up to date.
Enroll Full Time. You must enroll full-time in the program of study described on your DS-2019. Conversely, your DS-2019 must always reflect your actual program of study. Therefore, even if you have more time on a DS-2019 issued to pursue a Masters degree, you should not continue your studies at the doctoral level until you have requested and received a new DS-2019 showing that you are pursuing a PhD.*
* In rare and extreme situations concerning unanticipated needs for certain types of prerequisite training, or unanticipated changes in health, exceptions may be made, but these must be approved in writing and in advance by your Responsible Officer.
Maintain Adequate Health Insurance. All J-1 Exchange Visitors are required to have health/medical insurance in effect for themselves and any accompanying dependents in J-2 status for the entire time that they are in the USA as Exchange Visitors. Minimum insurance coverage must provide:
- Benefits of $50,000 per person per year or accident.
- Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500.
- Medical evacuation of the Exchange Visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $10,000.
- Deductible limited to $500 per accident or illness.
The New School health insurance plan meets these minimums, but it cannot be used to cover your dependent(s). For more information about The New School health insurance plan for students, please contact the Student Health Insurance Manager Jeanette Krupinsky at Student Health Services, 135 East 12th Street, at (212) 229-1671. If you plan to bring a dependent, ask ISS about our packet of brochures from private health insurance companies. J-1 students must have appropriate health insurance which meets the minimum requirements set by the US Department of State. It is highly recommended that your insurance plan is reviewed by the Student Health Insurance Manager to ensure comparable coverage.
Note: Graduate Students: We do not recommend waiving the health insurance fee or the plan unless you have comparable coverage.
Get a Travel Signature Before Reentering the USA. If you are leaving and plan to reenter the USA during your exchange visit, your Responsible Officer must sign your DS-2019. A travel signature is valid for one semester. You must also have a valid passport and J-1 visa. If your visa has or will expire before your planned date of return, you must get a new one while outside of the USA. When preparing to leave, take your valid passport with I-94 card (return this just before boarding the airplane to leave), as well as your DS-2019 and any other supporting documents.
Accept Only Authorized Employment. All employment for Exchange Visitors must be approved in writing by the Responsible Officer of the Exchange Visitor Program. (Please note that this is different from students in F-1 status.) A student who works without the written authorization of the program sponsor (even on campus) will be in violation of J-1 status. Employment categories available to you are:
•On-Campus Employment. A job on campus may be authorized for 20 hours per week while classes are in session and full-time during vacations. Once a specific job has been found, ask your Responsible Officer for a letter of authorization. This category of work authorization includes graduate and research assistantships. Note: Only The New School is considered to be an “on-campus” employer.
•Academic Training. This type of employment must be directly related to your field of study. It may begin during your program or within the 30 days after the end date on your DS-2019, but a job offer is required before the end date on your DS-2019.
DOS regulations permit a maximum of 18 months of academic training—36 months for students who have earned their doctoral degree. The dates of Academic Training after graduation must be reflected on your DS-2019 specifically for Academic Training. The Responsible Officer must update approval for Academic Training each year.
•Off-Campus Employment Due to Economic Difficulties. Authorization to work off campus in a field not related to your program will require you to prove in writing a severe financial need that has come about after your entry to the USA. This authorization may be granted for a period not to exceed six months. Contact ISS for more information.
•Employment of J-2 Dependent. Upon entry to the USA, a J-2 dependent (spouse of any age or child under 21 years of age) may apply to the US government for employment authorization. To qualify, you must express in writing that:
- You possess sufficient funds to cover your own living costs as the J-1 student.
- The purpose for seeking employment authorization is not to financially support the J-1 student.
- The employment is to further cultural and educational exchange and for the enrichment of the J-2 spouse/dependent.
In all types of employment (except employment of J-2 dependent), to get authorization to begin working you must submit:
- A letter from your prospective employer describing the work to be done, the hours you will work, and the amount of compensation you will receive.
- The written recommendation of your academic advisor.
- Approval is limited to a specific job with a specific employer. If you wish to change jobs or employers, the application process for work authorization must be completed again.
In all cases, you may not begin working until you receive your authorization letter from your Responsible Officer. You will also need a Social Security Number (ask ISS). Furthermore, you will need to keep your Responsible Officer informed of all changes in your job, job description, pay, location, and phone number.
J–1 Student: Ending J–1 Status. Your J-1 status comes to an end when you complete your studies or the date on your DS-2019, which ever comes first. However, by completing your program of study, you get a 30-day grace period in which you can stay in the USA.
Comply with the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement. Also known as “212(e),” this requires some individuals who enter the USA to return to their home countries for at least two years before they can qualify for the following: H, L, and immigrant visas. However, even with 212(e) in effect, internationals can still apply for B Tourist and Business visitor visas, F Student visas, and J Exchange Visitor visas. This residency requirement is noted on the bottom left-hand corner of the Exchange Visitor’s DS-2019 upon entry to the USA. All Exchange Visitors who are sponsored by their home government or the US government, and those who have skills that are listed as highly valued in their home country are subject to this requirement.
J-1 COMPLIANCE UNIT AND E-MAIL ADDRESS
United States Department of State
Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation
ECA/EC/AG - SA-44, Room 820
301 4th Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20547
Telephone: (202) 203-5029
Fax: (202) 453-8640
EMAIL: JVisas@state.gov
Please feel free to contact Mr. Martinez or Ms. Dickerson at this email address if you have any questions or concerns.
DOS. The Department of State is the branch of government that administers the Exchange Visitor Program.
The Exchange Visitor Program. This is the official name of the program for which an individual is issued a DS2019 and granted J-1 status.
Program Sponsor. This is the institution or agency, authorized by DOS, and that has issued your Form DS-2019. You must report to this institution to comply with J-1 regulations.
Responsible Officer (RO). This is the individual at the sponsoring institution authorized to approve all program activities of J-1 exchange visitors. The RO at The New School can be reached at International Student Services.
Exchange Visitors. Individuals granted entry to the USA on an Exchange Visitor Program.
DHS. The Department of Homeland Security is a branch of the government office which has authority over all aliens in the USA.
DS2019. This is the form issued by your sponsoring institution. You use it to obtain and renew J-1 visa and J-1 exchange visitor status. It states your program sponsor, dates authorized in the program, and your classification. The pink copy is for you to keep as supporting evidence of your J-1 status. The dates on the Form DS2019 must be kept valid.
Passport. Your home country issued this document. This document is valuable and must be kept in a safe place. Replacement and renewal can be done through your home country’s consul here in New York City. A passport must be kept valid for up to six months after your intended stay in the USA.
Visa. This is the entry permit stamped or affixed to a page inside your passport by a US consular officer. It is only used to enter the USA 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 USA and seek to return. A new visa can only be obtained outside the USA.
I-94 Card. This is the 3” x 4” white card stapled in your passport near your visa, received upon entry to the USA. It shows the date and place of your most recent US entry and is used by the INS to record when you enter and leave the USA. This is surrendered to INS or an airline employee each time you leave the USA.
Admission Number. This is the 11-digit number assigned to you by DHS. It is on the I-94 card you received when you first entered the USA. You will keep this same number during your time as an Exchange Visitor in the USA.
D/S. This notation on your I-94 card stands for “Duration of Status.” D/S signifies that you have been admitted to the USA for the period during which you are pursuing a full course of study with a valid Form DS2019 plus a 30-day period within which you must depart the USA or begin Academic Training.
Social Security Number. This important tax identification number is required of all employees in the USA. An application and information on how/where to apply is available from International Student Services. |
