International Scholars

Maintaining Status

• Carry your I-94 at all times.
• Keep your passport valid at all times.
• Don't let your DS-2019 expire. (The expiration date is located in section 3 of your DS-2019.)
• Carry health insurance throughout your entire J-1 program for yourself and any J-2 dependents.
• Only engage in the program as described in section 4 of your DS-2019.
• Only engage in short term consultations and occasional lectures in your field if you have obtained prior written approval from the RO/ARO* designated by your program sponsor (listed in section #2 on your DS-2019), if you will receive remuneration for your services.
• Employment outside one's program objective is NOT permitted.
• Have your DS-2019 signed by the RO/ARO* designated by your program sponsor before traveling out of the country if you plan to return to the U.S. in the same J-1 program.
• If you change program sponsors, get a new DS-2019, get released from the former program sponsor and have the new DS-2019 processed.
• Report any change of address within 10 days to your program sponsor.
• There are always exceptions to the rules. Consult with your program sponsor if you have any questions before you do something different.

*RO = Responsible Officer
ARO = Alternate Responsible Officer

Important Things to Know

Health Insurance
Health and accident insurance is REQUIRED by U.S. federal law for all J-1 Exchange Visitors and their J-2 dependents during the period of time that an exchange visitor participates in his/her program. An exchange visitor who willfully fails to maintain the insurance coverage shall be subject to termination from the Exchange Visitor program. A more detailed explanation is available in ISSS and on our office's website. At a minimum, the insurance coverage shall include:

• Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per person per accident or illness;
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500;
• Expenses associated with medical evacuation in the amount of $10,000; and
• A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

Two Year Home Residency Requirement Some J-1 exchange visitors are subject to this requirement and some are not. An exchange visitor is subject to INA 212(e) requirement, if the following conditions exist:

• The program in which the exchange visitor was participating was financed in whole or in part directly or indirectly by the United States government or the government of the exchange visitor's nationality or last residence;
• The exchange visitor is a national or resident of a country designated as requiring the services of persons engaged in the field of specialized knowledge or skills in which the exchange visitor was engaged for the duration of their program (Exchange Visitor Skills List 9 FAM 41.62, Exhibit II);
• The exchange visitor entered the United States to receive graduate medical education or training.

If the exchange visitor is subject to INA 212(e) requirement, he or she cannot change his or status to that of H, L, K, or immigrant lawful permanent resident (LPR) until he or she has returned to his/her home country for at least two-years or received a waiver of that requirement. Waivers can be difficult to obtained. For information, refer to U.S. Department of States's Waiver of the J Visa Two-Year Foreign Residence Requirement 212(e).
Occasional Lectures or Consultations
At the discretion of the responsible officer, professors may freely engage in research and research scholars may freely engage in teaching and lecturing; this will not be considered a change of category. Incidental lectures or short-term consultations are permitted with the approval of the responsible officer so long as they are directly related to the objectives of the exchange visitor's program, incidental to the exchange visitor's primary program activities, and do not delay its completion date. The exchange visitor needs to receive permission in writing PRIOR to commencing the lectures or consultations.

If KU is the program sponsor, the department must endorse the occasional lecture or short-term consultation. For more information please contact the Visiting International Scholar Coordinator in the International Programs office.
Change of Category or Employer/Department
A request for a change of category (section #4 of DS-2019) must be clearly consistent with and closely related to the participant's original exchange objective and necessary due to unusual or exceptional circumstance. Scholars/Professors may be able to change employers/departments as long as they continue to pursue the original program objective, as listed in section 4, Subject/Field Description. A responsible Officer or Alternate Responsible Officer will have to submit a written request with supporting justification for the change to the U.S. Department of State on behalf of the participant, along with a nonrefundable fee. If the Department grants the request, a new Form DS-2019 is issued. If the the request is denied, the participant is expected to return home no later than 30 days from the date of the Department's notice or the program's end date indicated on original DS-2019, whichever is later.

Change of category may be difficult to obtain. If participant is changing to student category it may be easier for the participant to leave the U.S. and re-enter as a J-1 Student. Please direct your questions to the Visiting International Scholar Coordinator.

Program Extensions
J-1 Research Scholars and Professors are allowed a maximum stay of five years, assuming J-1 status is maintained. Any program extension (up to the five year maximum) cannot be granted to a participant who has applied for and received a waiver of INA 212(e), the two year home residency requirement, from the U.S. Department of State.

Two Year Repeat Bar
The Two-year (24 months) bar prevents those individuals who are current J-1 Professors or Research Scholars from repeat participation (as a Research Scholar or Professor) for a period of two years immediately following the completion of their program. This does NOT apply to Short Term Scholars.

Duration of Status
All J-1 exchange visitors are admitted to the United States for duration of status - meaning they do not have a specific departure date on their I-94 card, but rather "D/S". J-1 exchange visitors with "D/S" may stay in the U.S. as long as they are maintaining their J-1 status; however, the time period is not to exceed the maximum duration participation allowed for categories. J-1 exchange visitors are given a 30-day grace period after their completion date of their program in order to prepare to depart the U.S. Employment is not permitted during this 30-day grace period.

Early Departures
Any time an exchange visitor completes his/her program more than 30 days prior to the completion date on the DS-2019, the International Scholar Coordinator should be notified.