Maintaining J-1 Status

As a J-1 exchange visitor, you are required to maintain valid, unexpired immigration documents while in the United States. These include:

• an unexpired passport valid at least six months into the future (Canadian citizens excepted)
• a valid, unexpired Form DS-2019 (see below)
• an I-94 card marked "J-1 D/S"

Your Form DS-2019 is issued by Teachers College or another sponsoring agency for the purpose of study and research at Teachers College. It reflects your biographical information, your degree objective, a starting and ending date, your academic major / field of study, and your financial information. Your DS-2019 should reflect at all times correct, up-to-date information.  If any significant information on your DS-2019 changes (change of name, school, program objective, or financial sources), you must notify the Office of International Students and Scholars or your sponsor to request obtain an amended DS-2019.

Your I-94 record is processed electronically by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at an airport of port-of-entry. Your I-94 record should always be marked "J-1 D/S" to reflect your admission to the U.S. as a J-1 exchange visitor for "duration of status," i.e., for the time you are engaging in your program objectives as indicated on your DS-2019. If your I-94 record does not have the annotation "J-1 D/S," contact the OISS immediately.

All persons in J-1 and J-2 status must carry medical insurance that meets specific requirements set out by the Department of State. The minimum J-1 health insurance requirements set forth by the Department of State are as follows:

• Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
• Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
• A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

If you willfully fail to carry adequate medical insurance for yourself and your dependents, your J-1 sponsor must terminate your program. 

J-1 exchange visitors have limited employment benefits. Please note that in all cases, to accept employment the J-1 exchange visitor must receive the prior written authorization from the Office of International Students and Scholars and/or your J-1 Exchange Visitor program sponsor.

Failure to obtain employment authorization before starting employment is considered a violation of J-1 immigration regulations.

For more questions regarding employment, please refer to the OISS website here. 

Contact the OISS if you will need an extension of visiting scholar program and DS-2019.

J-1 regulations permit certain kinds of changes while prohibiting others, so consult with the OISS for further information.

You are required to notify your J-1 program sponsor of any change of address or change of legal name.  This notification must be made within 10 days of the change.

• We are required to maintain a U.S.  "physical" (actual street residential) address in your immigration records at all times. 

The US Department of State (DoS) administers the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program to host Professors, Research Scholars, Specialists, Students, and Interns to engage in work or study-based exchange visitor programs. 

The health, safety, and well-being of our J-1 exchange visitors is the priority of both the US DoS and Teachers College as the J-1 Program Sponsor. Staff at the Teachers College Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) is here to provide support and resources to our J-1 exchange visitors regarding their J status as well as supporting the successful completion of their program objectives. 

The US DoS requires Exchange Visitor Program sponsors report serious incidents, problems or controversy involving J-1 Exchange Visitors to the Office of Private Sector Exchange Administration Academic and Government (OPA-AG) unit. Reports must be made within 24 hours of an incident's occurrence. 

Examples of serious incidents or allegations that the TC-OISS needs to be made aware of:

• Death 
• Missing Person
• Serious Illness or Injury (e.g., brain injury, severe burn, major surgery, communicable disease, serious mental health incidents, any condition requiring hospitalization of 48 hours or more, etc.) 
• Litigation (related to a sponsor’s exchange visitor program, in which sponsor or an exchange visitor may be a named party)   
• Lost or stolen immigration documents  (i.e., passport and visa)     
• Incident Involving the Criminal Justice System  (e.g., arrest, charges, law enforcement, etc.)  
• Theft of intellectual property or violations of export controls  
• Sexually-Related Incidents or Abuse (incident or allegation involving sexual exploitation, harassment or abuse)  
• Negative Press involving a sponsor’s exchange visitor program  
• Foreign Government Involvement (including embassy officials)  
• Other Situations Impacting Exchange Visitor Safety

The above are not exhaustive and there may be other instances that may impact the safety and well-being of an exchange visitor. More information regarding this can be found on the US Department of State website here. 

You can report a serious situation to the TC-OISS by submitting the “Exchange Visitor Incident Report Form” here. 

Please contact the OISS if you have any concerns.