Maintaining J-1 Student Status

As a student in the U.S. in J-1 status, you are required to follow specific federal laws. This page is meant to provide a generic overview of certain J-1 requirements; it does not contain all laws for every situation. If you ever have questions or concerns, always contact your advisor in the Center for International Education (CIE) for specific guidance.

As a J-1 student, it is your responsibility to maintain your non-immigrant J-1 status. Failure to follow the laws for J-1 status can result in you losing your legal ability to be in the U.S., and may harm your chances of getting a new visa in the future. To ensure you are following J-1 laws, you must:

Attend the mandatory International Student Orientation.
Keep your passport valid at all times, in most cases for at least 6 months into the future.
Ensure your I-94 record is always marked as J-1, D/S when you re-enter the U.S.
Study at The University of Mary Washington (educational institution listed on your DS-2019).
Complete your class registration by the end of each add/drop period (the last day of the first week of classes).
Maintain adequate health insurance coverage for your J-1 status and your J-2 dependents as legally required.
Notify CIE of your change of physical address (where you live in the US) within 10 days of the change. This address cannot be a P.O. Box or a departmental address.
Pursue a full-course of study each fall and spring semester, defined as: 12 semester hours for undergraduate students and 9 semester hours for graduate students. No more than 3 credits per semester of on-line coursework can count toward this full-time enrollment requirement.
Obtain permission from CIE if you need to enroll in less than a full-course of study.
Obtain permission from CIE before withdrawing from all your courses.
Make normal progress toward completing a course of study. This includes graduating when you are eligible to graduate and not delaying graduation for non-academic reasons.
Not let your DS-2019 expire. You must remember the expiration date on your DS-2019, and request a program extension prior to the expiration date listed on your current DS-2019 if you are not able to complete your studies by that time.
Obtain all on-campus work, off-campus work, and academic training authorizations in advance of beginning employment. The authorization must be in writing and must come from your advisor in CIE.
Restrict your on-campus work to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters. You may work full-time during the winter and summer vacations. You must maintain a current J-1 On-Campus Work Authorization Letter.
Not work after completing your program of study unless you have been authorized for academic training by CIE.
If traveling outside the U.S., ensure you have a valid visa and a recent travel signature on your DS-2019.
Depart from the U.S. within 30 days after completing your program of study.