Maintaining Legal Status for J-1 Scholars

As a J-1 exchange visitor, you must meet certain obligations to maintain legal immigration status. Maintaining status is necessary to receive the benefits of J-1 status in the future, such as applying for a change of status, if needed. Failure to maintain your non-immigrant status can result in serious problems with immigration and could lead to deportation from the U.S.

J-1 Students

To maintain legal status, a J-1 student must:

Attend the mandatory immigration check-in program at the UM-Flint International Center.
Attend the university you are authorized to attend.
Complete immigration school transfer procedure when necessary.
Be in good academic standing and make progress towards an academic program.
Extend your DS-2019 prior to its expiration date if you are unable to complete your academic program by original expiration date.
In the event of change of academic program or level, update your DS-2019 in a timely fashion in accordance with immigration regulations.
Maintain full-time enrollment during the academic year.
Undergraduate students must enroll for 12 credit hours per term while graduate students must enroll for 8 credit hours (or number of credit hours defined by the specific graduate program) per term. During any given term in which you have been officially appointed by the department as a Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA) or Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), you may enroll for 6 credit hours.
Limit on-campus employment to 20 hours per week during academic year.
Not accept unauthorized employment and not work off campus without authorization.
Keep your passport valid at all times. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future on the day you return to the U.S. from a trip abroad.
Maintain required health insurance coverage.
Complete the UM-Flint International Center departure form if you leave the program 30 days or more before the end date of DS-2019.
Update your current and permanent address information in SIS within 10 days of moving.

J-1 Visiting Scholars and Professors

To maintain legal J-1 status, a J-1 visiting scholar or professor must:

Attend the mandatory immigration check-in program at the UM-Flint International Center.
Have a valid DS-2019. Extensions can be completed with your J-1 sponsor.
Have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future on the day you return from your trip abroad.
Conduct employment only as indicated on the DS-2019.
NOTE: Departments must contact the UM-Flint International Center if they would like the exchange visitor to engage in collaborative work outside of UM-Flint or if the exchange visitor wishes to participate in occasional lectures at another institution.
File timely and appropriate transfer and extension notification to the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) through the sponsoring agency.
Maintain required health insurance coverage.
Update your current and permanent address information in SIS within 10 days of moving.