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Office of International Experiences

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J-Visa Student Regulations

Maintaining Status

It is the responsibility of each student to be familiar with the immigration requirements related to their status. Following the guidelines below will help you to maintain your SEVIS status.

  • Keep your passport valid for at least 6 months
    • >For information about renewing your passport validity, contact your home country's embassy in the U.S.
  • Keep your local address updated
    • Keep your local residential address current by completing the Address Reporting Form. You must report your new residential address within 10 days.
  • Maintain full-time enrollment
    • J-1 undergraduates must enroll for 12 credit hours each semester. Graduates must enroll for 9 credit hours each semester.
  • Get approval before a withdrawal
    • If for some reason you must withdraw from your program or drop below full-time, you are required to have approval from International Experiences before doing so.
  • Attend the school noted on your DS-2019
    • You must have a current, valid DS-2019 from the school you are attending.
  • Keep your DS-2019 valid at all times
    • If the completion date on your DS-2019 will expire within the next 30 days and you need more time to complete your program of study, you must visit with International Experiences (SC 226) to request an extension on the DS-2019. The completion date can be found in Box #3 on the DS-2019.
  • Get a travel signature
    • Before you depart from the U.S. request a travel signature for re-entry from a Designated School Official (DSO) in International Experiences. The DSO will sign your DS-2019 for travel purposes.

Registration

J visa students must be registered within 30 days of the start of each semester and must be enrolled full-time each fall and spring semester.

Registration is defined as:

  • Enrolled in at least one course
  • Fees are paid, either in full or on a payment plan
  • Checked-in with International Experiences

Registration each semester

As per United States and Citizen and Immigration Service (USCIS) regulations, students are required to enroll each fall and spring semester. If a student has not registered for the fall and spring semester, the student's SEVIS record will automatically terminate and the student will be out of status with USCIS.

Please visit with the Bursar’s Office (ZSC 137) to inquire about emergency loans, payment plans, and tuition payment options.

Full-time enrollment requirements

Immigration regulations require international students in J status to be in full-time enrollment each semester. For immigration purposes, full-time enrollment is defined as:

  • Undergraduate students - 12 semester credit hours (SCH)
  • Graduate students - 9 semester credit hours (SCH) or the number of SCH required by the department for all graduate students in the program

On-line Coursework

Immigration regulations limit the number of online courses a student can count towards the full-time requirement. International students may count only one (3SCH) course of on-line coursework towards the full-time requirement. If the full-time requirement for a session can be satisfied with three SCH or one course, the full-time requirement cannot be satisfied with online coursework alone.