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Maintaining J-1 Status

Maintain Your J-1 Status During Your Program

Maintaining J-1 status requires more than keeping an unexpired Form DS-2019. Exchange visitors must continue participating in their approved CSUSB exchange activities, keep required information current, maintain health insurance, and obtain appropriate review before making certain changes.

International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) maintains the university’s J-1 program records and helps exchange visitors and host departments understand their responsibilities throughout the program.

 
Your Core J-1 Responsibilities
  • Complete the required arrival check-in so ISSS can validate your SEVIS record;
  • Maintain a valid Form DS-2019 and passport;
  • Keep a copy of your most recent Form I-94 showing admission in J-1 status for duration of status, or D/S;
  • Participate only in the activities approved for your exchange program;
  • Conduct program activities only at authorized sites;
  • Maintain required health insurance for yourself and any accompanying J-2 dependents;
  • Report changes to your address, telephone number, or email address to ISSS within 10 calendar days;
  • Contact ISSS before changing your activities, funding, department, program dates, or site of activity;
  • Obtain ISSS authorization before accepting employment, compensation, an honorarium, or an outside lecture or consultation; and
  • Remain in communication with your host department and ISSS throughout the program.

Contact ISSS promptly if you are uncertain whether a proposed activity or change is permitted. Do not wait until after the change has occurred.

Keep Your Contact Information Current

Exchange visitors must report changes to their contact information to ISSS within 10 calendar days. This allows ISSS to update the visitor’s SEVIS record within the required timeframe.

Report changes to:

  • Your actual and current U.S. residential address;
  • Your mailing address, if different;
  • Your telephone number; and
  • Your email address.

Updating information with another CSUSB office, the U.S. Postal Service, or another government agency does not automatically update your J-1 SEVIS record.

 
Report a Change Within 10 Days

Email ISSS with:

  • Your full name;
  • Your SEVIS ID;
  • The information that changed;
  • The new address, telephone number, or email address; and
  • The date the change became effective.

Maintain Required Health Insurance

J-1 Exchange Visitors and accompanying J-2 dependents must maintain qualifying health insurance throughout their participation in the CSUSB Exchange Visitor Program.

Do not allow coverage to expire during the program. If an insurance policy will expire before the Form DS-2019 program end date, obtain renewed coverage and email the updated documentation to ISSS before the existing coverage ends.

Contact ISSS promptly if:

  • Your insurance policy changes;
  • Your coverage will not renew;
  • A J-2 dependent is added to or removed from the policy;
  • You are uncertain whether new coverage meets the federal requirements; or
  • You experience a lapse in coverage.
Submitting Renewed Insurance Documentation

When submitting renewed or replacement insurance documentation, include:

  • Your full name and SEVIS ID;
  • The insurance provider’s name;
  • The policy or coverage dates;
  • Documentation showing the applicable benefits and deductible; and
  • Documentation for accompanying J-2 dependents, when applicable.

ISSS may request additional information when the submitted documentation does not clearly establish that the coverage satisfies the J-1 requirements.

Participate in Your Authorized Exchange Program

 
Follow Your Approved Program

Your J-1 status is based on the activities, dates, funding, host department, and site or sites of activity reviewed for your CSUSB exchange program.

Continue participating in the approved teaching, research, lecturing, observation, consultation, or other scholarly activities associated with your program.

Contact ISSS before making a change involving:

  • Your primary activities or program objectives;
  • Your host department or faculty supervisor;
  • Your site of activity;
  • A regular remote or hybrid-work arrangement;
  • Your program funding;
  • Your program begin or end date;
  • A temporary interruption in program activity; or
  • An extended period outside the United States while your J-1 program remains active.

Not every proposed change requires the same immigration action, but ISSS must review the circumstances before the change occurs.

Review Changes, Travel & Extension Guidance

Employment, Payment, and Outside Activities

 
Obtain Authorization Before Accepting Outside Activity or Payment

Contact ISSS before:

  • Accepting employment outside the approved CSUSB program;
  • Receiving payment from another organization;
  • Accepting an honorarium;
  • Participating in a paid or unpaid outside lecture, consultation, or research activity;
  • Performing activities at a location not already authorized for the program;
  • Beginning an additional CSUSB appointment; or
  • Making an agreement or commitment with an outside organization.

Certain occasional lectures or short-term consultations may be permitted when they are related and incidental to the visitor’s primary program. Written ISSS authorization may be required before the activity occurs.

Do not begin the activity or accept payment until ISSS has completed its review and provided any required authorization.

Review Outside-Activity Requirements

 

Stay in Contact During Your Program

ISSS and the host department must be able to monitor the visitor’s continued participation, progress, and welfare throughout the exchange program.

Exchange visitors should:

  • Respond promptly to messages from ISSS and their host department;
  • Continue meeting with the host faculty member or supervisor as appropriate;
  • Inform the host department and ISSS if program activities are interrupted;
  • Report concerns affecting their ability to continue the program;
  • Provide updated insurance or program documentation when requested; and
  • Inform ISSS if they plan to end the program earlier than expected.
 
Exchange Visitor Responsibilities

Maintain regular communication with your host department and respond to ISSS requests for information about your activities, progress, contact information, or welfare.

 
Host Department Responsibilities

Host departments should remain aware of the visitor’s participation and notify ISSS of significant concerns, extended absences, changes in activities, or an anticipated early end to the program.

Know When to Contact ISSS

 

 
Contact ISSS Before
  • Changing your program activities or objectives;
  • Changing your host department or supervisor;
  • Changing or adding a site of activity;
  • Beginning regular remote activity;
  • Accepting employment, payment, an honorarium, or an outside activity;
  • Requesting an extension;
  • Traveling when a new travel signature or case-specific review may be needed;
  • Transferring to another J-1 program; or
  • Ending your CSUSB program early.

Changes, Travel & Extensions

 
Contact ISSS Promptly If
  • Your passport, Form DS-2019, or immigration documents are lost, stolen, or damaged;
  • Your insurance coverage expires or lapses;
  • Your Form I-94 does not show the expected classification or admission notation;
  • You receive a government notice concerning your immigration status;
  • You cannot continue your approved program activities;
  • You lose contact with your host department; or
  • An emergency or serious concern affects your health, safety, or welfare.

 
Questions About Maintaining J-1 Status?

Contact ISSS when you have questions about your responsibilities, documentation, insurance, program activities, or a proposed change.

It is usually easier to review an issue before a change occurs than to address it afterward.