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The following information will help you maintain legal non-immigrant status in the U.S.
Immigration Documents
As an international student in the U.S., you have (or should have!) in your possession certain very important papers. You should always keep these documents safe, and make photocopies of them just in case they are lost. The International Office will also take copies of these documents to keep in your file. They are listed as follows:
- Passport
- DS-2019: This is the form sent to you by your program sponsor - in this case - Dartmouth College. Once you have used it initially to apply for and receive the J-1 visa, you must present all three copies to the immigration official upon your entry into the U.S. The official will keep two of the copies, and stamp and return to you the pink copy. You must keep this pink copy and have your international advisor sign the back with a travel endorsement before you subsequently leave the country for any reason. This signature is required if you plan to re-enter the U.S. to finish your program.
- I-94 card: An I-94 is one of two immigration documents which, in general, permit a J-1 alien to stay temporarily in the United States during the validity of the J-1's authorized stay (while maintaining lawful J-1 status). The CIS officer at the United States port of entry will issue an I-94 card to the alien, and will indicate on the I-94 the alien's immigration status or classification (J-1, H-1B, etc.). For J-1 and J-2 aliens the CIS officer should indicate Duration of Status or D/S on the I-94 rather than an expiration date. Duration of status or D/S refers to the length of time a J-1 alien has permission to remain temporarily in the United States.
- Evidence of funding
To Maintain Legal J-1 Status
- Students: pursue a full course of study each academic term at the institution listed on your DS-2019 form.
- Scholars/Researchers/Faculty: pursue stated research / teaching at the institution listed on your DS-2019 form.
- Maintain a valid passport.
- Complete your stay by the date listed in item #3 on your DS-2019-or:
- Apply on time for an extension of stay, a transfer to another exchange program, a change of category or a change of visa status, within the limits of your current program.
- Before accepting any employment, have the required authorization from the International Office. Please click on the links to the left for more information on J-1 student employment or J-1 student academic training
- Notify the International Office and the CIS of any change of address and/or telephone number within 10 days of the change.
- Maintain the required health insurance coverage. Please click on the link to the left for more information on J-1 health insurance.
Twelve-Month Bar to Re-entry in the Scholar/Professor Category
- Individuals who have been in the U.S. in J-1 status in any category except short-term scholar, during more than 6 months of the previous 12 months, are barred from re-entering the U.S. in J-1 research scholar or professor categories for one year. This rule also applies to those in J-2 status.
Please contact the International Office if you need further information about your J non-immigrant status.
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