International Student Services

• Immigration Advising

• F-1 Employment
• School Transfer In/Out
• Change of Major/Degree
• I-20 Extension
• Travel Abroad
• Dependent Information
• Reinstatement
• Change of Status

J-1 Students

• J-1 Employment
• J-1 Transfer In/Out
• Change of Program
• DS-2019 Extension
• Travel Abroad
• Dependent Information
• Reinstatement
• Change of Status

J-1 Students

In order to maintain legal status, a KU sponsored J-1 student must:

• Keep passport valid (at least 6 months into the future)
• Always carry I-94 card
• Complete 12 hours each semester if undergraduate; 9 hours if graduate student
• Always visit with an ISSS advisor before dropping courses if it takes you below the required minimum (above)
• Request an extension PRIOR to current DS-2019 expiration date in item #3 if you need more time to finish the program
• Get a new DS-2019 for any change in major or degree level
• Report any change of address in KU Enroll &Pay (Jayhawk/Current address type) within 10 days of moving
• Do not work on or campus without authorization
• Do NOT work on campus more than 20 hours per week while school is in session
• Meet with an ISSS advisor if you plan to transfer out
• Get an ISSS advisor signature on your current DS-2019 if traveling outside the U.S.
• After you finish your degree, leave the U.S. within 30 days
• Follow Special Registration requirements, if applicable
• Carry health insurance for yourself and your J-2s dependents throughout entire program
• and ALWAYS read emails from ISSS (International Student Electronic News)

Program Sponsor

The program sponsor, noted in Section #2 of the student’s DS-2019, is the agency or educational institution that is responsible for coordinating the participant’s J-1 program. This is not necessarily the same as the financial sponsor. Students that are not sponsored by KU will need to seek advice from their respective program sponsor or RO/ARO.

Responsible Officer/Alternate Responsible Officer (RO/ARO)

The RO/ARO is a designated official who is authorized to process and sign J-1 documents on behalf of the J-1 program sponsor noted in Section #2 of the student’s DS-2019.

Two Year Home Residency Requirement-INA Section 212(e)

Some J-1 students are subject to this requirement and some are not. Students receiving direct funding from the U.S. government or their home government will be subject. There is also a Skills List, established between the U.S. government and the individual student's home government. Students studying a skill on the list for their country will be subject to the requirement. Those individuals who are subject must return home for two years before they can apply for permanent residence, a H visa, or a L visa. If subject to the two years, exchange visitors cannot apply for any type of change of status from within the U.S. Waivers of this requirement are few, difficult and time-consuming. If the J-1 is subject to the two years, all J-2 dependents are subject as well. An on-line survey to help determine if the two-year requirement applies can be found at j1visawaiverrecommendation.state.gov. For further information about the waiver process, refer to the U.S. Department of State's website: travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1288.html.