IMPORTANT NOTE: This information is not exhaustive and is subject to change without notice. You should contact the Immigration & Policy Research Officer in International Services and Student Affairs (ISSA) at (269) 387-5873 to arrange an appointment to discuss any changes in your program or questions or concerns related to your legal status in the United States.

ARRIVAL OF A J-1 SCHOLAR

• You must make an appointment to visit ISSA for orientation (includes check-in) immediately upon arriving in the United States. If not possible, you must report to ISSA within 7 days of your arrival in the U.S. This includes all J-1 scholars (paid or unpaid by the university). If your SEVIS record is not activated within 30 days of the program start date, you are out of status and must leave the country. This start date can be found on your DS-2019 issued by WMU.

Note: If you are unable to make the arrival date listed on your DS-2019, the host department must contact ISSA so that your entry date can be deferred in the SEVIS system. If this is not done, and you check in beyond 30 days, there will be no way to activate your record in SEVIS. It is, therefore, critical for you to be in contact with your host department and ISSA to confirm your arrival date.

• Upon orientation, you must provide ISSA with your U.S. address. This address must describe your local residence. It cannot be a P.O. Box or an office address. It can be a “care of” address. Bring your DS-2019, your I-94, your passport, and proof of health insurance (including repatriation and medical evacuation which is not included in the WMU Employee Health Insurance Plan) for yourself and any J-2 dependents to check-in.
  

WHILE YOU ARE HERE

• You and your dependents must have current passports and I-94 cards at all times. An expired passport or I-94 card will mean that you are out of status. If you as the J-1 are out of status, so are your J-2 dependents.
• You must always be in possession of a valid DS-2019, which accurately reflects your purpose for being at WMU. If it is about to expire, you should request an extension from your host department which in turn will submit an extension request to ISSA (no earlier than three months in advance, but no later than 30 days in advance).
• You and your dependents are required to maintain health insurance and repatriation/medical evacuation coverage (which is not covered by health insurance provided through your employment with WMU – must be purchased separately) during your J exchange visitor program in the United States.
• You must come to ISSA to have your DS-2019 signed if you plan to travel outside the United States. Also, you must fill out a form called, Notice of Absence from the U.S. each time you leave the U.S. If not, your J-1 status will be in jeopardy.
• You must also report any event that may affect your immigration status such as birth of a child, marriage, change of legal name, divorce or death. This rule also extends to J-2 dependents.
• You must report any change of address to ISSA within 10 days.
• If you are working at WMU, you will need a social security number. If you do not have a social security number, come to ISSA for further information.

DEPARTURE/CHECK-OUT

• When your program is finished, you must check out at ISSA, which is required to report your program end date to the federal government. This could be the end date on your DS-2019, or it could be a prior date if you complete your program early.
  

EXTENSION OF STAY

• Request for extension must be made by your host department.
• Your program must be extended before the end date on your current DS-2019. If the end date lapses, then no extension is possible and you must leave the United States.
• To ensure that this process runs smoothly, have your host department send ISSA any extension paperwork at least a month prior to the program end date, but no earlier than three months prior to the current program end date. ISSA will then verify that you are eligible for an extension and process the paperwork.
  

TRANSFER TO ANOTHER J PROGRAM

• J-1 scholars who plan to transfer to another institution must inform ISSA of their intent to do so prior to transferring so that this can be properly noted in the SEVIS system. They need to pick up and complete the transfer out form from ISSA. Under the SEVIS system, the current J program and the transferring J program will work together to complete the transfer process.
  

OTHER ISSUES OF CONCERN

• Reinstatement to legal status will rarely, if ever, be granted in the U.S. to scholars who lose their status. If you are out of status, you must return home with no guarantee of being issued a visa to return to the U.S.
• J-2 dependents may request work permission from USCIS or attend school while they are in the United States (FYI - this rule might change).
• If you have any U.S.-source income in any given year, you must file U.S. income tax returns. Even without U.S. income, you and your J-2 dependent must file Form 8843 each year. Please contact the U.S. Internal Revenue Services for more information.