State Department Expectations & Benefits

Below is a summary of the responsibilities and benefits placed on students in J-1 status by the United States State Department. For more information, please consult with the International Student Services (ISS) and/or the Responsible Officer of the J-1 program that issued your DS 2019.

1. Full - Time Study
2. Health Insurance
3. Employment
4. Authorized Stay in The United States
5. Travel Outside The United States
6. Change of Program
7. Two Year Home Country Physical-Presence Requirement

Please also refer to the State Department's exchange visitor Welcome Brochure for additional information.

1. FULL-TIME STUDY

• You must register for and complete a full course of study each semester.
  
  Undergraduates: 12 credit hours
  Graduates: 9 credit hours
  Law School (LLM): 8 credit hours

• Coursework is optional during the summer vacation (May-August)
• Exceptions may be granted for valid academic and medical reasons. Consult with your J-1 Responsible Officer before registering or dropping a course that places you in part-time status.

2. HEALTH INSURANCE

You are required to maintain the following minimum level of health insurance for you and your family's entire stay in J-1 or J-2 status:

- Medical benefits of $50,000 per accident or illness
- Repatriation of remains in amount of $7500
- Expenses associated with medical evacuation in amount of $10,000
- Deductible does not exceed $500 per accident or illness

Your J-1 program may be cancelled if you fail to meet this requirement. In addition, your Responsible Officer may request proof of this coverage each time you request a new DS 2019 or apply for employment.

Please see the State Department's Exchange Visitor Program website for further information about the health insurance requirements. The legal requirements are outlined in 22 CFR 62.14.

More information about factors to consider in choosing your insurance, eligibility for AU health insurance, and other health insurance options is available on our Obtaining Health Insurance page.

3. EMPLOYMENT

• You must obtain written authorization from Your Responsible Officer before beginning any kind of employment whether on or off-campus.
• Employment authorization is limited to 20 hours during the Fall and Spring semesters; full-time during semester breaks, summer vacation, or after completion of your academic program.
• Employment is any type of work performed or services in exchange for money, tuition, fees, books, supplies, transportation, room, board, or any other benefit.

You may be eligible for the following types of employment authorization:

1. Employment required by a scholarship, fellowship, or assistanship
2. On-campus jobs unrelated to study
3. Off-campus jobs to meet urgent, unforseen need
4. Academic training (work directly related to your field of study)

4. AUTHORIZED STAY IN THE UNITED STATES

Your permission to stay in the United States is determined by your I-94 and DS 2019. As long as your I-94 is noted J-1 and D/S, you have 30 days to leave the United States after the completion or termination date of your program (this date cannot exceed the expiration date in item 3 of your DS 2019).

If additional time is needed to completer your program, you must obtain a new DS 2019 and complete a program extension before the expiration date of your current DS 2019.

5. TRAVEL OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

Contact your Responsible Officer regarding procedures for validating the back of your DS 2019 (pink copy) before you depart the United States temporarily.

To re-enter the United States you will need a valid J-1 visa, passport and DS 2019. Contact ISS regarding automatic revalidation of visa for brief visits to Canada, Mexico, and most Carribean islands.

6 - AUTHORIZATION TO WORK

A Social Security Number. To put you on the payroll, your employer will need your Social Security number, which you can obtain by applying for a Social Security card. Take your passport (If you are Canadian, you may use another form of photo-bearing identification), I-94 Departure Record, DS 2019, and your J-1 Responsible Officer's written work authorization to an office of the Social Security Administration. Your Social Security card may be stamped "Not Valid for Employment." That stamp will not make you ineligible to work; it means only that no funds will ever go into the Social Security account represented by that number.

Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. When you begin work, you and your employer must complete Form I-9, which requires you to document your identity and work authorization according to directions on the back of the Form. Of the various items acceptable as documentation, you may find that the most convenient combination is your passport, I-94 Departure Record, your DS 2019, and J-1 Responsible Officer's written work authorization. Your employer, who keeps Form I-9, will make copies of the documents you submit, and return the originals to you. Form I-9 must be updated any time that you receive a renewal of your permission for Academic Training.

7. TWO YEAR HOME COUNTRY PHYSICAL PRESENCE REQUIREMENT

As a J-1 exchange visitor, you may be subject to the two-year home country physical presence requirement. In this case you must return home for a minimum of two years after completing your J-1 program before you can change or adjust your status to an H, L, or other immigrant status.

The home country requirement applies to you if:

1. You received funding from the United States Government, your own government, or an international organization in connection with your participation in the Exchange Visitor Program.
2. The education, training, or skill you are pursuing in this country appears on the Exchange Visitor Skills List for your country.
3. You acquired J-1 status on or after January 10, 1977, for the purpose of 0receiving graduate medical education or training.

APPLYING FOR A WAIVER:

You may petition to the US State Department for a waiver of this requirement under any of these specific circumstances:

1. "No Objection" from the home government
2. Request by an interested (U.S.) Government agency
3. Risk of persecution in home country
4. Exceptional hardship to a United States citizen (or permanent resident) spouse or child of an exchange visitor
5. Request by a designated State Department of Health, or its equivalent

Please see the State Department website for information about these circumstances and the application process. Additional questions can be directed to your J-1 program Responsible Officer.

To check on a pending waiver application:
State Department Waivers Review Branch on-line check
Waiver Review Public Inquiry Number: (202) 663-1225
Waiver Review FAX number: (202) 663-8666