J-1 research scholars, short-term scholars, professors, and student-interns are responsible for the following. Issuance of a DS-2019 is contingent upon your agreement to follow these responsibilities.
Engage in authorized activities continuously, in person, and work only with authorization
You must participate only in the specific activities for which your department invited you. Other activities must be approved by both ISSS and your UMN faculty mentor. The US Department of State allows no more than 40% (2 workdays per week) for remote work. If your activities require you to perform your research activities outside the US, it must be documented in SEVIS by ISSS.
- Research Scholars, Short Term Scholars, and Professors: Primary activities are research and/or teaching in your host UMN department, with your faculty supervisor, in-person, and on our campuses. Enrolling in a degree program will require changing status to a student visa.
- Student-interns: You must maintain full-time focus on the activities as listed on the DS-7002, including enrolling in classes. If your activities will differ from the description on the DS-7002, your hosting department must contact ISSS before you engage in any new activities.
Report your arrival, residential address, and email address
You must arrive and report to ISSS within 25 days of your DS-2019 start date. At that time you will report your U.S. residential address. You must report any address changes within 10 days of moving while you are in J-1 status.
You must always have an active email address that the University can use to contact you. Keep your hosting department and ISSS updated with your email information.
Maintain required health insurance
J-1 scholars and J-1 student-interns employed by UMN are required to enroll in the University Employee Benefits Health Insurance, and should not choose the HSA option because it does not meet Department of State requirements. Those not employed by UMN are required to purchase the University Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP). For more information, visit the Office of Student Health Benefits website. These are the only two options available to most J-1 visa holders. Any exceptions must be formally approved by the University’s Office of Student Health Benefits. Your dependents must also be insured for the length of their J-2 program.
J-1scholars coming to UMN for less than 31 days can purchase insurance through the open market as long as it meets Department of State minimums.
J-1 student-interns must enroll in SHBP regardless of program length.
If you do not purchase UMN insurance for yourself and your dependent(s), for the entire length of your J program, you will not be eligible for ISSS services after you arrive. These services include:
- Travel/Re-entry Signature
- DS-2019 Extension
- Dependent DS-2019 Request
- Financial Update
- Occasional Lecture and Short-term Consultation Authorization
Willful failure to purchase health insurance for the duration of your J visa program requires ISSS to terminate your J status. This is a regulatory requirement of the U.S. Department of State. Learn more.
Maintain accurate visa documents
Your passport and DS-2019 must be accurate and valid at all times. Contact ISSS to update any information on your DS-2019, or if these documents are lost or stolen.
Maintain funding
You are required to maintain enough funding to cover your expenses, including insurance, in Minnesota as reflected in the ISSS application for yourself and any J-2 dependents for the duration of your J program. ISSS applications’ minimum cost of living is very low. It is strongly advised that you plan your finances accordingly to have access to more funding than the minimums stated on the application.
As a nonimmigrant, you are not eligible to use any type of public funding during your stay in the U.S.
Travel
J-1 visa holders should not plan to travel for more than 30 days without consulting with ISSS. Your program activities must be continuous and in-person, unless you have prior approval from ISSS. If you are traveling outside of the U.S., you must ensure you have the proper documents needed to re-enter:
- Valid passport
- Valid entry visa stamp in your passport (full page sticker, not expired)
- Valid DS-2019 with a valid ISSS re-entry signature (lower right corner)
- Proof of funding indicated on your DS-2019
- Proof of health insurance
Learn more about traveling with J status.
Request ISSS authorization to transfer
You must receive advance approval from ISSS to change your current UMN hosting department to another UMN department or faculty mentor, or to another institution within the U.S. You may not do additional work, whether paid or unpaid, “on the side” without ISSS approval.
J-2 dependents
- Report your J-2 dependents’ arrival in the U.S. immediately via MyISSS
- J-2s may enroll in courses without additional authorization
- J-2s may work only after receiving employment authorization from USCIS. J-2 income cannot become the primary source of funding for J-1s or J-2s.
- J-2s are not allowed to remain in the U.S. after the J-1 program is complete
- Report to ISSS if a J-2 dependent will not use a DS-2019 they were issued
- If your J-2 dependents leave permanently before your end date, report their departure to ISSS to inactivate their J-2 SEVIS record
- J-2 spouse status is contingent on marriage. In the case of divorce, J-2 status ends and the spouse must depart the US or independently file for a change of status. J-1 must maintain health insurance for J-2 dependents until a divorce document is shared with ISSS.
- J-2 children can remain in that status only until their 21st birthday
Learn more about J-2 dependents.
File a U.S. income tax form
You must file a U.S. income tax form by April 15 each year, even if you have not earned any income in the U.S. ISSS provides resources for tax assistance but does not offer any tax advising.
End of program
If you will complete your program at UMN on the date expected (end date on your DS-2019), notify ISSS by completing the Pre-Departure form in MyISSS. However, if you will be unable or do not intend to return home within the allotted grace period, you must discuss your plans with an ISSS advisor to ensure that you maintain legal status in the U.S. Also, if you complete or end your program more than 15 days before the end date of your DS-2019, you must notify both ISSS and your department.
Grace period
J-1/J-2 visa holders are automatically given a 30 day “grace period” after the end date of their program to prepare for departure and/or to travel within the U.S. However, if you do not continuously participate in your original J-1 program until the DS-2019 end date, your visa status will end on the date you complete your J-1 original activity, transfer to another J-1 sponsor, or change your visa type. You may not work during the grace period. Any plans to extend, transfer, or change status need to be approved before the grace period begins.
Release of information
You must file a U.S. income tax form by April 15 each year, even if you have not earned any income in the U.S. ISSS provides resources for tax assistance but does not offer any tax advising.
Travel
If you are traveling outside of the U.S., you must ensure you have the proper documents needed to re-enter:
- Valid passport
- Valid entry visa stamp in your passport
- Valid DS-2019 with a valid ISSS re-entry signature (lower right corner)
- Proof of funding indicated on your DS-2019
- Proof of health insurance
Learn more about traveling with J status.
Release of information
Your records and other information resulting from any services you may receive from ISSS are private and will ordinarily not be released without your prior written consent. However, the information may be shared within ISSS or with other University offices on a need to know basis. In addition, state and federal laws place some limits on confidentiality and may require ISSS to share information, without your permission, with other offices.
We are required to share information with the appropriate University or government offices if you discuss with us:
- An imminent and credible threat of harm to yourself or another person
- An incident of sexual assault, sexual harassment, relationship violence, or stalking that occurred on campus, occurred during a University program or activity, or was committed by a University student or employee
- Any physical abuse, neglect or sexual abuse of children or vulnerable adults within the last three years (including abuse of you if you were under the age of 18 at the time)
- As required by the Department of Homeland Security or other U.S. government agencies who may be designated to request information
