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J1 Students - Immigration Documents

Passport:

You must keep your passport valid at all times. Be sure to allow yourself plenty of time to renew your passport. To renew your passport, contact the Embassy or Consulate of your country. Addresses and phone numbers of Consulates and Embassies can be obtained at ISSS.

Form I-94 (departure record):

At your port of entry into the United States, a small white card was stapled to your passport by an immigration official. This form is very important and should be kept in a safe place. On that card is written your port of entry, your arrival date, your visa status, and how long you have been given permission to stay in the U.S. (for F-1 students this should read D/S).

Also located on your I-94 Card is your DHS Admission Number. This number was given to you before you went through U.S. Customs on your first entry to the United States. The number looks something like this: 995-000935 60. Be certain to include this information when you complete your Fact Sheet when checking in at ISSS. If your I-94 Card has been lost or stolen, contact ISSS immediately.

Note: J-1 students will either have D/S or a date on the I-94 card. The D/S matches the completion date on your form DS-2019.

Duration of Status (D/S):

The D/S on your I-94 card stands for Duration of Status. As long as you are maintaining full-time status (a minimum of 12 credits for undergraduate students and a minimum of 9 credits for graduate students) at the school you are authorized to attend, you are in good immigration status in terms of enrollment, and for obtaining any of the benefits of J-1 status.

Visa:

When you were given a visa stamp at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy outside the United States, you were given permission to enter the U.S. A visa stamp can expire while you are in the United States. Your visa stamp is the only immigration document that is allowed to expire while you are in the United States. You cannot obtain a new visa stamp in the United States. If you have an expired visa stamp and are traveling outside the United States, you will need to contact ISSS before you leave.

Note: The validity period of the visa does not indicate how long you may remain in the United States after entry. It is your I-94 and DS-2019 forms which have that information.

DS-2019 Document:

This is the document that provides your eligibility for J-1 status. You must make sure that it is accurate and up-to-date at all times.

Financial Support Documents:

These demonstrate your ability to finance your education. They can be in the form of bank statements, letters of assistantship, scholarship, fellowship, or another proof of funding.