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Current J-1 Students

As a current J-1 student at UT Southwestern, you need to be aware of ways to maintain your visa status as well as other requirements. This page will help you understand the J-1 student visa maintenance criteria.

Maintaining a Legal J-1 Student Status

There are many requirements for maintaining a legal J-1 status. It is important for all J-1 holders to understand the regulations and benefits of their visa status.

If you do not maintain your nonimmigrant status, it can result in serious problems with immigration and lead to potential issues with future visa extensions or change of status.

To maintain legal status, you must do to the following:

  • Attend the mandatory immigration check-in with the UTSW Office of International Affairs.
  • Extend your DS-2019 prior to its expiration date if you are unable to complete your academic program by original expiration date.
  • Contact the Office of International Affairs if there is a change in your position title, salary, or department to update your DS-2019 in a timely fashion in accordance with immigration regulations.
  • Conduct employment only as indicated on the DS-2019.
  • Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond the day you will return to the U.S. from a trip abroad.
  • Always keep your current and permanent address information up to date.
  • Provide proof verifying compliance with the health insurance requirement to receive your initial DS-2019 form and to extend your stay.
  • File federal tax forms every year you are in the U.S.

J-1 Student Health Insurance

two students talking in a hallway

The United States government requires that everyone holding J-1 visas, and their dependents in the U.S., maintain health insurance that meets the following minimum standards:

  • Medical benefits of at least US $100,000 per accident or illness.
  • A deductible not to exceed US $500 per accident or illness.
  • Repatriation of remains coverage in the amount of US $25,000.
  • Expenses to cover medical evacuation of the visitor(s) to their home country in the amount of US $50,000.

All visitors on the J-1 visa will need to purchase coverage for medical evacuation and repatriation insurance our Affordable Care Act-compliant student health insurance policy, Academic Health Plans (AHP).

Postdoctoral scholars, research fellows, and students may enroll in the UTSW employee insurance plan at no cost to them if they:

  1. Work at least 20 hours per week for 4 1/2 months, and
  2. Earn a salary

Your insurance coverage will begin on your DS-2019 program start date.

Additional coverage for family members is at your expense. All J-1 exchange visitors who do not qualify for employment-based coverage as described above must purchase health insurance for themselves and all J-2 family members through Academic Health Plans.

Two-Year Foreign Residency Requirement 212(e)

J-1 exchange visitors may incur a two-year foreign residency requirement. J-2 dependents are also subject to this same requirement.

This requirement prohibits J-1 and J-2 visa holders from changing their immigration status to H, L, or Permanent Residency without first returning to their country for two years or obtaining a waiver.

If you are subject to this requirement, the DS-2019 form will indicate that you are subject to “212(e)”.

The two-year foreign residency requirement applies to J-1 students who:

  • Receive funding from the U.S. government, home government, or an international organization to use for the J-1 program.
  • Worked or studied in a field that appears on the “skills list.” This is a list of fields of specialized knowledge and skills that are needed in the J-1’s country of last permanent residence for its development.
  • Participated in a graduate medical training program in the United States under the sponsorship of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates.

Please note that if you are interested in a waiver, you should first talk to your immigration specialist. If you start the waiver process too early, you will not be able to travel in and out of the U.S. as a J-1 or get an extension, and you may not be able to transfer your J-1 program.

Dependents

The term “dependents” refers to a spouse and minor children (under age 21) of the J-1 exchange visitor. Each dependent must have an individual DS-2019 to obtain a J-2 visa stamp and to enter the U.S.

J-2 status does not automatically enable work authorization, but it does provide the ability to apply for permission to work from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office through an Employment Authorization Document (EAD).

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