Traveling Outside The United States

If you will be traveling outside the United States during your J-1 program, you must be sure to have a valid travel endorsement (signature) on your DS-2019 for your return to the U.S. in J-1 status. If it has been more than six months since your DS-2019 was signed for travel, we recommend that you obtain a new travel signature.

If The University Of Arkansas Is Your J-1 Program Sponsor:

  • If this is your first time to travel outside the United States after arriving to the University of Arkansas, you must have a travel consultation appointment with a J-1 advisor at International Students and Scholars to obtain a travel signature on your DS-2019. Please schedule an appointment with an advisor at least one to two weeks before the date you plan to leave Fayetteville. You must complete a J-1 Travel Request Form through ISSLink prior to meeting with the advisor.
  • If you have traveled outside the United States previously after arriving to the University of Arkansas, and you have already met with a J-1 advisor for a travel consultation appointment, you may drop off your DS-2019 for a travel signature. You must complete a J-1 Travel Request Form through ISSLink prior to bringing your DS-2019 to the International Students and Scholars office to be signed. Please allow AT LEAST THREE BUSINESS DAYS for your DS-2019 to be signed and returned to you after you have completed the travel form and submitted your DS-2019 at ISS.

If You Have A Different J-1 Program Sponsor:

You must contact your J-1 program sponsor directly to request a travel signature for your DS-2019, and follow their instructions for how to obtain the signature. Please be sure to contact your program sponsor well in advance of your travel, since you will probably have to mail your DS-2019 to them and wait for it to be processed and returned before you travel.

Travel And Dependents

If you have dependents accompanying you in J-2 status, they will also need travel signatures on their DS-2019s for their return to the United States.

  • If your dependents will leave the United States but will NOT return, you must notify ISS (or your J-1 program sponsor) so that your immigration record may be updated accordingly. J-1 program sponsors are required to notify Homeland Security if J-2 dependents permanently depart the United States prior to the departure of the J-1.
  • Because your J-2 dependents' immigration status is based on your J-1 status, your J-2 dependents may not remain in the United States for "any significant period of time" while you are outside the United States. From the NAFSA Advisor's Manual:
    • "Since the dependent's stay in the United States is valid only while the J-1 participant maintains status here, it is not legitimate for the dependent to remain in the United States while the J-1 exchange visitor is absent from the country for any significant period of time. This period is not specified in the regulations. Circumstances such as continued enrollment for students or continued employment for scholars during the period of absence should be taken into account."