Maintaining Status

As a J-1 student at the University of Arkansas, you have been admitted for a specific period of time to engage in your particular area of study, as described on your DS-2019 form. It is important that you maintain lawful J-1 status while in the U.S. There are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your stay in the U.S. remains valid:

  • New students: complete an Immigration Basics session at ISS (offered at 8:30 each morning the week before classes and the first week of classes).
  • Report any changes in your U.S. living address or your U.S. phone number through UAConnect 
  • Be aware of the expiration date of your program. This is not your visa expiration date in your passport; it is the end date in section 3 of your DS-2019 form. If you need additional time to complete your degree, contact ISS to request an extension (or notify ISS if you are under a different J-1 program sponsor and you have been approved for an extension of your program).
  • Be continuously enrolled as a full-time student. Undergraduates must complete at least 12 credit hours each fall and spring semester.  At the graduate level, full course of study is defined as 9 credit hours per semester (or 6 hours if you have a 50% assistantship). 
  • Do not accept or engage in employment either on or off campus before you have obtained approval from your J-1 program sponsor. Refer to the working section for employment information.
  • If you will transfer to another college or university to pursue another degree, discuss your plans with an ISS advisor to make sure that the required transfer procedure can be accomplished (this also applies if you will be transferring from your current J-1 program sponsor to the University of Arkansas to complete your degree or start a new degree here).
  • Comply with U.S. Department of State health insurance requirements for J-1 visa holders and their J-2 dependents.
  • Keep your passport valid at least 6 months into the future at all times. Passports can be renewed by your embassy/consulate. For information about your country's embassy in the U.S. check the list here.
  • J-1 visitors are allowed a 30-day grace period beyond the end date on their DS-2019 to prepare for departure. This additional 30-day period is NOT for employment, extensions, or transfers. If you travel outside the U.S. during your 30-day grace period, you forfeit the remaining grace period and may not re-enter the U.S. under J-1 status.