Regaining Valid Status

What Does ISS Do to Help Me Maintain Status?

 

International students are important and valued members of the University of Arkansas community. The staff of ISS works diligently to audit student data, send alerts to students and monitor changing regulations. However, maintaining legal status under immigration law is a team effort, and students are ultimately responsible to understand and follow the regulations.  As always, please contact your ISS advisor (or your J-1 program advisor, if you are sponsored by another organization) at any time should you have questions.

 

What are Examples of Ways J-1 Students Might Lose Legal Status?

These are the most common situations where J-1 students could lose their legal status, but this is not an exhaustive list:

  • Students who fail to correctly report a new living address or U.S. phone number within ten days of the change (for students whose J-1 program sponsor is the University of Arkansas, this reporting is done by submitting the new information in UAConnect)
  • Students who enroll below full-time without obtaining J-1 program sponsor permission in advance
  • Students who work on campus without first receiving permission from their J-1 program sponsor
  • Students who fail to maintain satisfactory health insurance for themselves and/or their J-2 dependents (according to the Exchange Visitor regulations)
  • Students with permission who work on campus more than 20 hours per week during fall or spring semesters
  • Students who are dismissed or withdrawn by the school for academic standing, misconduct or other violations and do not leave the U.S.
  • Students who work off-campus without obtaining employment authorization 
  • Students who graduate or complete their Academic Training and do not depart from the U.S., transfer to another J program or change immigration status with in the 30-day grace period

 

What Can I Do to Avoid Losing My Legal Status?

It is your responsibility to maintain your J status. ISS and other university offices are here to help international students understand often complex immigration regulations and provide resources to keep up to date with immigration regulations. However, we cannot monitor all student activity. It is your responsibility to maintain your J Exchange Visitor status. Your best defense against losing your legal status is to:

  • Read your emails from ISS, including the weekly newsletter. ISS sends very few announcements - so when you see email from us, please read it.
  • Be aware of your own immigration situation. While ISS utilizes technology available to us to monitor student records and send out alert messages, sometimes technology fails. These reminders are a courtesy we provide, but, ultimately the law holds you responsible for maintaining your immigration status. Be aware of when your DS-2019 expires, keep your U.S. address and phone number updated, and make sure you are enrolled full-time or have authorization from ISS (or your J-1 program sponsor) to drop below full-time.
  • Please read Maintaining Legal Status.

 

How Can I Regain Valid Status If I Have Lost It?

If you believe that you may have lost your valid J-1 status, contact your J-1 program advisor immediately to discuss whether your situation may qualify for a technical correction or a reinstatement.