J-1: Maintaining Legal Status
In order to maintain your legal status as a J-1 faculty, staff member or Visiting Scholar, you must:
Have a valid I-94 card and a valid and current DS 2019 form at all times
Have a valid passport (both you and your dependents)
To extend your passport, you will need to contact your home country embassy or consulate for the procedures that you must follow. Be sure to contact your embassy at least 6 months prior to the expiration of your passport to ensure timely processing.
Maintain adequate health insurance coverage for yourself and your dependents as required by federal regulations
Pursue the activity as described in #4 on your DS 2019 form
Only engage in employment in the department or office for which your program has been approved
File timely and appropriate transfer and extension notifications through the ISS office
If any university courses are taken, they must only be part-time, non-degree courses
For Visiting Scholars only, limit departures from the campus and the US to 21 days or less during your J-1 program unless the reason for leaving longer allows the maintaining of the J-1 program. Please discuss such plans with an ISS counselor during a walkin session (scroll down to see walkin session times) or by emailing intlscholars@purdue.edu about how to document reasons to be away from campus or the US and still be maintaining the J program.
