Below are the Berkeley International Offices' tips on properly maintaining your J-1 Exchange Visitor status to keep your immigration record safe and secure:
1. Report change of address, U.S. phone number & email
- Report change of address, U.S. phone number, and email address to the J scholar portal within 10 days of a change. If you already have a J scholar portal account you can log in to your existing account. If you have not yet created an account you will need to do so at the same link.
- Report any changes to J-2 email addresses within 10 days of change to the Berkeley International Office (Jscholar@berkeley.edu).
2. Maintain J program objective
- Your legal J-1 visa/immigration status is only valid as long as you are maintaining your appointment with UC Berkeley and are engaging in research and/or teaching at UC Berkeley as noted on your Form DS-2019.
3. Do not accept any unauthorized employment
- J-1 Exchange Visitors are only allowed to receive payment as specifically noted on the Form DS-2019 unless given prior written authorization from the J Exchange Visitor program sponsor.
- For detailed information, see our Off-campus Payment Authorization page.
4. Keep documents valid and accurate
- Extending Program: Contact your department 4 months prior to the end date on your Form DS-2019. Your department must submit a J extension request to the Berkeley International Office. For more information on the extenion process, visit J-1 Scholar Program Extensions.
- Keep your passport valid: Contact your home country embassy or consulate should your passport require renewal.
5. Get a travel endorsement and understand your travel documents
- Before any international travel, ensure you will have the necessary travel documents for your return and obtain a travel signature from the Berkeley International Office if needed. We generally recommend that the signature be current within 10 months of your re-entry date.
6. Understand your 30-day grace period following program completion
The Department of Homeland Security may grant Exchange Visitors an additional period of 30 days following the end date of their Form DS-2019 to prepare for departure:
- CANNOT extend J program during the 30-day grace period.
- CANNOT conduct research/teach/work or get paid during the 30-day grace period.
- CANNOT transfer during the 30-day grace period.
7. Report early departure
- J-1 scholars must inform both the host department and the Berkeley International Office (Jscholar@berkeley.edu) if they will be ending their program more than 15 days before the end date of the Form DS-2019.
- J-1 scholars must inform the Berkeley International Office (Jscholar@berkeley.edu) if accompanying J-2 dependents’ final departure from the U.S. is prior to the scholars’ departure date.
8. Maintain health insurance
- You, and your J-2 dependents, must maintain health insurance coverage that meets J-1 federal guidelines for the entire length of your program.
- For resources and requirements, please see our Health Insurance page.