Maintaining J-1 Student Status

Once a student is admitted to the United States in J-1 status, s/he must meet certain obligations relative to the student visa. The student in J-1 status must:

• Maintain a valid passport all times;
• Attend the school the student was authorized to attend;
• Maintain a full course of study;
• Maintain health insurance coverage for the duration of his/her stay. JMU requires all international students to have a health insurance policy; in addition, federal law mandates that those on a J visa maintain appropriate health insurance;
• Apply for extension of stay before expiration of present DS-2019;
• Follow proper procedures to continue in J-1 status from one educational level to another;
• Follow proper procedures to transfer to another school;
• Limit on-campus employment to 20 hours or less per week while school is in session;
• Refrain from off-campus employment, including internships, without proper authorization from the Responsible Officer in International Student and Scholar Services and/or the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service;
• Report a change of address to International Student and Scholar Services within 10 days of any move.

You will be required to report to International Student and Scholar Services at the beginning of each semester to complete a biographical form and submit copies of your current I-94, passport, DS-2019 and visa.