J-1 Status

Effective August 9, 2018, USCIS updated policy regarding Unlawful Presence, which increases potential consequences for F-1/J-1 students who violate their status. The best way to avoid these consequences is to make sure you properly maintain your F-1/J-1 status while you are a student and during any F-1/J-1 post-completion training periods. Unlawful presence days begin accruing from the day you violated status and can impact your ability to return to the U.S. in the future, including 3-year or 10-year bars on re-entry (dependent on number of days accrued).

Contact your home country's embassy in the U.S. for information about renewing your passport validity.

• • If your passport expiration date is within six (6) months of expiring, it is your responsibility to have it revalidated.
• • You cannot travel back to the U.S. with a passport expiring within six (6) months.

The U.S. government requires you to report your physical address (no P.O. Boxes) within ten days of moving. To fulfill your address notification requirement and report or update your local U.S. address, use the links below:

• Current South Dakota Mines students:
• Report or update your address through Self-Service Banner. The Ivanhoe International Center will update your address to the Department of Homeland Security through SEVIS.
• Students on J-1 Post-Completion Academic Training:
• Please see our J-1 Academic Training Reporting page for more information regarding address and employment updates during J-1 Post-Completion Academic Training.

You must be enrolled full-time each semester. Undergraduate students must complete a minimum of 12 credits per semester. Graduate students must complete a minimum of 9 credits per semester.

A student cannot count more than one course (3 credit hours) of distance education toward full-time student status.

If for some reason you must leave your program of study/research work early, you must speak to a staff member in the Ivanhoe International Center and the Registrar's office.

J-1 Students

• Your DS-2019 is only valid as you are a continuing, full-time student in your degree program, or on your approved post-completion training. If you leave early, your DS-2019 will be shortened to the last day of your final semester of enrollment or end date for your employment/internship.
• If your final semester is Summer, you MUST be enrolled in Summer!

J-1 Faculty/Researchers/Interns

• You must notify the Ivanhoe International Center of your early completion in order to avoid overstaying. If you need more time to complete your project or studies or are completing early and returning home, contact the Ivanhoe International Center immediately.

• • On-Campus Employment - Limit employment to 20 hours per week during the academic year. On-campus employment may be full-time in the summer (if summer is not your first or last semester of enrollment) and vacation periods. No special work permit is required.
• • Off-Campus Employment Permission - Please see our J-1 Academic Training Reporting page for more information regarding J-1 Post-Completion Academic Training for internships or full-time employment. There are specific rules you must follow when working off-campus.

J-1/J-2s have a 30-day grace period following the end of their program of study or Post-Completion Academic Training. J-1s may ONLY use the grace period for departure. Any Transfer or post-completion Academic Training request must be submitted BEFORE the end of the program of study or DS-2019 expiration.

You, and your J-2 dependents, must maintain health insurance coverage that meets J-1 federal guidelines for the entire length of your program, including post-completion Academic Training. For more information go to: https://j1visa.state.gov/sponsors/how-to-administer-a-program/.

Before any international travel, contact the Ivanhoe International Center and make an appointment to obtain a travel signature. Travel endorsements are valid are valid for one semester during the program of study.

J-1s and their J-2 dependents may be subject to the Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement. J-1s and their J-2 dependents may also be subject to the 12-Month Bar, depending on the length of the J program. Please note that the Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement and the 12-Month Bar are separate and distinct rules.

For more information, contact the Ivanhoe International Center.

J-2 dependents are eligible to study part-time or full-time in the U.S. J-2 dependents may apply for employment authorization, but should be advised that employment may not begin until the J-2 has received the work permit. J-2 dependent work permission is not guaranteed. Income from the dependent's employment may be used to support the family's customary recreational and cultural activities and related travel, among other things. Employment will not be authorized if this income is needed to support the J-1 primary status holder.