It is important that you follow all J-1 regulations to maintain, extend, or change your immigration status while you are at UMass Amherst.
Please contact ISSS if you have any questions or concerns. We can guide you to help ensure compliance with the regulations.
J-1 Maintaining Status Requirements
- Do not change the research, teaching, or observation objectives as indicated in your invitation letter. For example, if you are here to do research in biochemistry, you cannot shift to doing work that is different. If you are not sure, contact ISSS.
- Do not work/research outside of the department listed on your DS-2019 without approval from ISSS first.
- Perform work or research on-site 60% of the week (i.e. 3 days per week on-site and only 2 days remote).
- Remember you need approval for any off-campus employment opportunity.
- You are never permitted to work at Dining Services.
- Remember to update your U.S. physical address within 10 days of any move
- Maintain your health insurance for you (and your dependents) at all times
- Even if you are not in the U.S., you (and your dependents) are required to have health insurance while you are on an active J-1.
- Get an updated travel signature if you need to travel outside of the U.S. and the travel signature on your documents will have expired by the time you return to the U.S.
- Notify ISSS if:
- Your address changes
- You have a change in funding (source and/or amount)
- You have a change of appointment percentage (“FTE”) or title
- You have a change in work location or additional work location (any employment off the UMass campus is strictly limited)
- Your research/employment ends 15 days earlier than the date listed on your DS-2019
- You need to take a leave of absence
- You need to leave the U.S. for an extended period (more than 30-days) that is not a personal vacation or visit
- If you are leaving for more than 30-days, you will need your department to process the Out of Country paperwork.
- J-2 dependents (the spouse and children under 21 of a J-1) rely upon the J-1 maintaining their legal status. If the J-1 loses legal status, so do the dependents.
- Be aware of your own immigration situation. We will advise you to the best of our ability, but the law holds you responsible for your status. This is why you must maintain your own immigration situation, be aware of when your DS-2019 expires, and keep your U.S. address updated.
Failure to maintain your J status could result in termination of your immigration record and your departure from the U.S.
A DS-2019 extension is needed if you wish to continue your J-1 scholar activities/work beyond the current end date on your DS-2019. Scholar activities cannot continue beyond your DS-2019 end date and an extension can only be granted for the purpose of continuing your J-1 scholar collaboration with your UMass Amherst department.
It is your host department’s decision to determine if they want to extend your DS-2019. J-1 Scholars and their department are sent a reminder in advance of the DS-2019’s expiration and this should be submitted far enough in advance for us to process the extension.
Eligibility
You are eligible to apply for an extension of your J scholar program if:
- Your UMass hosting department and faculty sponsor agree with the extension request
- You will have enough funding (as indicated in the ISSS extension application) to support yourself and any J-2 dependents for the duration of time on your extended DS-2019
- You have active health insurance for yourself and J-2 dependents
- You have not applied for and been granted a Department of State Waiver of the Two-Year Rule
- You have not already reached the maximum program duration for your respective J-1 category (see below)
- J-1 scholars have specific extension limits:
- Research Scholars and Professors may extend up to 5 years from the start date on their DS-2019
- Short Term Scholars may extend up to 6 months from the start date on their DS-2019
- Pre-Baccalaureate student scholars are only eligible for Short Term scholar category (maximum 6-month appointment).
- Specialists may extend up to 1 year from the start date on their DS-2019
Please note that your actual visa stamp in your passport may expire while you are in the U.S. and remaining inside the country is still permitted as long as your underlying immigration status remains valid (the visa stamp in your passport is only an entry document).
Your department/lab/center initiates a DS-2019 extension request. ISSS takes approximately 10 business days to issue a new DS-2019.
If you want to remain on appointment at UMass Amherst for longer than the limit that is allowed in your current nonimmigrant status, it is crucial for you to talk with ISSS well before your authorized stay expires.
Your department will provide an updated invitation/reappointment letter while you must update your personal information and provide your insurance documents for you (and your dependents).
After the DS-2019 Extension is Granted
Payroll
If you are on UMass Amherst’s payroll, you will need to share your DS-2019 with Human Resources and complete a new Form I-9. You will need to provide the new DS-2019, your passport, and your I-94 card/record (I want to link to the new I-94 website we’re making).
Driver’s License
If you have a driver’s license, you will need to apply for an extension of your license with the MA Registry of Motor Vehicles.