If you are nearing your program completion at UMass, you are permitted a 30-day grace period from the program end date on your DS-2019 form or the completion of your degree program, whichever comes first, to decide your future plans and to ensure your J-1 immigration status is not impacted. If your DS-2019 end date is correct, no action is required. If your DS-2019 end date does not correspond to the program completion, please contact your ISSS Advisor to assist.
Option 1: Transfer to a new institution or start a new degree program at UMass
Transfer to a new institution: Students transferring their J-1 immigration record to a new institution should follow the instructions below.
New Degree Level at UMass: if you have been accepted into a new degree level at UMass (i.e., Bachelor’s to Master’s or Master’s to Ph.D.), ISSS will contact you with instructions on how to update your DS-2019 once you have been accepted into your new degree program.
Special note to J-1 Non-Degree students: Please contact your ISSS advisor if you wish to be admitted to a program of study in the U.S. Non-Degree status does not allow matriculation to a degree-seeking status.
Option 2: Change your immigration status. You can change your immigration status from J-1 to another status. Please work with an immigration attorney if this is your plan AND inform ISSS. Please complete the Change of Status E-Form.
If you are no longer a student at UMass after changing your status, your NENS access to UMass systems (access to UMass email, UMass VIP, etc.) will be deactivated 30 days after your new change of status begins. Please plan accordingly.
Option 3: Apply for Academic Training (AT). Your AT application must be approved by ISSS prior to your completion of studies date. Please review the AT information.
Leave the U.S. within 30-days.
If you leave the U.S. during your 30-day grace period, you are not permitted re-entry on your J-1 visa and DS-2019. If you want to return during this time, you must use a different immigration status like ESTA, a B1/B2 tourist waiver, etc.
The 30-day grace period also applies to J-2 dependents (if the J-1 DS-2019 is shortened to accommodate the new completion date, the same applies to the J-2. Please keep this in mind if the J-2 has an EAD or is currently enrolled in a program of their own. The J-2 cannot remain in the U.S. without the J-1.
If you plan to withdraw from the University, take a temporary absence from your studies, etc., please contact your ISSS Advisor before making your final decision.
Once you have talked with ISSS and finalized your withdrawal/leave of absence, you will need to take official steps of notifying the Registrar’s Office of your withdrawal from the University. Refer to the Registrar's Office website for details.
Graduate Students: Please work closely with your academic department/advisor. They can advise accordingly on other options.
If you are planning to transfer to another U.S. university or college, please access our Transfer Out E-Form. Use your UMass NETID credentials and choose Amherst as your campus to log into the system.
ISSS cannot transfer your record once your DS-2019 has expired. Since transfer out requests take 10 business days to process, please try to submit it no later than day 20 of your 30-day grace period to ensure there is enough time for ISSS processing. Please work with your new institution on your new DS-2019.
You will need:
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Your Acceptance Letter from the new school
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Program Number: starts with “P” followed by 6 numbers
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SEVIS Release Date: Usually after the last date of finals or the last date of your assistantship contract (for graduate students). The SEVIS release date must be within 30-days of your program completion date or the end of your DS-2019 (whichever is earlier).
In accordance with regulatory SEVIS transfer procedures found at 8 CFR 214.2.(f)(8)(ii), the UMass Amherst International Programs Office will not accept nor complete transfer forms (or pre-admission forms) from the new institution as they are not required per regulation. The SEVIS transfer procedure will be handled entirely through the UMass ISSS transfer request process.
J-1 students in the categories of Student Bachelors, Student Masters, Student Doctorate, Student Non-Degree (whose stay exceeds 6 months) will have a 12-month bar on participation in a J-1 status of Research Scholar or Professor.
Please review the information related to the 12-Month Bar and Two-Year Home Country Residency Requirement (212e).