☑ Keep Your Passport Valid
- Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months into the future.
- Contact your home country’s embassy in the U.S. for information about renewing your passport validity.
☑ Keep Your Local Address Updated
Keep your local residential address current by completing the Address Update Form.
☑ Maintain Active UCI Academic Appointment
You must maintain an active UCI academic appointment during your UCI J-1 program.
☑ Keep Your DS-2019 Valid
Coordinate with your UCI host department to extend and/or update your DS-2019 document if there are changes to your UCI J-1 program. Visit J-1 Program Extension if you require an update of your DS-2019. These updates can include, change of UCI host department, site of activity address, funding updates, change of J-1 program end date, replacement, or travel.
☑ Discuss a Changes of UCI J-1 Program with Your UCI Host Department
Any such changes should be discussed fully with UCI host faculty member and UCI department before updating your visa document.
☑ Get a Travel Signature
- Before your departure from the U.S., request a signature for re-entry from an advisor at the International Center. The signature is valid for one year.
- J-1 scholars sponsored by a third-party organization (Fulbright, LASPAU, or other): acquire a travel signature from your program sponsor.
☑ Request Authorization for Off-Campus Employment
- As a UCI sponsored J-1 scholar, you are expected to engage in UCI collaborative research and/or teaching activities as part of your J-1 program objectives.
- Off-campus employment — Requires special authorization from your UCI host department and the UCI International Center. Do not engage in unauthorized off-campus employment activities. Please visit here for information on second site of activity requirements.
☑ Health Insurance Coverage
The U.S. Department of State requires that all exchange visitors on a J visa have health insurance for the principal J-1 and all of the accompanying dependents throughout the duration of the program. As a J-1 scholar at UCI, you and all your accompanying dependents are required to have medical insurance that meets the minimum J-1 requirements.
You can obtain this coverage through Gallagher Benefit Services, or from another insurer or health care provider in your home country. Please check with your UCI hiring department if health insurance benefits are provided. Please note, CORE Benefits do not meet J-1 health insurance requirements.
- Please visit https://ic.uci.edu/j-1-and-j-2-health-insurance-requirements/ for more information on J-1 and J-2 health insurance requirements.
☑ Transferring to Another J-1 Sponsoring Institution
If you wish to transfer your J-1 program from UCI to another J-1 sponsoring institution in the U.S., you will need to secure an offer with the new J-1 institution.
- Please visit here for more information on the J-1 SEVIS record transfer out process. We recommend starting this process at least 30 days prior to your last date of UCI employment.
☑ 30 Day Grace Period
J-1 Exchange Visitors are allowed an additional 30-day grace period after their DS-2019 document expires to prepare for their departure from the U.S.
During this grace period, employment or study is not allowed. Upon departure of the U.S. within these 30 days, the J Visa status automatically expires and you will not be able to re-enter the country to reclaim the rest of your grace period time.