J-1 Student Immigration Orientation Session
This reporting and training session is required by U.S. regulations. We appreciate your participation. This should take you less than 30 minutes to complete. If you have difficulty or questions regarding this training, please contact the Office of Visa & Immigration Services (OVIS) at Dartmouth College: (603) 646-3474 or OVIS @dartmouth.edu
Why do I have to do this training? International students and exchange visitors who come to the U.S. to study are required by U.S. regulations to report to the sponsoring school. The Office of Visa & Immigration Services (OVIS) at Dartmouth College is responsible for reporting all required information to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Department of State. If you fail to report to us, and complete the following training, you will risk losing your legal status in the U.S.
You have in your possession certain documents that define your identity, your immigration status, how long you may remain in the U.S., and what you are allowed to do in the U.S. U.S. regulations require you to carry these documents on your person at all times. DS-2019 form (and DS-7002 for Student Interns) I-94 card Passport U.S. visa (Canadian citizens are visa exempt)
Passport Should be valid at least six months into the future at all times. Some countries have passport agreements with the U.S. allowing you to remain in the U.S. if the passport expires; but try not to let this happen! If you hold more than one passport or citizenship, the passport you are required to have with you is the one that you used to enter the U.S., and the one that is also listed on the DS-2019 form. If you lose your passport, contact your Embassy in the U.S. as soon as possible to request a replacement. Please also inform our office of the lost passport.
DS-2019 form Generated from the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This agency is responsible for all international student and scholar information and regulations, and is within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. SEVIS records for J-1 students are maintained by the U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program. Your program expiration date is in #3 on the form. If you are still present in the U.S., do not let this date pass without contacting your immigration advisor in OVIS Your SEVIS number is in the top right hand corner, above the barcode A travel signature on the bottom right-hand corner of the form is required from your immigration advisor every year. To get a new signature, drop your form off at the OVIS office. It usually takes one to two business days to get a new signature If any of the information shown of the form changes, contact your immigration advisor immediately. Student-Interns also have a DS-7002 form, and should keep this safe.
I-94 form This is the small white card that is usually stapled to your passport, or to your I-20 form. It should have an 11-digit pre-printed number on the top left hand corner. This is your I-94 number, also called an Arrival/Departure number, or an Alien registration number. You fill out the I-94 card on the airplane when coming to the U.S. It is then stamped by the U.S. immigration officer at the Port of Entry, to note your visa status, and the amount of time you may remain in the U.S. It should say J-1 D/S. The D/S notation means that you are admitted for the duration of your status, as defined by your DS-2019 form. If you lose the I-94 card, contact your immigration advisor at OVIS immediately. If you are subject to Special Registration at the Port of Entry, it will be noted on your I-94 card. Contact your immigration advisor immediately after arriving on campus. When you depart the U.S., the airline will take the old I-94 card away from you, and report your departure to U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security. When you return to the U.S., you will complete a new I-94 card on the plane (or at the Port of Entry), and it should again be stamped by the immigration officer J-1 D/S
U.S. Visa Stamp This is the stamp placed in your passport by the U.S. Consulate. The U.S. J-1 visa allows you to apply for entry into the U.S. as an J- 1 exchange visitor in the student category. Once you enter the U.S. though, you do not need the visa any longer; it can expire, and you are still allowed to remain in the U.S. legally, as you have an I-94 card that says J-1 D/S and a DS-2019 form that is unexpired. If you leave the U.S., you generally need to be able to show a valid (unexpired) U.S. visa in order to return to the U.S. EXCEPTION: Automatic Revalidation of your visa: If you go to Canada or Mexico or the adjacent islands for less than 30 days, you can re-enter the U.S using an expired J-1 visa. Contact your immigration advisor at OVIS for more information on this process. EXCEPTION: Canadian citizens are not require to apply for and receive a U.S. visa before entering the U.S. They still need to present the DS-2019 form though, and proof of Canadian citizenship, and they must receive an I-94 card that says J-1 D/S
Your J-1 visa will indicate whether you may be subject to the home residency regulation, also known as regulation 212(e). J visitors become subject to 212(e) for one of the following reasons: Their country has a skills list on file with the U.S. government, requiring them to return home if the study in one of the listed areas. They receive direct government or international agency funding They are in the U.S. for a clinical medical residency program. J visitors subject to 212(e) may not get an H-1B or L-1 work visa, or a U.S. permanent resident card, until they spend 2 years in their home country. They may, however, return as students or tourists with no restrictions. It is possible to apply for a waiver to the home residency requirement. See this website for more information: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1296.html
If a J-1 visitor has been present in the U.S any part of the previous 12 months in J-1 or J-2 status, he or she may not re-enter the U.S. in another J program for 12 months from the date of departure from the U.S. If a J-1 is present in the U.S. in the Researcher or Professor categories, he or she may not reenter on a new Researcher or Professor category visa for 24 months following the end of the previous J program.
Pursue a full course of study Report to your school s immigration advisor no later than 30 days after your program start date, but preferably as soon as you arrive Make normal academic progress Do not let your DS-2019 form expire while you are still in the U.S. and engaged in full-time study Be familiar with, and follow proper immigration procedures. J Students: Report a change of address in BannerStudent within ten days of moving. J scholars / faculty: Report a change of address to OVIS within ten days : https://fs8.formsite.com/rcatmur/changeaddressform/secure_ index.html Do not work on or off campus without proper authorization.
You must enroll each term in a full course of study, with a few possible exceptions, which must be authorized IN ADVANCE by your immigration advisor in OVIS If you are unable to continue enrolling in a full course of study, contact your immigration advisor as soon as possible **before** you fall below full-time enrollment. A full course of study, in most Dartmouth programs is three courses per term, however some programs allow for two courses per term. Check with your registrar, and your immigration advisor to be sure.
Report to your immigration advisor to have your J- 1 program validated in SEVIS in a timely fashion: no later than 30 days after program start date listed on the DS-2019 form for students in Initial SEVIS status. No later than fifteen days for students transferring form another U.S. school For initial school attendance, the school listed on the visa and on the DS-2019 form must be the same. If you are transferring from another U.S. school, the school listed on the visa can be different. J students are allowed one vacation term per year, after they enroll full-time in three consecutive terms.
Make normal academic progress toward completing the course of study. Complete before the expiration of program completion date on the DS-2019 form. Always keep the DS-2019 form valid, and follow proper procedures when either an extension of stay is needed, a change in educational levels or in degree program of study is required. If you wish to transfer to another U.S. school, follow proper procedures to effect the immigration transfer, as well as the academic transfer.
Violation Honor Code Violation Standards of Conduct Sanction prohibits enrollment Termination of DS-2019 form, SEVIS record, and immigration status
It is critical that all students understand and comply with the Dartmouth Academic Honor Principle, as a violation of the Honor Principle can result in a loss of immigration status, as well as suspension or separation from the College. Violations include plagiarism, using the same work for more than one course, unauthorized collaboration with other students Full details can be found here: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~deancoll/studenthandbook/standards.html#ahpsc
Dartmouth College has developed a set of Standards of Conduct which govern the behavior and activities of individual students and student organizations on or off campus. Violation of the Standards... may subject individuals or recognized organizations to disciplinary action. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~deancoll/studenthandbook/standards.html#ahpsc Violations may result in a College sanction that would require a termination of your immigration status.
Follow J-1 grace period rules. You are allowed a 30 day grace period to remain in the U.S. after you complete your degree program. You may not be enrolled or studying during this grace period. Your degree program is completed on the day of your last exam, or the day you submit your thesis, even if your DS-2019 form says the expiration date in in the future Your graduation date is not necessarily your program end date; be careful about this! Report change of address within 10 days of moving so that SEVIS can be updated. Most J-1 enrolled students will report this change of address through Banner Student. If you do not have access to Banner, report your change of address here: https://fs8.formsite.com/rcatmur/changeaddressform/secure_index.ht ml
Do not work on or off campus unless specifically authorized to do so under J-1 regulations, and you are in possession of a letter authorizing the employment from your immigration advisor. On campus employment: 20 hours per week or less during enrolled terms Fulltime or more over breaks between terms, or during vacation terms Paid directly by Dartmouth College Off-campus employment Academic Training (AT) Information on this type of employment is available on our website: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ovis/updates/j1/training.html
Required by the U.S. government for people who are eligible to work in the U.S. J-1 students are allowed to apply for U.S. SSN s, and should do so if they are offered a job on campus. For information on how to apply, see our website: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ovis/updates/prea rrival/ssc.html You will need a letter from your immigration advisor, in order to apply for the SSN. You may request this letter from the OVIS website at: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ovis/services/ssnr eq.html
Issued by each U.S. State, based on where you live. J-1 students are allowed to drive in the U.S. with an international license, or with their home country driver s license for two months, before they are required to have a U.S. license. You will need a letter from your immigration advisor in order to apply for the U.S. driver s license. See information on our website: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ovis/updates/ prearrival/license/index.html
All non-residents in the U.S. are required to file at least one, and possibly two tax forms, by April 15 of the year following their physical presence in the U.S. OVIS has U.S. tax information available on our website: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ovis/serviceswepr ovide/tax.html We also provide access to an online tax preparation system, called CinTax which is available in February of each year. Monitor our Visa Services blitz bulletin in your Dartmouth email account for details.
Office of Visa & Immigration Services website: http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ovis Citizenship and Immigration Services: http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis Student & Exchange Visitor Program: http://www.ice.gov/sevis/students/index.htm U.S. Department of State: http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html
OVIS 44 North College St., Suite 6202 Hanover, NH 03755 (603) 646-3474 OVIS @dartmouth.edu http://www.dartmouth.edu/~ovis If you are viewing this from our online orientation program, you can choose to save this presentation to your computer by clicking File in the top left corner, and Save As. If you choose not to save it, you can exit this presentation by clicking on the red X in the top right corner of the screen.