J-1 IMPORTANT TERMS

• DS-2019 Form (Certification of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor [J-1] Status) --Facilitates issuance of J-1 entry visa; also supports permission to stay in the United States for duration of period written while engaging in approved activities. DS-2019 must be valid throughout your stay in the U.S.

• Visa - Entry permit stamp in passport; may expire while in the US without penalty. There is no process to renew the J-1 entry visa in the US either through the Department of State or Immigration. The entry visa does not need to be renewed unless the grantee plans to leave the U.S. and seek reentry. An entry visa may be renewed by a Visa Issuing Officer at the American Embassy in your home country.

• Duration of Status (At US port of entry, INS annotates a "D/S" on I-94 Form [Arrival-Departure Record] and also in Box 6 of the DS-2019 form.) D/S indicates that the exchange visitor is in status as long as his/her DS-2019 form is valid and s/he engages in authorized activities.

• Valid Program Status - DOS' Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) Office considers an exchange visitor to be in "valid program status" only through the completion of approved J-1 activities, regardless of the end date of the DS-2019 form. EVP does not consider the thirty-day grace period as part of valid program status.

• Thirty-Day Grace Period - Upon completion of approved J-1 activities (even if earlier than the end date of the DS-2019 form), the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (formerly INS) grants exchange visitors thirty days during which the only activities they may engage in are travel within the US and/or preparation for departure.