Completion of Program

Once your J Exchange Visitor program is complete, you have three options.

  1. Depart the U.S. within 30 days after your program completion date on your DS-2019. This 30-day grace period is for the purposes of tourism and to prepare to depart the United States. Working during this time period is not allowed.
  2. Transfer your SEVIS record to another institution within the U.S. Please note that a transfer is not possible if you have reached the maximum time limits for your J Exchange Visitor category. Please also be aware that if you have requested a waiver of the 2-year home residency requirement, transferring your record to another institution will again make you subject to the requirement.
  3. Change to another visa status within the U.S. Changing to another visa status within the U.S. requires an application to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). It can take several months for USCIS to process these applications. Please be aware that if you are subject to the 2-year home residency requirement, it is not possible to change to another visa status within the U.S.

* Please be aware that J-1 faculty member status can be extended for a maximum of 5 years. Once a J-1 faculty appointment is complete, individuals are barred from participating in another J-1 Professor program for 2 years, regardless of how long the original program was. In addition, after you finish your J-1 program in the U.S., you may be required to spend two years in your home country before applying for U.S. Legal Permanent Residence.