Invite or Extend J-1 Visitors

• Sponsoring Faculty/Staff

This page is for Cornell administrators. J-1 faculty and staff: Please visit our Maintain and Extend J-1 Status page for scholars.

How to Invite or Extend J-1 Visitors 

1. Complete Form
2. Correct or Amend
3. Get DS-2019
4. Activate Status
5. Extend Status

1 Complete a request form for a new J-1 visitor.

You must be pre-approved to access the J-1 request form. If you are new to your administrative role, please contact us to request authorization.

• Submit this form for new J-1 exchange visitors.
• If your visitor is transferring to Cornell from another institution, submit a “J-1 Scholar Transfer-In” request instead.
• Once a prospective visitor has completed their portion of the form, allow five business days for processing. 

2 Correct or amend your request.

Making a change to a J-1 program? Submit a request in myStatus: 

• Change to program dates: Submit a “J-1 Program Amendment” with the new dates. The J-1 program start date should align with the exchange visitor's anticipated start date at Cornell. 
• Change to funding source or amount: Submit a “J-1 Financial Amendment” with the new funding information. 
• New department or job duties at Cornell: The new department must submit a “J-1 Internal Change of Department” request in myStatus. International Services must approve the request before the new position can begin. 
• New title at Cornell: If there's no change in department or job duties, submit a “J-1 Program Amendment” to let us know about a J-1 exchange visitor's new title. 
• New worksite: Submit a “J-1 Program Amendment” with information about the new worksite. International Services must approve the request before the J-1 exchange visitor can begin working at the new worksite. 
• Error or change to J-1 scholar's biographic information (e.g., name, country of birth, permanent residency or citizenship, etc.): Direct your exchange visitor to submit a “J-1 Biographic Amendment” in myStatus (under J-1 Scholar Services). Departments are not authorized to submit a biographic amendment on behalf of an exchange visitor. 
• Error or change to a J-2 dependent's biographic information (e.g., name, country of birth, permanent residency or citizenship, etc.): Direct your exchange visitor to submit a “J-2 Dependent Update” in myStatus (under J-1 Scholar Services). Departments are not authorized to submit an amendment on behalf of a J-2 dependent. 

Please allow five business days before inquiring about an amendment request you or your exchange visitor has submitted.

3 The visitor receives a DS-2019.

After processing your request, we will prepare a DS-2019 form. The DS-2019 allows new visitors to secure a J-1 visa from a U.S. consulate and enter the United States, or to file an I-539 application to change their status within the U.S.

• Departments can access a DS-2019 by submitting a “Scholar/Employee PDF Document View” request in myStatus. Have the exchange visitor’s employee or temporary ID and date of birth ready.
• J-1 exchange visitors can access their DS-2019 through the documents icon (top right) in myStatus. 

4 Tell your J-1 visitor to complete the status activation.

All newly arrived J-1 exchange visitors are required to complete the mandatory status activation. International Services will email the department representative who submitted the request and the J-1 exchange visitor to confirm work authorization dates. 

• Prospective J-1 exchange visitors cannot begin working until they are in J-1 status and until the start date on their DS-2019. 
• If a prospective scholar never entered the U.S. in J-1 status and is no longer coming to Cornell in J-1 status, submit a “J-1 Scholar/Intern Cancellation” request in myStatus so that we can close out the J-1 record. 

5 Extend a J-1 program.

If a J-1 exchange visitor will be staying at Cornell longer than the end date listed on the DS-2019, then their J-1 status will need to be extended. 

• Before submitting a request for a J-1 program extension, verify that your exchange visitor is eligible for an extension.
  • J-1 faculty and researchers: 5 years maximum
  • J-1 short-term scholars: 6 months maximum
  • J-1 student interns: 12 months maximum
• Submit a “J-1 Scholar Extension” request in myStatus.
  • As part of the request, J-1 exchange visitors must attest that they have not started the J-1 waiver process (212e) and that they are maintaining sufficient health insurance. J-1 exchange visitors must also have sufficient funding for the duration of the J-1 extension request.
  • The department can indicate title changes as part of the request. 
  • J-2 dependents are automatically extended as part of the process.

Once the J-1 exchange visitor has completed their portion of the request, please allow five business days for processing. International Services will update Workday and reverify the I-9.