Know your immigration documents.
- Form I-94: Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issues you an I-94 when you enter or reenter the U.S. Your I-94 reflects the date and class of admission and the expiration date of your authorized period of stay. Your I-94 should list your “admit until date” as D/S (duration of status). You can only stay in the U.S. if you have a valid I-94. Always check it for accuracy each time you return to the U.S.
- DS-2019: Your DS-2019 is a U.S. Department of State document produced by International Services for you and any J-2 dependents. It contains important information about your J program:
- Your SEVIS number, starting with “N00” (top right)
- Cornell’s program number (section 2 on the right side)
- Your J program dates (section 3)
- Your exchange visitor category—typically research scholar, short-term scholar, student intern, or professor (section 4)
- Total estimated financial support for your J program (section 5)
- Required signatures: Be sure to sign the bottom of your DS-2019. Your DS-2019 must be signed by International Services in Section 7. If you are in the U.S. seeking to travel internationally, you also need a valid travel signature.
- For J-1 student interns only: Your DS-7002 (Training/Internship Placement Plan), is a U.S. Department of State document produced for you by International Services. It outlines the phases of training or tasks you perform and provides specific objectives at each phase. Your DS-7002 must be signed by International Services, your faculty supervisor, and you. (Note: You don’t need this document if you are a J-1 research scholar, short-term scholar, or professor—even if your Cornell academic title is intern.)
Follow the policies and laws.
Comply with Cornell’s academic and conduct polices and all U.S. federal and state laws.
Do the work you were hired to do.
You can only work at Cornell University in the position named on your DS-2019 form. Your status requires you to stay in good standing as a Cornell employee.
If you violate your status as a J-1 exchange visitor, any amount of time you spend in the United States after the violation counts as unlawful presence. If 180 days of unlawful presence accumulate, you can be barred from the U.S. for three years. If one year of unlawful presence accumulates, you can be barred from the U.S. for 10 years.
Follow the rules about outside employment.
As a J-1 exchange visitor, you can only work at Cornell University in the position named on your DS-2019 form. Substantial off-campus employment is not allowed. Any off-campus work, including lectures and consulting, must be approved by International Services. Find out more.
Notify us if you have a worksite change.
You must contact us before you change physical locations at work (for example, if you move from Ithaca to the Geneva Agricultural Experiment Station or Cornell Tech). International Services is required to report the new site to SEVIS.
Short trips of a few days do not need to be reported as changes in site of activity.
Maintain your health insurance.
You and your dependent family members are required to have health insurance during the entire length of your stay. Regulations prohibit an extension of J-1 status beyond the dates on your DS-2019 form without insurance. Find out more.
Notify us if you change your address.
Within 10 days of your move, use our online form to report your address change. This timeframe is a legal requirement. You must also notify International Services within 10 days of any change to your phone number or email address.
Note that this form is for your immigration obligations only. It updates the SEVIS database, not Workday.
Notify us if you change your name.
Let us know within 10 days if you or anyone in your family legally changes their name. The accuracy of names and biographic data on DS-2019 forms is critically important.
If your current DS-2019 form lists your name or other information incorrectly, submit a biographic amendment in myStatus (J-1 Scholar Services > J-1 Biographic Update). If your J-2 spouse or child’s DS-2019 has incorrect information, submit a dependent amendment (J-1 Scholar Services > J-1 Dependent Update).
Notify us if you want to transfer to another SEVIS-approved program.
If you are sponsored by Cornell, and you want to transfer your J-1 program to another sponsor, please submit a transfer-out request.
Notify us if your Cornell employment ends early.
You are required to submit a Leaving Cornell form if you will be leaving Cornell more than 15 days before the end date specified on your DS-2019. You must also inform us if your J-2 spouse or child leaves the United States before your departure date.
Extend Your Status
Is the end of your time at Cornell approaching? If you’d like to continue to work in your position beyond the program end date listed on your DS-2019, you may be eligible to extend your exchange visit.
You must work with your hiring department or unit to initiate the extension request. Be sure to allow plenty of time for the department process!
International Services will process your completed extension request within five business days in most cases. To continue your Cornell employment, an extended DS-2019 must be created before your current program end date.
How to Apply for an Extension
- Meet Criteria
- File Form
- Receive DS-2019
1 Verify your eligibility and meet all extension criteria.
Before you request an extension, make sure you meet these criteria:
- You remain within the time limit for your sponsored position. Professors and research scholars may stay in J status for a total of five years. Short-term scholars have a six-month maximum.
- Your department or unit supports extending your appointment.
- Adequate funding is available to cover the additional time period.
- Your mandatory health insurance covers you and any J-2 dependents during the additional time period.
- You have enough time to complete the DS-2019 extension before your program end date.
Two-Year Rule
If you are subject to the two-year rule, we recommend against proceeding with a J-1 extension if you have started the J-1 waiver process. Extending your DS-2019 after starting the waiver process may invalidate your J-1 waiver.
2 Work with HR to file the request form.
Work with a human resources administrator in your department, college, or school to file the extension request form. International Services can’t extend J-1 status unless the request comes directly from the responsible HR representative.
Once the department portion of the J-1 extension request is submitted in myStatus, you receive an email inviting you to complete your portion of the extension request.
Allow five business days for processing once the form is submitted.
3 Receive and sign your new DS-2019.
International Services will prepare a new DS-2019 for you and your J-2 dependents. We’ll email you when it’s available for download in myStatus.
When you download your DS-2019, check to make sure it has been appropriately signed by International Services. Section 7 and the travel section should both contain signatures.
Then print a hard copy of the DS-2019 and sign it by hand when you receive it! You do not need to send the signed DS-2019 back to International Services.
Completing this process extends your J-1 status within the U.S., so you do not need to travel internationally to renew your visa stamp. Learn more about the difference between your visa status and visa stamp.
