A: You are allowed to bring a dependent to the U.S. on the J visa if the dependent is your spouse or child (under 21 years of age). More information can be found here.

Your dependent will be able to enter the U.S. on a J-2 visa. It is important to remember that ISEP benefits will only be provided for you during your exchange. You will need to provide proof of sufficient financial means to support dependents. It is your responsibility to purchase ISEP health insurance coverage for all dependents. Read more about ISEP Health insurance.

A: Number 5 on the DS-2019 shows how much the tuition is for a full year at your host University, how much in personal funds you should have for the duration of your exchange, and the total amount. Since you are on an exchange, the university tuition is covered and you may be asked to show that the personal fund amount is available to you either through your personal account or your family.

A: The Consular Officer will either return the DS-2019 to you, or give you an envelope with the DS-2019 in it. You must have the original DS-2019 with you when you enter the U.S. If you lose your DS-2019 before entry to the U.S., contact the ISEP Central Office as quickly as possible.

A: This means that you must reside in your home country for at least 2 years before you can come to the U.S. on an H, L, or permanent resident visa. You can return to the US on other non-immigrant visas until you fulfill this requirement.

A: Go to your host ISEP coordinator straight away. She will contact the ISEP Central Office for assistance in changing your status so you can stay in the U.S. for the duration of your studies.

A: Upon arrival to the U.S., go see your ISEP coordinator so that they can confirm to ISEP Central that you have arrived. This is time sensitive, so please do this as soon as possible after your arrival. If you are an undergraduate student, as listed on the DS-2019, you must maintain a full course-load of credits – a minimum of 12 credits a semester. If you are a graduate student, a full course-load minimum of 9 credits a semester is required. If your living address changes during your exchange, you must contact your ISEP coordinator right away. In addition, all students must follow the local, state and federal laws of the U.S.

A: Extension DS-2019s are issued each year in April for fall semester extensions and November for spring semester extensions. The DS-2019s will be sent to the ISEP coordinator’s office to be distributed to the students.

As long as you stay within the U.S. after your program end date, as listed on the DS-2019, you do not need to get a new J-1 visa with extension dates (nor is it possible to do). If you leave the U.S. after your program end date, you will need to get an extension visa before re-entry to the U.S. More information is on our site or the attachment to as well as attached to the extension DS-2019.

You will need to call a U.S. embassy where you will travel to a make an appointment to get the extension J-1 visa. This process usually takes 1-3 days (unless a background check is needed – then it can take 14 days). Please call the U.S. Embassy before you leave to make an appointment.

A: Before you travel outside the U.S., you must have your DS-2019 signed by the ISEP Central Office in Washington, DC. Bring your original DS-2019 to your host ISEP coordinator to mail to the ISEP Central Office. Please do this as early as possible – these forms are mailed non-express. Any express mail costs, if needed, will be covered by the student.

A: It is advised that all students make a copy of their DS-2019 for their records. If you lose your DS-2019, immediately contact your host ISEP Coordinator. They will ask the ISEP Central Office to generate a new form. Please note that the replacement form will not have the consulate and immigration stamps. It is always best if you DO NOT lose the original DS-2019.

A: All ISEP students are eligible to participate in Academic Training after their exchange. This training allows you to participate in an internship that will further enhance you study abroad experience in the U.S., in the academic field you are studying. Your ISEP coordinator will be able to provide you with the application and guidelines.

A: A one month grace period after your J-1 visa expires is allowed by the Department of Homeland Security for students to prepare to leave the U.S. For one month past the program end date on the DS-2019, you can stay in the U.S. and travel. Once that time is over, you must leave the U.S. During the grace period you can not leave the U.S. and reenter on the J-1 visa. Once you leave the U.S. after the program end date (as listed on your DS-2019), your J-1 visa is no longer valid and you cannot reenter on it.

A: The J-1 visa under ISEP can only be extended if you are extending your placement for another semester at your host university or if you are participating in Academic Training. Otherwise, you need to change your status to a tourist (B-1/2 visa). In most cases, you can leave and reenter the U.S. on a tourist visa given at the port of entry; however you should check with your local immigration office to see what needs to be done to switch visas while in the U.S. All students may not be able to do this; you will want to check with the U.S. embassy in your home country to see if you qualify for a tourist visa under the visa-waiver program.