In some cases the J-1 visa carries with it an, often inescapable, condition that requires you to return to your home country for two years upon completion of your studies (and academic training) before you are eligible for certain other visas in the U.S., including H-1B and permanent resident status. This "two-year residence" requirement applies to you if you receive any funding (including nominal travel grants) from your home government or a U.S. government agency. It also applies to you, if trained personnel in your field are identified by your home government as being in short supply and your field has consequently been included on the U.S. government's "Exchange Visitor's Skills List." If you do not know whether your country and/or field appears on the "Exchange Visitor's Skills List," ask a U.S. consular officer or check the Department of State website before requesting J-1 status. Once you have acquired J-1 status and are subject to the two-year residence requirement, it may be impossible to change to another non-immigrant status or to permanent residence status.

Length of Stay
All Exchange Visitors students will have "D/S" (Duration of Status) noted on their Forms I-94 (arrival/departure card.) "D/S" means that your stay is valid for the duration of the J-1 status, which is the actual end date on the DS-2019 form, plus an additional thirty-day grace period. This thirty days is NOT for employment, extensions, or transfers.

You are eligible for J-1 student status as long as you are a full-time student, plus any authorized period of academic training, plus 30 days to depart the U.S.

Extension of Stay
If you do not complete your studies in the time noted on your DS-2019 form you must request an extension of your J-1 student status. This request must be supported by a letter from your school outlining the reason for the extension, the expected date of graduation and the amount and source of the funding available for the period of time requested. Graduate students must get this letter from your graduate school dean; students in the professional schools must request this letter from your school's registrar and undergraduate students must get this letter from the Yale College Dean's office. OISS will prepare a new DS-2019 reflecting the extended period. Your request for an extension must be completed before the end date as noted on your DS-2019 form.

Transfer of J-1 Program
An Exchange Visitor may transfer from one designated program to another designated program. OISS will verify your immigration status and program eligibility, prepare an DS-2019 form and secure the written release of the current sponsor in Section 8 of the new Form DS-2019. The transfer procedures must be completed prior to the end date as noted on the form DS-2019

Change of Category
The Exchange Visitor Program may, at its discretion, allow an Exchange Visitor to change category of exchange participation, e.g. from student to scholar. Any change in category must be consistent with and closely related to the participants original exchange objective. It will be necessary to prove that the requested change is due to unusual or exceptional circumstances. Requests for category changes, along with supporting justification, must be submitted to the Exchange Visitor staff at the Department of State by the participant's sponsor. For further information, visit "Changing Categories."