General Program Requirements for Exchange Visitor (J)

The Exchange Visitor Program is carried out pursuant to the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. and is administered by the Office of Exchange Coordination & Designation in the Bureau of Educational & Cultural Affairs. Program regulations appear in Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 62. Regulations relevant to the general administration of all exchange programs, regardless of category, are found in Subpart A - General Provisions; regulations specific to each category are found in Subpart B.

Dependents

The Exchange Visitor program permits the entry of the participant’s dependents under the J-2 visa at the sponsor’s discretion. Dependents are defined as the participant’s spouse and minor unmarried children – unmarried children under the age of 21.

Maintenance of Status

Exchange Visitors are required to have a valid and unexpired DS-2019. A valid passport is required at all times. Sponsors may terminate an exchange visitor’s program for violating U.S. laws or program regulations or rules governing their particular program.

Insurance

Participants and any J-2 dependents (spouses and minor children under the age of 21) accompanying them are required to carry medical insurance at the minimum benefit levels of:

Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness;

Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500;

Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $10,000; AND

A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness

Willful failure on the part of the participant and/or any J-2 dependents to maintain active insurance coverage is grounds for termination from the program.

Macori, Inc. provides health insurance to international students and visiting scholars worldwide. For more information contact the toll-free phone number at 1-800-285-8133. Global Underwriters also provides international travel and medical insurance.

U.S. Entry & Arrival Notification

Exchange Visitors must notify their sponsor of their U.S. entry and arrival within 3 business days. Proof of valid entry will be required. Failure to notify within the allowable time period will result in the U.S. Department of State’s immediate cancellation of the visitor’s SEVIS record and subsequent DS- 2019 form. Departments may use the associated U.S. Entry & Arrival Notification Form to notify the appropriate IFSS campus office.

The participant MUST enter the U.S. no later than the program start date listed on the DS-2019 form.

Address Notification

Participants must report changes in their U.S. residential address or telephone Number to their responsible program officer.

All foreign nationals must report address changes to the USCIS by completing Form AR-11 and sending it to USCIS within 10 days of the change. Changes can also be reported using the USCIS Online services.

Travel

Prior to traveling outside the U.S., participants should obtain the responsible officer’s signature that revalidates their current DS-2019. Failure to revalidate the DS-2019 could delay or deny re-entry into the U.S.

Program Transfer

Exchange visitors are allowed to transfer from one sponsor to another providing they are released by the first sponsor as required by regulations. The transfer program must be clearly identifiable in purpose as the original program category (i.e., Research Scholar, Student, Alien Physician, etc.).

The Grace Period

Following the completion of their program, the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) will allow participants a 30-day travel period commonly referred to as the “Grace Period.” During this 30-day grace period, participants are no longer in J-visa status and are under the jurisdiction of the USCIS. The USCIS grants this period to allow participants to settle their affairs and to prepare to return to their home countries. Program participants may no longer continue and/or complete exchange activities, nor may they work.

To find detailed information on the university’s program requirements refer to the OU's J-1 Exchange Visitor Brochure.