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Maintaining J-1 Visa Status

Learn more about maintaining your J-1 visa status; a lapse in any of the following requirements could invalidate your J-1 status.

Overview

Learn about the general J-1 concepts and funding requirements below.  A lapse in any of these areas could invalidate your J-1 status:

Full-time participation

You must participate in research at your assigned Mass General Brigham hospital at least 35 hours per week.

Academic research

Your responsibilities must be consistent with academic research, which consists of hypothesis development, methodology and/or investigation development, hypothesis testing, and analysis of outcomes, and will result in authorship of peer reviewed publications.

You cannot perform responsibilities that are consistent with standard weekly paid positions, such as research technician, research technologist, research coordinator, research assistant, or any administrative role.

Sites of activities

You may only conduct your research at the specific locations your department has filed with the U.S. government. If your work circumstances change, you or your department should contact GPS to update your SEVIS record before you work at the new location.

Minimum funding

J-1 visa status requires you to financially support yourself in the United States. You must have funds sufficient for housing, food, clothing, and health insurance for yourself (and for any J-2 family dependents).

A J-1 Exchange Visitor must demonstrate funding at least at the level indicated below before Office for Global Professionals and Scholars (GPS) can issue a J-1 visa eligibility document (DS-2019). Exchange Visitors bringing dependent family members (legally married spouse and children under 21) with them must demonstrate increased amounts of funding due to the additional costs for food, health care, insurance, clothing, etc. associated with additional family members.

Funding sources

J-1 visa status permits flexible sources of funding. But acceptance of any U.S. federal or state government benefit could be interpreted as a declaration that the J-1 is unable to meet his/her minimum financial obligations. This also applies to parents in J visa status who have children born in the U.S. You should arrive in the U.S. without any expectation of financial help or subsidized services from the U.S. government.

Some apartments, health insurance, childcare services, utility companies, etc. may base their prices on the income earned by a customer. Income-based pricing indicates that the service is subsidized by the U.S. government. These and other services may offer U.S. government financial assistance to a J-1 or J-2 because they are unaware of the visa regulations, or they do not know the visa status of the individuals they are advising.

If your MGB hospital policy permits you to be based solely on personal funds (bank statement), the DS-2019 cannot be issued for more than one year at a time. Personal funds can be used only if the “Minimum Funding Amounts” cannot be satisfied by any of the other funding source options.

Funding documentation

The U.S. Department of State requires that all funding sources be listed on the visa eligibility documents. The DS-2019 can be issued for only the length of time funding is available.

Scholarships, grants, salary, etc. that are not from Mass General Brigham must be confirmed by an award letter:

  • printed on granting organization or corporate letterhead

  • dated within the past four months

  • signed by the financial source’s representative

  • list the J-1 beneficiary’s name

  • state that the beneficiary will be paid while in the U.S.

  • state the specific amount the beneficiary will be paid (if a salary range is provided, the average is accepted)

  • in U.S. dollars (or be accompanied by a printed currency conversion)

  • length of time for which they will be paid

  • be in English

Personal funds must be confirmed by a bank statement:

  • on letterhead (online bank statements must include the bank's logo)

  • dated within the past four months

  • list the J-1 beneficiary’s name

  • verify a specific U.S. dollar amount (or be accompanied by a printed currency conversion)

  • be in English

  • The bank account must be in the name of the prospective J-1, the prospective J-1’s spouse, or the prospective J-1’s parent(s). 

  • A support letter is only needed if the bank account is not in the name of the prospective J1 or a joint account with the J1.

All documents must be in English or accompanied by English translation. The translation can be done by an official translator or by an "uninterested" person (in other words, the J-1 or a family member cannot provide the translation). The J-1 may ask a coworker, acquaintance, etc. to translate the document and then the translator must write, “I certify that I am competent in (name the language) and English and the attached represents an accurate translation "at the bottom of the translation. The translator must sign, print their name, and date the document. Please note that the translation must be word-for-word and cannot be a summary of the document.

Health insurance

The U.S. government requires each J-1 Exchange Visitor (and any J-2 family dependents) to maintain compliant medical coverage for the entire lengthy of their DS-2019 validity dates, including evacuation and repatriation insurance. Sponsors are required to terminate J visa status if you knowingly and willingly fail to maintain the insurance required for you and your dependents.  If you have health insurance already, please arrange to extend it. If you need information about health insurance, please refer to our section about obtaining a J-1 Visa.

English language proficiency

Be prepared to demonstrate your English proficiency to a U.S. Consulate when you apply for a J-1 Visa. Also be prepared to demonstrate English proficiency at your U.S. hospital. The U.S. Department of State requires you to be able to communicate effectively in English while in the lab and while in the Boston community. 

Interested in learning English or improving your ability to communicate in English?

Visit the Boston Living section of our site for information about classes and resources. 

Change of address

You are legally required to send Mass General Brigham Office for Global Professionals and Scholars (GPS) your name and new home address within 10 days of moving. Please use our Contact Us form to send this information.

You should also:

  • Change your address in PeopleSoft

  • Contact other places that have your address to update the information (banks, doctor’s offices, etc.)

  • Inform the U.S Post Office of the change so that your mail can be forwarded (you can do this by going to any post office or online at www.usps.com)

Visa regulations and reminders

Two-year home residency

Some J-1 Exchange Visitors may have a two-year home residency requirement, also known as Section 212(e). A two-year home residency obligates some J visa holders to return to their home country for an aggregate of two years upon completion of their J-1 program. 

The J-1 Exchange Visitor must first live in their home country for two years or receive a “Waiver” (permission from the J-1's home government and the U.S. government to be released from the two-year home residency) if they want to obtain:

  • H visa status

  • K visa status

  • L visa status

  • Change to any other visa status without leaving the U.S.

  • Permanent residence in the U.S. (green card)

J-1 Exchange Visitors have a two-year home residency if any of the following reasons apply:

  1. They come to the U.S. with money provided either by their home country government, the U.S. government or some international organizations that receives government money

  2. Their country of citizenship or country of last permanent residence appears on the U.S. Department of State's Skills List and the J-1’s skill is on the list  

  3. They come to the U.S. to obtain clinical training with ECFMG visa sponsorship

J-2 family dependents will also have a two-year home residency if the J-1 has a two-year home residency. The two-year home country residence requirement and other conditions of J-1 status are explained to the J-1 Exchange Visitor on the second page of the DS-2019.

  • The U.S. Consular Officer and/or the Immigration Officer at the port of entry usually makes a judgment as to whether the J-1 Exchange Visitor is or is not subject to this requirement. The determination is noted in the lower left side of the Exchange Visitor’s DS-2019 and/or on the J visa page of the individual’s passport. 

  • It is important to note that these notations from the U.S. Consular Officer and/or the Immigration Officer may not be correct. 

  • If you are not sure whether or not you have a two-year home residency, our office can review your visa documents and you may also request an Advisory Opinion from the U.S. government. An Advisory Opinion is a request for U.S. government to review your visa documents and provide a statement as to whether you have a two-year home residency (please note that the Advisory Opinion is not a Waiver; a Waiver is an official release from the two-year home residency whereas the Advisory Opinion is only a clarification as to whether you have a two-year home residency). 

  • If you would like a letter template for the Advisory Opinion so that you do not have to write your own letter, please contact the GPS office and request the Advisory Opinion letter template. 

A Waiver is permission from the J-1's home government and the U.S. government to be released from the two-year home residency.

  • If you do not intend to stay in the U.S. after your maximum allowed period of stay of J visa status, you do not need to do anything about your two-year home residency and should not apply for a Waiver.

  • If you would like to stay in the U.S. for more than the maximum allowed period of stay, you should apply for a Waiver approximately 15-17 months before your maximum allowed period of stay.

  • Applying too early or too late could significantly limit your future visa options (you will not be able to transfer your J visa status or get another extension of your DS-2019 after you get the actual Waiver).

  • You can start the Waiver process on the U.S. Department of State's website  and contact your country’s Consulate/Embassy in the U.S. for a “No Objection Statement.”

The entire Waiver process can take many months.  If the J-1 receives a Waiver, the J-2 family is also released from the two-year home residency. If you have started the J waiver process do not travel outside the U.S. while the waiver is pending or after the waiver is approved. International travel will negatively impact the waiver.

Different from the two-year home residency requirement, J-1 visitors and their J-2 dependents may have a 12- or 24-month bar after the completion of the J-1 program. This is also known as wait time to "repeat participation" in the J-1 Research Scholar/Professor category.

The table below shows how long a J-1 Exchange visitor would have to wait to obtain a new J-1 Research Scholar or Professor visa based on their previous visa category. 

J Visa Category If you were/are in this category less than 6 months If you were/are in this category more than 6 months
J-1 Research Scholar 24 months 24 months
J-1 Short Term Scholar 2 - 3 months 2 - 3 months
J-1 Specialist  No wait 12 months
J-2 Dependent of Research Scholar/ Professor Category 24 months 24 months
J-2 Dependent of Short Term Scholar 2 - 3 months
 2 - 3 months
J-2 Dependent of Specialist 2 - 3 months
 12 months

Please note: 

The U.S. government requires significant breaks between J programs even if a bar does not apply.  

You are authorized to perform research only at the hospital noted on the DS-2019 (the hospital’s main address will be listed on the DS-2019 at the bottom of Box 1) and may engage only in the activity for which the DS-2019 was originally issued.

Any additional employment, salary, lecturing, and/or consulting must enhance your current research project and requires a permission letter from our office before the participation occurs.

In order for our office to issue a permission letter, you are required to provide two letters to our office specifying the following items:

  1. One letter from the offeror setting forth the terms and conditions to present/lecture/consult, including the duration, number of hours, field or subject, amount of compensation (if any), and description of the activity.

  2. One letter from your current hospital's Principal Investigator/supervisor recommending such activity, specifically explaining how the activity is related to your current research project at the MGB hospital, and how the additional activity would enhance your current research program.

Please note that this process of providing letters is legally required for each time you would like to participate in additional conferences, lectures, consultations, etc. even if you are not paid for your participation.

You can participate in and/or be paid for a research study ONLY if it is for your own research project.  You cannot participate in and/or be paid for any other research studies.

You are permitted to work outside of the U.S. without permission from our office.

Travel with a J-1

International travel

If you travel abroad for more than 30 days, your U.S. hospital department must submit a "J-1 Travel Request” to our office.  If you have J-2 dependents, they should also leave the U.S. while you are abroad for more than 30 days. If the travel validation on your DS-2019 is valid then travel abroad for 30 days or less does not require consultation with our office.

Js must always travel with and present the following items when re-entering the U.S. 

Your passport Valid 6 months into the future.
Copy of most recent I-94 record Your I-94's "Admit Until" date must always indicate "D/S." "Duration of Status" (D/S) indicates that you may remain in the U.S. as long as you continue your currently approved research position. 
(If you are not Canadian) Your most recent, valid visa - The visa for which the most recent I-94 was issued. Visa stamp must be unexpired unless otherwise noted.
Your unexpired original DS-2019 It should be validated in the lower right corner with a travel signature from GPS within the past 1 year. If you need a new travel signature, please see the Contact Us section for our office's directions and hours.
Documentation of participation in your J-1 program. Printed copies of pay statements from PeopleSoft are acceptable. If you are a J-1 who is not paid by the U.S. hospital, bring a brief letter from your scientific host confirming that you are a current researcher within the department.  
If you are a J-2 traveling separately from the J-1 visa holder, take a copy of the J-1’s recent U.S. hospital pay statement.  If the J-1 is not paid by the U.S. hospital, you should bring a brief letter from the J-1’s scientific host stating that he or she is a current researcher within the department. 

Automatic Revalidation: Most J-1 and J-2 visa holders can travel to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean Islands (except Cuba) for up to 30 days and return to the United States with an expired J visa, but there are several important factors to consider.

Before traveling to Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands please check with that country to see if a visitor/tourist visa is required for you to be allowed to enter that country.  

All citizens who apply for a visa at a U.S. Consulate in Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean are not eligible for automatic revalidation. Citizens and nationals from countries on the U.S. list of State Sponsors of Terror are not eligible for automatic revalidation and should expect significant and burdensome delays when traveling outside of the U.S.

If you do not already have a valid, unexpired J-1 visa in your passport, you will need to obtain a J-1 visa at the American Consulate/Embassy if you travel outside of the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean Islands (only Canadian citizens do not need visas in their passport).

Visa application

  • Visit the website of the American Embassy/Consulate to which you will apply for specific visa application instructions

  • Review visa processing times here

  • The original DS-2019 is the only item that you need from our office for the visa application. If you are asked for a letter to confirm your current J-1 research participation, please request the letter from your employer/department at the hospital

A U.S. Immigration officer will enter an electronic I-94 Arrival record each time you reenter the U.S. After reentering the U.S., you must:

  • Go to www.cbp.gov/I94 and print a copy of your new electronic Form I-94. Review your I-94 information.

  • Your I-94's "Admit Until" date must always indicate "D/S". "Duration of Status" (D/S) indicates that you may remain in the U.S. as long as you continue your currently approved research position.

  • If there are any errors on your Form I-94, please contact GPS and we will provide you an e-mail address to contact U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

  • Keep a copy of the I-94 in your passport and another for your permanent records.

After successfully registering your arrival in the U.S. with GPS and attending International Orientation, GPS will issue you a new Form DS-2019 with a travel signature. J-2 Dependents will also receive new DS-2019s. Travel signatures for Form DS-2019 are located in the box on the lower right side of Form DS-2019.

This travel validation is valid for one year or until the expiration date of Form DS-2019 as indicated in Box 3, whichever comes first. You may use a DS-2019 with a travel signature for multiple entries into the U.S. during that period.

If your travel signature will expire before or during an upcoming trip outside the U.S., contact GPS at least 2 weeks before you depart to request a new Form DS-2019.

Please save all DS-2019 forms that are issued to you; never discard a printed DS-2019. You should retain these documents for your personal immigration records, as they might be required in the future as evidence of your immigration status history.

Extension, Change, or End of J-1 Visa Status

How to Extend Your DS-2019

If you would like to extend your DS-2019, please ask your hospital department to submit a J-1 Extension request to GPS two to three months before your current DS-2019 expires.

All visas processed by our office are employer-dependent and must be driven by the hospital department. Please contact your department's Administrative Contact Person to initiate the extension.

Our office sends a standard confirmation email each time a J-1 request is received in our office. The standard confirmation email will inform your Administrative Contact Person of the date on which we received the J-1 request from your department, the assigned Advisor who will handle the J-1 case in our office, and that our typical processing time is approximately one month from when a complete J-1 request is received. 

Your department's Administrative Contact Person must act as the liaison with any visa inquiries.

Approximately 1 month after a complete request has been received in our office, we will send an email to you, your department's Administrative Contact Person, and Human Resources indicating that the new DS-2019 is ready. The new DS-2019 will be mailed to you.

If you have J-2 family, a new DS-2019 will be included for each family member.

If you have not received your DS-2019 extension at least 2 weeks before your current DS-2019 is due to expire, please confirm with your Administrative Contact Person that they sent a J-1 Extension through Visa Manager to our office and they can follow up with the assigned Advisor.

Exchange Visitors may extend their J-1 status and stay in the U.S. for the maximum period allowed for their category. The category of you J visa status can be found in Section 4 of your DS-2019 and each category has its own maximum period of stay:

  • “Research Scholars” may extend their J-1 status for a total stay of five years

  • “Specialists” may extend their J-1 status for a total stay of one year

  • “Short-term Scholars” may extend their J-1 status for a total stay of six months

Extensions can be processed for the length of time that funding is confirmed.  Most DS-2019s are extended annually (due to funding, appointment protocols, departmental policies, etc.). If your hospital policies permit you to be based solely on personal funds (bank statement), the DS-2019 can be issued for not more than one year at a time.

You may request H-1B visa sponsorship after your J-1 visa status has been fully extended. 

Steps to change to H-1B visa status:

  • Speak with your hospital department about 6 - 7 months before your maximum period of stay in order to confirm that they are willing and able to sponsor you for H visa status. H-1B visa status is employer dependent and must be coordinated by the hospital department

  • If you have a two-year home residency requirement, you must be released from this obligation in order to be eligible for H-1B visa status. 

  • Your hiring department should send the H-1B paperwork to the Mass General Brigham Office for Global Professionals and Scholars (GPS) seven to eight months before the final expiration date on your DS-2019

You may transfer your J visa status to another hospital or to a university. Transfer to or from another program requires communication between the current and future international offices, the current hospital department, and you as the J-1 Exchange Visitor.

Ask your prospective employer’s international office to contact us so that the transfer can be initiated. 

GPS must “release” you to participate in the new program before you leave your current job and before you start working at the new job. Our office will email you when a transfer date is confirmed. Do not stop working at your current job until the transfer has been approved by GPS.

You must always extend your DS-2019 in a timely manner unless you intend to end your J-1 visa status.

  • Unless you are on vacation/international travel, your J-1 visa status will stop if you do not participate at your assigned Mass General Brigham hospital at least 35 hours per week.

  • Your J "30-day grace period" begins if you do not participate at your assigned MGB hospital at least 35 hours per week. During the "grace period," you can travel within the U.S., gather your belongings, and arrange to leave the country.

  • You cannot continue your research, work, earn money from a U.S. source, or transfer your J-1 visa status during your 30-day “grace period.”

  • J-2 dependent family may stay in the U.S. with you during the “grace period.”

  • J-1s and J-2s cannot travel internationally and then reenter the U.S. in J visa status during the "grace period."

The J-1 and J-2 family must depart the U.S. during the "grace period" unless a valid change of visa status was requested.

GPS Email List

To continue to receive information from GPS about visa regulations, tax software, and other relevant news, make certain that you are subscribed to the GPS email list.

 

Contact us to learn how to subscribe, update contact information, or unsubscribe.

Contact us

Change of employer

You may transfer your J visa status to another hospital or to a university. Transfer to or from another program requires communication between the current and future international offices, the current hospital department, and you as the J-1 Exchange Visitor. 

  • Ask your prospective employer’s international office to Contact Us so that the transfer can be initiated.  
  • GPS must “release” you to participate in the new program before you leave your current job and before you start working at the new job.  
  • Our office will email you when a transfer date is confirmed.  
  • Do NOT stop working at your current job until the transfer has been approved by GPS.

Change of address

You are legally required to send Global Professionals and Scholars (GPS) your name and new home address within 10 days of moving. Please use our Contact Us form to send this information.

You should also:

  • Change your address in PeopleSoft
  • Contact other places that have your address to update the information (banks, doctor’s offices, etc.)
  • Inform the U.S Post Office of the change so that your mail can be forwarded (you can do this by going to any post office or online at www.usps.com)

Family dependents

Dependent spouses and children of certain primary visa holders may apply for work authorization (Employment Authorization Documentation, or EAD) from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work and/or volunteer for an American employer. 

The legally married spouse and children of a J-1 Exchange Visitor are eligible for J-2 visa status.

Reminder that any bar or home residency requirement also applies to the J-2

J-2 dependent spouses and J-2 children from ages 16-20 may apply for employment authorization, also known as Employment Authorization Documentation (EAD), from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to work and/or volunteer for an U.S. employer.

Employment authorization is not intended to help provide financial support for the basic living expenses of the J-1 Exchange Visitor and/or the J-2 family. If the J-2's income appears necessary to support the family, USCIS will deny the employment authorization request. It is required that Js confirm sufficient funding prior to arrival in the United States.

J-2 employment authorization may be granted to for reasons such as self-fulfillment, personal experience, to experience American culture, etc.

After the J-2 arrives in the U.S., they may request employment authorization via Form I-765.  Form I-765 and instructions are located in the "Immigration Forms" section of www.uscis.gov.

J-2s whose DS-2019 is sponsored by GPS may contact us to request an EAD checklist, which may help in preparing the EAD application.

After the J-2 submits the EAD application to USCIS, the J-2 can then travel internationally while the employment authorization application is pending.

EAD processing time is usually more than three months depending on USCIS work volume. USCIS will send the EAD to the address listed on the I-765 application. The EAD is normally issued for the length of the DS-2019 or one year, whichever is shorter. After the J-2 receives EAD, they can apply for and receive a Social Security Number.

Form I-765 must be completed again to request an EAD extension.  Form I-765 and instructions are located in the "Immigration Forms" section of www.uscis.gov.

It recommended that EAD extension requests be submitted at least 4 months before the EAD is due to expire.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions and answers about maintaining J-1 visas.  

The DS-2019 permits you to live and work in the U.S. You can also use it to apply for a new J visa at a U.S. embassy/consulate. The expiration date of your J status is listed in Section 3. The DS-2019 does NOT extend your J visa in your passport. The DS-2019 permits you to live and work in the U.S. You can also use it to apply for a new J visa at a U.S. embassy/consulate. The expiration date of your J status is listed in Section 3. The DS-2019 does NOT extend your J visa in your passport.

Review the DS-2019(s) and sign it in English at the bottom left side just above the line on the form that says, "Signature of Applicant." The "place" should be listed as "Boston" and you should write the date that you sign it on the right. If you have J-2 family dependents with you, a DS-2019 must be completed for each dependent. If applicable, you can sign for any minor children, and your spouse may sign his/her own DS-2019.

Keep them in a safe place for your records and travel with the newest DS-2019. It is a good idea to travel with all of your DS-2019s if you need to apply for another J visa at an American Embassy/Consulate.

Yes, you can live and work in the U.S. with an expired J visa. You do not need a valid J visa stamp in your passport in order to stay in the U.S. That’s because the J visa stamp is only a travel document so that you can enter the U.S. While the J-1 visa in your passport can expire, your passport must always be valid at least 6 months into the future even if you are not traveling. If your passport will expire within the next year, ask about passport extension procedures with your home country's embassy/consulate in the U.S.

You must have a valid visa when entering the U.S. from outside of the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. If you do not already have a valid J visa in your passport, you will need to obtain another J visa from an American Consulate/Embassy while you are abroad. You may have to pay an application fee for the visa, but you do not have to pay the SEVIS fee again (bring your previous SEVIS fee receipt with you to confirm previous payment).

Visa processing times at U.S. embassies/consulates will vary. Some visa applications require more than 30 days due to “Administrative Processing” security/background checks. While “Administrative Processing” at a U.S. embassy/consulate is infrequent, be aware that:

  • “Administrative Processing” can happen during any visa application, even if you have already legally been living in the U.S.

  • It is not possible to ask whether “Administrative Processing” will apply to you before you apply for the visa.

  • It is not possible to expedite “Administrative Processing.”

  • “Administrative Processing” normally lasts 30 to 60 days.

  • You should always purchase flexible/refundable plane tickets if you will apply for a visa.

The category of your J status is listed in Section 4 of your DS-2019 -- each category has its own maximum period of stay.

“Research Scholars” may extend their J-1 status for a total stay of 5 years.

“Short-term Scholars” may work for a maximum period of 6 months.

“Specialists” may work for a maximum period of 1 year.

Most people who need more than the maximum period of stay have their J-1 visa status changed to H-1B visa status after their J visa status has been fully extended. Select to see more information about changing your visa status.

Some J-1 Exchange Visitors may have a two-year home residency requirement, also known as Section 212(e). An Exchange Visitor who has a two-year home residency must first live in their home country for two years OR obtain a "Waiver" of the requirement from the U.S. government if they want to obtain H, K, or L visa status, change to any other visa status without leaving the U.S., or get a green card. A Waiver is permission from your home government and the U.S. government to be released from the two-year home residency.

Exchange Visitors have a two-year home residency if any of the following reasons apply:

  • They come to the U.S. with money provided either by their home country government, the U.S. government, or some international organizations that receive government money.

  • Their country of citizenship or country of last permanent residence appears on the U.S. Department of State's Skills List and the J-1's skill is on the list.

  • They come to the U.S. to obtain medical training under Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) sponsorship.

J-2 family dependents will also have a two-year home residency if the J-1 has a two-year home residency. The two-year home country residence requirement and other conditions of J-1 status are explained to the J-1 Exchange Visitor on the second page of the DS-2019.

The U.S. Consular Officer and/or the Immigration Officer at the port of entry usually makes a judgment as to whether the J-1 Exchange Visitor is or is not subject to this requirement. The determination is noted in the lower left side of the Exchange Visitor’s DS-2019 and/or on the J visa page of the individual’s passport.

However, it is important to note that these notations from the U.S. Consular Officer and/or the Immigration Officer may not be correct. If you are not sure whether or not you have a two-year home residency, GPS can review your visa documents and you may also request an Advisory Opinion from the U.S. government.

An Advisory Opinion is a request for U.S. government to review your visa documents and provide a statement as to whether you have a two-year home residency (please note that the Advisory Opinion is not a Waiver; a Waiver is an official release from the two-year home residency whereas the Advisory Opinion is only a clarification as to whether you have a two-year home residency). If you would like a letter template for the Advisory Opinion so that you do not have to write your own letter, please use our Contact Us form to request the Advisory Opinion letter template.

If you do not intend to stay in the U.S. after your maximum allowed period of stay of J visa status, you do not need to do anything about your two-year home residency and should not apply for a Waiver. If you would like to stay in the U.S. for more than the maximum allowed period of stay, you should apply for a Waiver about 15 to 17 months before your maximum allowed period of stay, or 3 months prior to your program end date.

Applying too early or too late could significantly limit your future visa options (you will not be able to transfer your J visa status or get another extension of your DS-2019 after you get the actual Waiver). You can start the Waiver process on the U.S. Department of State website and contact your country’s Consulate/Embassy in the U.S. for a “No Objection Statement.” The entire process can take many months.

If you have started the J waiver process do not travel outside the U.S. while the waiver is pending or after the waiver is approved. International travel will negatively impact the waiver.

J-1 visa holders are authorized to perform research only at the hospital noted on the DS-2019 (the hospital’s main address will be listed on the DS-2019 at the bottom of Box 1) and may engage only in the activity for which the DS-2019 was originally issued.

Any additional employment, salary, lecturing and/or consulting must be related to your current research and requires a permission letter from GPS before the participation occurs. In order for our office to issue a permission letter, you are required to provide two letters to our office specifying the following items:

  1. One letter from the offeror setting forth the terms and conditions to present/lecture/consult, including the duration, number of hours, field or subject, amount of compensation (if any), and description of the activity.

  2. One letter from your current hospital's Principal Investigator/supervisor recommending such activity, specifically explaining how the activity is related to your current research project, and how the additional activity would enhance your current program.

Please note that this process of providing letters is legally required for each time you would like to participate in additional conferences, lectures, consultations, etc. even if you are not paid for your participation.

You are permitted to work outside of the U.S. without permission from GPS.

If you left the U.S. and forgot to take your DS-2019 with you, GPS can send you a new DS-2019 using an eShip Global shipping label order number. Please click here for eShip Global instructions. Please click here to access the eShip Global shipping service. Please be sure to select Mass General Brigham as the selected university, not Harvard University. Once you have created an eShip Global order number, please email contact the GPS office requesting a new DS-2019 document and include the eShip Global order number in your communication to us.

Immigration officials have the discretion to readmit you for up to 30 days. You will be given a Form I-515A and I-94 card that has a 30-day admission period. The SEVIS government database will also alert PIPS if you have received an I-515A when you re-enter the U.S. It is very important that you report the I-515A to PIPS immediately after issuance. GPS will instruct you on how to correct the I-515A to extend your permission to remain in the U.S., i.e., returning your "Admit Until" Date on your record to "D/S."

Mass General Brigham Global Professionals and Scholars

GPS provides immigration services for Mass General Brigham institutions, enabling talented professionals from all over the world to work, conduct research, or execute a project within the Mass General Brigham system.

Contact us Call 857-282-8211