J-1 Visas

Important Things To Know

• All J-1 international students

  1. Need to complete a full course of study during the fall and spring semesters. (Summer semester is not required unless student is on initial status)
     Undergraduate students – 12 credit hours
     Graduate students – 9 credit hours
     Doctoral students – 6 credit hours
     
     Note: provisional acceptance to a program or academic probation/suspension is not an exception to this rule.
     
     Deviations from full course of study can only be approved by Claudia Biscardi (RO – Responsible Officer) prior to the student dropping below full-time enrollment. The International and Multicultural Programs Office is located at Landon Student Union suite 202B and can be reached at X3082.
  2. Must come to the International and Multicultural Programs in person to have their registration hold removed every semester. Every international student will have a registration hold placed every semester. Academic advisors or other administrators cannot request to have them removed for the student. Requests by phone, mail, email or fax will not be responded to unless the student is a continuing student attending a Barry campus furthers than 25 miles from the main campus.
  3. Need an endorsement on the first page of their DS-2019, when they travel out of the country. Only a Responsible Officer or Alternative Officer can sign a DS-2019 form, when they travel out of the country. We have one Responsible Officer and two Alternative Officers RO/ARO on campus. Academic advisors / deans or athletic coaches are not ROs nor AROs.
  4. Can work off-campus only if they have received authorization from a RO/ ARO prior to starting employment. 
  5. Can work on-campus up to 20 hours a week during the spring and fall semester and up to 40 hours during winter and summer breaks as long as the student is in status. Only the International and Multicultural Programs Office can confirm their status.
  6. Need to apply for a program extension before the date on the current DS-2019 form. This should be done one semester prior to the expiration date. One of the documentation items required to apply for program extension is a letter from academic advisor explaining the reason for the delay. Extension request forms are also available at IMP’s website www.barry.edu/imp
  7. Must have change of major reflected in their student record (AIS) in order to have a DS-2019 issued to reflect the change of major. Please remember, a DS-2019 Form must always be reflective of the student’s academic pursuit while in the U.S.
  8. Must report to IMP any changes of address within 10 days of the change. Change in marital status or any aspect of the program of study is to be reported as well within such time change.
  9. J-1 Students can apply for academic training (AT) The period of academic training cannot exceed the period of time spent as an enrolled student. Work must begin no more than 30 days after completion of study. Application for academic training must be made well in advance of the program expiration date on the DS-2019 as a valid DS-2019 form, is required at all times.

• Non-Degree seeking students

   

  • • The combination of time spent as a student plus time spent doing Academic Training can be a maximum of 24 months.
      
      Degree seeking students
    • Generally, 18 months cumulative throughout all programs is allowable, meaning that if 4 months were used at the Bachelor’s level and 8 months at the Master’s level, there would be 6 months left for use during a doctoral program.
      • More than 18 months can be approved  if necessary to satisfy mandatory requirements of the program
      • Doctoral students may receive an additional 18 month period following completion of the doctoral degree. This results in doctoral students being eligible for 36 months in total.

  • Athletes should not engage in playing a sport until they have clearance from International and Multicultural Programs Office.

    If you have any further questions or concerns, please call International and Multicultural programs Office at 305-899-3082 or isservices@barry.edu

Responsibility Checklist

• F1/J1 Status Responsibility Checklist Form

  Responsibility Checklist Form

  You need to remember the following:

  • Report address and telephone number changes, to the office of International and Multicultural Programs, within 10 days of any change in your U.S. or home country address and telephone number.
  • Keep your passport valid (at least 6 months into the future at all times)
  • Always have a valid I-20/DS-2019 form, if you need an extension you must request an appointment with your academic advisor, your academic advisor must send an original on a school letter head letter to IMP requesting your I-20 or DS-2019 to be extended.
  • Obtain a travel signature in the I-20/DS-2019 as needed
  • Inform the office of International and Multicultural Programs (IMP) if you end or leave your program before your I-20 expires
  • Abide by employment regulations; meet with your academic advisor if you are planning to register for an internship/clinical rotations etc. Apply for CPT/AT through your international student advisor to obtain authorization before engaging in any internship, clinical rotation etc.  
  • Check your Barry University e-mail regularly for updates from the International and Multicultural Programs and read IMP e-mails carefully, follow up as necessary
  • Make an appointment with an International student’s advisor for any questions you may have regarding your immigration status or regulations
  • Maintain health insurance at all times, health insurance must meet Barry University Health Center standards

212(e), Waivers, Bars

• Waiver of 212(E)

  If a J-1 is subject to the two year home country physical presence requirements, but are not able to fulfill the requirement, the individual must obtain a waiver approved by the Department of Homeland Security prior to changing status in the U.S. or being issued a visa in certain categories for travel to the U.S. To apply for the waiver, individual must file a DS-3035 form, which may be accessed through the Department of State’s website.

• 12 Month Bar

  Individuals that participated in J program for more than six months are not eligible to enter the U.S. as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor until 12 months after the exit from the U.S. Time spent in the J-1 Short-term Scholar category does not count towards the 12 month bar.  The 12-month bar applies to both the J-1 principal and any J-2 dependents. The 12 month bar does not prevent individuals from returning to the U.S. in any other visa status.

• 24 Month Bar

  Any individual who participates in an Exchange Visitor program in the Researcher Scholar or Professor category on or after 11/18/2006 is subject to a 24 month bar on “repeat participation” in those categories.  Scholars subject to the 24 month bar may not return to the U.S. as a J-1 scholar in the Research Scholar or Professor category for the 24 month period.  This bar also applies to J-2 dependents.
  The 24 Month Bar is not the same as the Two Year Home Residence Requirement (212(e)).  The 24 month bar does not prevent individuals from returning to the U.S. in any other visa status.

• Impact of The 24 Month Bar

  J scholars in the Research Scholar and Professor categories will not be able to return to the U.S. as a J scholar for a 2 year period upon conclusion of their program.  When a j scholar either concludes or leaves a J-1 program, whichever happens earlier, the scholar’s record becomes inactive in SEVIS; thus making it impossible for the International Services to reactivate it.  At that point, the 24-month bar time starts to accrue.

  Two Year Home Residence Requirement – 212 (e)	“The Bars” 12 Month and 24 Month Bar
  Focus on “Exchange”	Focus on “Visitor”
  May apply to any J category under certain conditions (graduate medical training, government funding, skills list)	Applies only to persons seeking sponsorship in J-1 Research Scholar or Professor categories
  If applicable, requires exchange visitor to go home for two years or seek waiver	If applicable, does not require person to go home.  Prohibits recurring use of these categories