New J-1 Exchange Visitor Regulations Effective January 1, 2003

On January 1, 2003, new regulations effecting J-1 exchange visitors in the U.S. went into effect. The new regulations implement SEVIS (the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). SEVIS requires educational institutions to periodically report information (change of address, changes in source of funding, early completion of program, etc.) to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS, formerly known as INS) on all active exchange visitors under their visa sponsorship

If your J-1 sponsor is NOT Princeton University, be sure to check with your program sponsor (IIE/Fulbright, Amideast, etc.) for information on how they will implement SEVIS rules.

Highlights of the changes that will most impact you as an exchange visitor professor or research scholar are as follows:

• Current IAP-66/DS-2019 May Be Used for Re-entry until August 1, 2003

If the J-1 visa stamp in your passport is valid, you may use your current IAP-66/DS-2019 (new name for IAP-66) to re-enter the U.S. as often as needed up to August 1, 2003. If your appointment at Princeton University will continue past August 1, 2003, Visa Services must issue you a new DS-2019 approved through SEVIS prior to the August 1 deadline.

• SEVIS DS-2019 Required for All Exchange Visitors Who Need to Apply for a New J-1 Visa Stamp

If you are traveling before August 1, 2003 and you need a new J-1 visa, you must have a SEVIS DS-2019 issued by Visa Services for this purpose. Your current IAP-66/DS-2019 will not be sufficient. Unless you notify Visa Services of earlier travel plans, we expect to begin issuing these new documents as your appointment is extended (for those whose IAP-66/DS-2019s expire before August 1, 2003) or beginning in April (for those whose IAP-66/DS-2019s expire after August 1, 2003).

• Change of Address Submitted through Princeton effective January 30, 2003

Effective January 30, 2003, for all exchange visitors entered into SEVIS, Princeton is required to report your address updates and changes to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services on your behalf through the SEVIS system. You are required to report any change of address to the appropriate office on campus by using the Personal Data Form http://www.princeton.edu/~hr2/forms/hires/PersonalDataForm.pdf within 10 (ten) days of any change.* 

Your address will be reported when you are entered into the system, i.e., when you are issued a SEVIS DS-2019. You may continue to file a change of address yourself (prior to receiving your SEVIS DS-2019) by downloading the AR-11 from the USCIS website: www.immigration.gov. 

Dependents must also keep address changes current with Visa Services if the address is different from that of the J-1 student.

*Those individuals who are subject to National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) also known as special registration must also complete AR-11SR as instructed by USCIS.

• J-2 Dependents must have their own SEVIS Document

Under the new regulations, effective August 1, 2003, J-2 dependents must be issued their own SEVIS DS-2019. That means if you have a spouse and three children, your family members will be issued four SEVIS documents in addition to the one you possess. Unless you notify Visa Services of earlier travel plans, we will be issuing these new documents at the same time we replace your non-SEVIS IAP-66/DS-2019s.

Also included in the regulations:

• New Limit On Initial Admission to the U.S.

The new regulations limit initial admission in J-1 status to a period of no more than 30 (thirty) days prior to the date listed in item 3 on the DS-2019 as the date the program begins. For example, if a scholar’s appointment begins on September 1, a DS-2019 will be issued with this as a start date and he or she can enter the U.S. no earlier than August 2. Therefore, if you have friends or colleagues arriving in the future, please do not advise them to try to enter the U.S. more than 30 days prior to their appointment start date as you may have.

© The Trustees of Princeton University  Last modified 02/27/07 Web questions and comments: voelcker@princeton.edu