Maintaining Your Status

Check-In with ISSS

You are required to do a check-in with ISSS after you get to the U.S. You will need to email the following documents to our Scholars & Student Interns (J-1) team for your check-in:

• I-94 (select the “Get your Most Recent I-94” option – you will need your passport number)
• Signed DS-2019 
• A copy of your J-1 visa 
• J-1 Check-In Form
• You must also submit the following document if you haven't already:
  • Proof of Health Insurance Coverage - Including insurance for all J-2 dependents, if applicable
    • If you are enrolling in TAMU's healthcare plan, please send up a screenshot of your coverage enrollment screen from Workday.
• If you have J-2 dependents, you will also need to submit copies of their J-2 visas, I-94s, and signed J-2 DS-2019s.

ISSS will add the documents to your record and activate your J-1 status. We will also have a welcome bag to give you! You can pick up the bag in person or we can mail it to you.

Virtual Orientation

A mandatory virtual orientation is also included with your check-in. Orientations will be held through zoom at: https://tamu.zoom.us/j/92494096137.

All orientations will start at 4pm CST. Please attend the earliest orientation date you can after your arrival in the U.S.

List of Zoom Orientation Dates

• January 22, 2026
• February 5, 2026
• February 19, 2026
• March 5, 2026
• March 19, 2026
• April 2, 2026
• April 16, 2026
• April 30, 2026
• May 14, 2026
• May 28, 2026
• June 11, 2026
• June 25, 2026
• July 9, 2026
• July 23, 2026

Reminder for Host Departments

• If the J-1 exchange visitor was outside the U.S., the host must pay the fee within 30 days after the visitor arrives in the United States. 
• If the J-1 exchange visitor was transferring from another U.S. institution, the host must pay the fee within 30 days after their start date at Texas A&M University.

How do I get a NetID?

• Employees: Your department will help you order a card
• Non-employees: ISSS will help you order the card

• DS-2019 
• I-94 
• A document that confirms your age (passport, birth certificate, etc.) 
• A completed Application for a Social Security Card (Form SS-5)  
  • Paper or online, if eligible 
• J-1 Student Interns only: SSN endorsement letter from ISSS 
  • Send an email to our Scholars & Student Interns (J-1) inbox to request your endorsement letter 

*Other documentation may be needed based on your situation 

Social Security Administration (SSA) Application Process and Appointment Guidelines

Complete Application and Schedule Appointment:

• After you finish the online request, you must then visit a nearby Social Security office or card center with your documentation within 45 calendar days.
• If you are not able to use online option to schedule an appointment, you can call 1-800-772-1213 to make an appointment at a local SSA office.

Confirmation and Rescheduling: 

After you submit your application and schedule an appointment, you will receive an email confirmation within few days to a week to the email address you provided in your application. You have the option to reschedule or cancel the appointment as required. 

Before Your Appointment: 

Arrive early for your scheduled appointment and bring all necessary documents for your verification. 

Check-in and Ticket Number: 

You should receive an automated text message about 30 minutes before your appointment (using the phone number from your application). Upon arrival to the SSA office, you will need to check in using the link provided in the text message. You could also avail the Mobile Check-In Express feature at the SSA office.  You with then receive a ticket number. This number will be used by the office to direct you to an appropriate representative at the window. 

Verification and Receipt: 

It is highly recommended to schedule an online appointment after completing your application before visiting the office. Please note that there have been instances where walk-ins were not accommodated.

Bryan SSA Office Contact Information

Address: 2120 West Briargate Dr., Bryan, TX 77802

Phone Numbers: 1-866-568-9428 (Toll-free) and 1-800-325-0778 (TTY)

If you find yourself in an emergency situation and need an earlier appointment, consider scheduling at the Brenham SSA office, which may have more immediate availability.

Brenham SSA Office Contact information

Address:  2901 Victory Ln, Brenham, TX 77833

Phone Numbers: 1-855-287-4792 (Primary) and 1-800-325-0778 (TTY)

Website: http://www.ssa.gov

SAVE Verification

• The Social Security Administration (SSA) must verify your immigration status before they process your application. Your port of entry data may take 12-15 days to be entered into the verification system.  
• If you apply too early and the SSA cannot verify your status, then they will forward your application to the Dept. Of Homeland Security for verification. This will add 2-6 weeks onto the normal SSN processing. 
• If the name on your DS-2019 doesn’t match the name on your I-94, you may have SAVE verification issues. Any name corrections for the I-94 must be addressed by CBP Deferred Inspection. Click here for more information about I-94 Issues.
• You can see if your immigration status has been verified on SAVE CaseCheck.

Guidelines for Name on Social Security Number (SSN) card

These guidelines help ensure that your SSN card is processed correctly and matches your legal identification, which is crucial for all official and legal purposes.

Name Consistency:

The first and last names on your SSN card must match exactly with those on the document you submit as proof of identity or your legal name. Please note that middle names or suffixes (such as Jr., Sr., III) are not considered part of your legal name for SSN purposes. It does not affect the validity of your SSN card if your middle name or suffix is included, omitted, or shown incorrectly.

• If your first name (given name) or last name (family name) is not listed on your passport, it will show as "unknown" on the SSN card. E.g. FNU (First Name Unknown) / LNU (Last Name Unknown).
• A single name is acceptable for SSN applications.
• A middle name is recorded but not considered part of your legal name for SSN purposes.

Card Format:

The SSN card contains two lines, each with space for 26 characters:

• The first line is reserved for your first and middle names.
• The second line is for your last name and any suffix, if applicable.

Character Limits:

Ensure that your first and last names are not shortened unless they exceed the 26-character limit per line. If including middle initials or suffixes causes these names to be shortened, it's better to omit them to allow as many characters as possible for your first and last names.

• If the name exceeds the allowed length, the SSN card will have an asterisk which indicates the name is longer than printed on the card.

Other Tips:

• Make sure you provide the correct U.S. mailing address. Incorrect addresses will cause your SSN card to be returned to the SSA office. 
• Going to the SSA office to check the status of your application will not make your application go faster. You need to wait at least 2 weeks before you contact the SSA to check the status.

• Check-in with ISSS to activate your J-1 status.
• Maintain health insurance for the entire duration of your J-1 program.
  • Learn more about J-1 Insurance Requirements.
    • Note: All documents should be presented in English, either as the original language or as a certified translation. Documents must be translated and certified by an official translator or individual with equivalent credentials. Translations provided by the scholar, Texas A&M University staff, or machine translations are not accepted.
• Only engage in activities permitted for your J-1 category. If you would like to change your J-1 category, see the section below for more information.
• Request a DS-2019 extension if more time is needed – at least 15 days before your current DS-2019 expiration date.
• Obtain a travel signature if you plan to travel outside the U.S. and re-enter during your program.
• Request to transfer your J-1 program to another institution, if needed. This must be done before your DS-2019 program end date.
• Report changes to ISSS (ISSS may need to update your SEVIS record and issue a new DS-2019 for some of these changes). These changes include, but are not limited to, changes in:
  • Your personal address
  • Employment address or site of activity
  • Funding
  • Supervisor
  • Department
  • Program end date (including leaving early or withdrawing)

• Short-term Scholar: 6 months 
• Professor and Research Scholar: 5 years
• Student Intern: 12 months or before your graduation date, whichever is earlier

If you’d like to extend the program dates on your DS-2019 (within the allowed maximum time), then your department/system member host should submit a request to ISSS at least 30 days before your DS-2019 expires. 

Required Documents from the J-1 Exchange Visitor

• Extension of Stay Form
• Curriculum Vitae/Resume
• Proof of continued funding
• Proof of extended health insurance coverage
• Updated sponsor letter from home country university or government (if applicable)

Required Documents from the Host Department or System Member

• Letter of Extension or Updated Job Offer Letter
  • J-1 Non-employees: Must include position title and requested DS-2019 end date
  • J-1 Employees: Must include position title, stipend or salary, position description, and the new position end date
• Export Control Form
  • For Texas A&M & Health Science Center J-1 employees - Export Control Review & Certification
  • For Texas A&M & Health Science Center J-1 non-employees - Form 5VS
  • For Engineering - Form 5VS
  • For AgriLife: AG-713
• Additional documents for J-1 Student Interns only:
  • • Updated Form DS-7002 Training/Internship Placement Plan

• J-1's full name
• J-1's UIN
• Exact range of time the J-1 will work remotely
• Full address of the remote location

It may be possible to switch to another J-1 category without traveling outside the U.S., as long as the new category is consistent with your original objective. Visitors may do this so they have more time in the U.S. or so they can do other activities.

For example, a J-1 Short-term Scholar is allowed to stay in the U.S. for a maximum of 6 months. A visitor may wish to switch to J-1 Research Scholar because their research activities will exceed the 6-month maximum. J-1 Research Scholars can be in the U.S. for up to 5 years.

ISSS only sponsors the following J-1 categories: Professor, Short-term Scholar, Research Scholar, Student, Student Intern.If you would like to change to one of these categories, notify ISSS. We will then submit a request to the U.S. Department of State on your behalf.

• This requires you to pay a fee to the Department of State.
• If the change is approved, then we will issue a new DS-2019 for you with the new category.
• If the change is denied, you can remain in your current J-1 category until the expiration of your DS-2019.

All workers in the U.S. are given certain protections under state and federal laws. Click the links to learn more:

U.S. Department of State

• Rights and Protections for Temporary Workers

U.S. Department of Labor

• Fair Labor Standards Act 
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
• Child Labor Laws
• Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (MSPA)

Texas Workforce Commission

• Employee Rights
• Employment Service Program  

Texas A&M Employees

• Texas A&M University Employees
• TAMU System Employees