Grace Period and Departure Notifications

After the program end date on your DS-2019, you will have 30 days to depart the U.S. You will also need to notify ISSS about the date you will leave. We will email you during your last month in the U.S. with further instructions.

If you forgot to request an extension of your DS-2019 from ISSS, then contact your host and ISSS as soon as possible to get a new end date for your DS-2019. More information about extensions can be found here.

212(e) and the Bars

Visitors who have completed a J-1 exchange program in the U.S. may be subject to one or more of the following restrictions after their program:

• 212(e) Two-Year home-country physical presence requirement 
  • It may be possible to get a waiver of this requirement
• 12-month bar on participation as a J-1 Professor or Research Scholar
• 24-month bar on participation as a J-1 Professor or Research Scholar

Please see the 212(e) and the Bars page for further information.

Transfer Your Program to Another Institution

You can transfer your program to another J-1 program sponsor if your objective for the program hasn’t changed and you will stay in the same J-1 category. Keep in mind you also cannot exceed the maximum time allowed for your category:

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

You should plan for your transfer in advance and notify ISSS by emailing a Transfer Out Form to j1scholars@tamu.edu. You will also need to coordinate with your new institution to get a new DS-2019.  

J-1 Student Interns and their host department will also need to email a J-1 Student Intern Evaluation to j1scholars@tamu.edu before the intern transfers to their new institution.

Your SEVIS record must be transferred before the program end date on your DS-2019! 

If you missed the deadline, then you may have to leave the U.S. and re-enter using the DS-2019 from your new institution.