J1 Students
General Information

Please note that the following information is meant to be used only by Florida State University faculty, staff, students, and potential students of Florida State University and only in the context of international visits to FSU specifically. It is not intended to be used and should not be construed as general legal advice.

Exchange Visitor (J) status is granted for a variety of activities intended to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The program was established through the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (also known as the Fulbright-Hays Act). For more information, see www.exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges/.

The overall J program is administered mainly through the U.S. State Department, rather than U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The J status is the only immigration status administered in this way. Therefore, in many respects, the program is very different from other immigration statuses someone from abroad may hold.

Most international students come to the U.S. in F-1 status. Generally, J-1 student status is given to students attending FSU with funding from their home government or the U.S. government, and at the specific request of those funding entities. Some government-funded students are given I-20's for F-1 status because there was no requirement for issuing a DS-2019 for J-1 status in their initial award letter.

Non-degree students coming under a formal exchange agreement between their university and FSU are also given J status. According to federal law, students in J status must either receive most of their funding from a source other than personal or family funds, or they must be coming under a formal exchange agreement between their university and FSU, their government and the U.S. government, or under an international agreement. It is for this reason that FSU generally does not accept self-funded, non-degree-seeking students.

The main differences between J-1 status and F-1 status are as follows:

  • Students in J status may be subject to the two-year residence rule
  • Students in J status may not come initially on personal or family funds only;
  • Students in J status may not change major during their J program;
  • Academic Training is employer specific, not general authorization; and
  • Dependents of J-1 students can apply for work authorization.
Students and departments should be aware that the different categories of J status carry different rules and benefits specific only to that category. Those in J-1 status cannot generally change their J category (for instance, student to research scholar) in the U.S. The U.S. Department of State envisions each J program as having a very specific objective, after completion of which the visitor will return home, and does not want the participant to change that objective at any point in their J program.

This may also affect potential students in categories not sponsored by FSU, such as secondary school student, summer work/travel, au pair, camp counselor, trainee, or international visitor. For example, those in the U.S. in a summer work/travel program generally will not be able to change to a degree-seeking student category of the J program without first leaving the U.S. They may have options for changing status to another immigration status entirely, such as an F-1 student, provided that they can get through the admissions procedures and change of immigration status in time to enroll as required, and provided they are not subject to the Two-year residence requirement. This timing is often difficult for summer work/travel visitors because of the very short length of their program, though. For more information on changing status to or from J-1 status please see the Change of Status form. Please note that au pairs are expected to study during their stay in this category, so they may be permitted to enroll at FSU.

Various agencies, other than FSU, also sponsor J-1 exchange visitors on our campus, IIE, LASPAU, Amideast, American Councils, through grants like Fulbright and Muskie. The sponsor of the Exchange Visitor's program appears in box 2 of the DS-2019 form. If an agency other than FSU appears in box 2, that agency must issue all immigration documentation, work authorizations, travel signatures, and specific program advice and information. The International Center can advise these sponsored students only on general immigration information and university procedures, as we have no legal authority with regard to their immigration record. For a full list of all J-1 sponsors of all categories and their contact information, see http://exchanges.state.gov/jexchanges/.

The J program does expect reciprocal exchange to occur. Although there is no organized program of exactly equal exchange with the countries represented on our campus under the J program, there are various exchange opportunities for students and faculty to travel abroad. For more information, please see Reciprocal Exchange Abroad.

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J1 FORMS
GENERAL IMMIGRATION INFORMATION
All forms are available in alternative format upon request.


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