Maintaining Legal Status

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Program Regulations

During your appointment at Meharry it is critical that you follow the J-1 Research Scholar regulations to maintain legal status. Failure to follow the J-1 Research Scholar regulations can have serious long-term consequences for your immigration status in the U.S. Fortunately; there are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your stay in the U.S. remains valid:

Form DS-2019: At orientation, we will review your immigration documents (passport, visa stamp, I-94 record and Form DS-2019). The Form DS-2019 is similar to an immigration contract. If anything changes, you must notify the International Office and have the form updated, including in the following:
- Name correction (section 1)

- Work address (section 1)

- Expiration/ extension (section 3) – The end date on your DS-2019 should never expire while you hold an appointment at Meharry. Take a moment to note the expiration date, mark it in your calendar, and remember to request an extension if you will stay longer.

- Meharry appointment title (section 4)

- Funding amount and source (section 5) – The only activity you are permitted to be paid for is the one described here. You must consult the International Office in advance if you wish to take up any other work during your stay.

Program Objective: You have been invited to Meharry to engage is specific research activities. To maintain legal status you must continue in this same objective, and be making what Meharry considers to be normal and successful progress towards these goals.

Contact information: You must report within 10 days any change in your residential address, telephone number or e-mail address. Please contact the International Office to report changes.

Insurance: Health insurance requirements are mandated for all J-1 visa holders and their families. Willful disregard of these requirements will result in termination of your program and your J-1 status.

Leaving Meharry: If offered a comparable position at another college or university, please discuss your plans with the International Office to make sure that the required transfer procedure can be accomplished.

Extra time: J-1 exchange visitors are allowed a 30-day grace period beyond the end date on their DS-2019. This additional 30-day period is not for employment, extensions, transfers or international travel. Please contact the International Office if you have any questions about the grace period.

Passport: Keep your passport valid at all times.

Extension of J-1 Status

To request an extension of your J-1 status up to the maximum period allowable under the regulations, you must initiate your request through your department. The extension process (including obtaining a new DS-2019) must be completed before the end date as noted on your current DS-2019 form.

The International Office will need the following information from the supervising faculty member or other authorized department personnel:

Your position title

The proposed dates of the extension

The amount and source of the funding

If your stay is not supported by Meharry funding, you will need to provide the International Office with proof of funds (i.e., external grant award letter, personal bank statement, etc).

Salary support must meet the minimum established for certain Meharry Medical College positions, e.g. postdoctoral or postgraduate appointments.

Obtaining a New DS-2019

The International Office will prepare a new DS-2019 reflecting the extended period. Please note that a new DS-2019 will be issued to reflect the new period of stay. That document legally extends your J-1 visit as long as you remain in the U.S. If you have a spouse or child(ren) in J-2 status, their stays will also be extended.

Should you travel outside the U.S. during this new period of valid J-1 status (other than visits of less than 30 days to Canada or Mexico and adjacent territories), you must have a valid J-1 visa in your passport. If your current J-1 visa has expired, you will use the new DS-2019 to apply for a new J-1 visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate outside the U.S.

When you apply for a J-1 extension, you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again.

In extending your J-1 stay you must also be certain to extend your health insurance coverage. Failure to do so will result in the termination of your J-1 status.

Two Year Home Residency Requirement 212(e)

Some J-1 and J-2 visa holders are subject to return their home country (the country in which they hold permanent residence) for two (2) years following the completion of the J-1 Program.

This requirement is in place to allow the Research Scholars to return to their home country with a better understanding of the U.S., and to share their skills to benefit their home country.

The two-year home country residency requirement is explained on the reverse side of the Form DS-2019.

Who is Subject to the Residency Requirement?

Government Funded Exchange Programs: If your stay as a J-1 Research Scholar was funded by the U.S. government, your home country’s government, or an international organization (e.g. Fulbright, AMIDEAST, etc.), you will be subject to the residency requirement.

Exchange Visitor Skills List: If you are an exchange visitor of a country which has deemed your field of specialized knowledge or skill necessary to development of the country, you will be subject to the residency requirement. (see the Exchange Visitor Skills List for more information).

*If the J-1 is subject to the home residency requirement, any J-2 dependents will also be subject.

24-Month Bar Rule

The 24-month bar rule affects J-1 Research Scholars who have been in the U.S. on a J-1 exchange visitor visa previously, and wish to return using the J-1 visa. This bar prohibits “repeat participation” for J-1 Research Scholars.

If you have or have had a J-1 Research Scholar visa or a J-2 Dependent of Research Scholar visa, you must wait for the 24-month bar period to end prior to applying for a new J-1 or J-2 visa.

Exceptions:

Transferring to another institution to continue the current J-1 Research Scholar Program does not trigger the 24-month bar.

Time spent in a J-1 category other than Research Scholar does not trigger the 24-month bar.