The DS-2019 is an important immigration document issued by a program sponsor (LSUHSC-NO), which makes an individual eligible for J-1/J-2 status. You may remain in the U.S. as a J-1/J-2 exchange visitor for up to five years from the start date of your program.Your DS-2019 must remain valid during the entire stay in the U.S. A DS-2019 must be endorsed by the Responsible Officer or Alternate Responsible Officer before departing for a trip abroad. Each J-1/J-2 should sign their own DS-2019 with the exception of minor children whose form may be signed by their J-1 parent.

J-1 Exchange Visitors are permitted to enter the United States up to thirty (30) days prior to the report date or program start date indicated on their Form DS-2019. (See 8 CFR § 214.2(j))

International Services will provide additional instructions for navigating the visa and entry process, if applicable. Those instructions and details are also available here.

 Student Transfer to LSUHSC

Note: Exchange Visitors who are in J-1 status at another Institution in a category other than Student (Research Scholar, Short Term Scholar, Specialist, etc.) CANNOT use the transfer process to change categories to J-1 Student. This must be accomplished through Department of State approval of a change in category or through travel and re-entry in the Student category. Please contact International Services for more information on this process.

J-1 students are permitted a 30 day grace period following the program end date listed on their most recent DS-2019. During this 30 day period:

• the student's SEVIS record will move to Inactive,

• the student is permitted to physically remain in the United States in J-1 status,

• the student is permitted to apply for a change of status, if eligible. (See 212(e) waiver issues here.)

• the student is NOT permitted to transfer their program

• the student may NOT  leave the Untied States and re-enter using expired DS-2019

• the student does NOT have continuing on campus work authorization

• the student must maintain the required health, medical evacuation and repatriation insurance required by the J Regulations for themselves and their sponsored J-2 dependents.

Participation as a J Exchange Visitor or J Dependent in ANY category may subject the J-1 and J-2 to future bars to repeat program participation as a J Research Scholar or Professor. The bars are explained here.

 

All foreign national students in J-1 status are required to engage in a full course of study and make normal academic progress in order to be considered "maintaining immigration status."

For Undergraduate Students, Full Time is set at 12 credit hours per semester for Spring and Fall and 6 credit hours for Summer. For Graduate Level Students, Full Time is set at 9 credit hours (including Dissertation Research hours) per semester for Spring and Fall and 6 credit hours for Summer.

Summer Term: Unless required by the specific curriculum or program, foreign national students who have completed one academic year (usually Fall and Spring semester) are not required to enroll for Summer semester (unless required by their program's curriculum structure), provided they are enrolled full time for the next regular semester (Fall).

Any Initial Entry student whose course of study begins in the Summer term is required to enroll in full time credit hours for that semester. Any Initial Entry Student whose course of study at begins in the Spring is required to enroll full time in the following Fall Term in order to maintain their immigration status.

Students who are registered "Exam Only" are considered to be enrolled full time and will be considered to be engaged in a full course of study. "Diploma Only" students are NOT considered full time.

J-1 Non-Degree Students are required to engage full time in a "prescribed course of study" rather than a "full course of study." The prescribed course of study is set by the school who administers the educational program. Regular enrollment requirements and procedures must be met.

Reduced Course Load (RCL)-Academic

How does Academic Reduced Course Load work?

• Half time enrollment is required when RCL is for Academic reasons.

• RCL for Academic reasons may be approved for ONE semester per education level.(Bachelor's, Master's, Doctorate, Professional Certificates) No additional approvals for Academic RCL are permitted, even if previously granted at another institution.

• The student MUST resume their full course of study in the next semester unless it is a non-required Summer semester OR an additional RCL (Medical) is obtained.

What are the Academic Reasons for RCL?

• *Initial difficulty with English (*Only available during a student's first year at LSUHSC New Orleans.)

• *Initial difficulty with Reading requirements (*Only available during a student's first year at LSUHSC New Orleans.)

• Unfamiliarity with U.S. teaching methods

• Improper Course Level Placement

How do I submit a request for Academic RCL?

• Students must submit a written request for an Academic RCL directly to OIS. The request must include:

  • The class(es) including course number and credit hours the student wishes to drop

  • The reason the student wishes to drop the class(es) (One of the above academic reasons)

  • A copy of the student's current enrollment/schedule

  • How the student plans to return to full time status in the next required semester.

    • What classes will be taken, and how many credit hours will be received for each class in order to return the student to full time status

    • If classes will be taken at LSUHSC and another institution to fulfill full time requirements, written confirmation from the non-LSUHSC institution that the student is eligible for the planned classes during the correct semester.

  • Confirmation of the student's understanding that Academic RCL is available only ONCE per education level.

Reduced Course Load (RCL)-Illness or Medical Condition 

How does Reduced Course Load-Illness or Medical Condition work? 

• No enrollment requirement when RCL is for Medical Reasons.

• The student must submit medical documentation from a licensed medical doctor, doctor of osteopathy, or licensed clinical psychologist stating that a medical condition or illness makes a reduced course load (or no course load) necessary.

• Medical RCL must be re-authorized EACH semester with new documentation submitted by the student.

• Medical RCL duration cannot exceed 12 months (in aggregate). Once an aggregate 12 months of Medical RCL has been used, no further RCL periods are permitted at the same educational level.

• The medical condition or illness must be the student's. A child or spouse's medical condition or illness does NOT entitle the student to a Medical RCL.

How do I submit a request for Academic RCL?

• Students must submit a written request for a Medical RCL directly to OIS. The request must include:

  • The class(es) including course number and credit hours the student wishes to drop

  • The reason the student wishes to drop the class(es) (Medical Condition with required documentation)

  • A copy of the student's current enrollment/schedule

  • How the student plans to return to full time status in the next required semester.

    • What classes will be taken, and how many credit hours will be received for each class in order to return the student to full time status

    • If classes will be taken at LSUHSC and another institution to fulfill full time requirements, written confirmation from the non-LSUHSC institution that the student is eligible for the planned classes during the correct semester.

An RCL must be requested and approved before the student drops, withdraws or stops attending any class(es) which would result in less than full time enrollment.

Final Semester

Full time enrollment is not required if student is completing their Degree/Program of study in that semester and less than full time hours/enrollment are required for completion.

• No RCL request form is required for the initial "final" semester, but the student's school must verify that they are in their last semester and are expected to graduate.

• A student may not have more than two consecutive "final" semesters with less than full time enrollment.

• If a student does not fulfill graduation requirements following the initial "final" semester at less than full time enrollment, an RCL request form is required for the second "final" semester.

• If the student does not complete their course of study following a second "final" semester, full time enrollment is required in the third semester to maintain immigration status.

Academic Training (J-1 Students ONLY):

J-1 Students authorized for Academic Training have no enrollment requirement.

Normal Academic Progress is generally defined as continued full time enrollment/registration and class attendance toward an educational goal.

A graduate student who has completed all coursework, and is conducting thesis or dissertation research on a full time basis is considered to be making normal academic progress.

A student who has been suspended and is not permitted to enroll or register at LSUHSC is not considered to be making normal academic progress.

A student who is permitted only less than full time enrollment by their school must receive an RCL to be considered continuing normal academic progress.

A student who has requested a timely transfer or change in education level is considered to be maintaining normal academic progress.

Students who will not complete their course of study by the program end date on their DS-2019 due to suspension are not eligible for an extension of their J-1 program.