Maintaining J-1 Status

Undergraduate students must enroll for 12 credits each fall and spring semester. Graduate students must enroll for 9 credits each fall and spring semester. Failure to enroll for the required number of credits will result in the loss of your J-1 status.

Immigration allows a few specific exceptions to the full-time enrollment rule. If you wish to drop below full time, you must submit the Reduced Course Load Form to your international student advisor before dropping below full-time.

You may take only one web/online class (3 credits) per term. You may register for more online courses, but they would have to be more than what is necessary to maintain a full course of study.

All changes must be provided in writing by emailing your international student advisor or visiting ISSS. Do not call or leave a voice message to report changes. For financial and name changes, you will have to provide documentation proving the change. The following is the information you will need to keep updated:

1. Your current United States address

For immigration reporting purposes, we need both your physical and mailing address (if they are different). When you move, you must report your new address to your international student advisor within 10 days of the move. This includes:

• Moves from one Northern Kentucky University residence hall to another
• Moves from a residence hall to an address off campus
• Moves from one off-campus address to another
• Changing your room number
• Temporary address changes

Your international student advisor will update your SEVIS record with your new address. *Failure to provide a current address can result in a loss of your J-1 status.

How to change your address:

Step 1: You must notify your international student advisor to change it in SEVIS.

Step 2: You must change your address on MyNKU (Northern Kentucky University’s online system) so important mail from the university will reach you.

You should apply for a program extension at least 30 days before the expiration date indicated on your Form DS-2019 by filling out a Program Extension Form. A new DS-2019 will be issued to extend your program. If you fail to request an extension prior to the program expiration date, you will be considered out of status and must apply to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for reinstatement.

A J-1 visa student who is degree-seeking is permitted to transfer to a different school provided the transfer procedure is followed. To transfer schools, you should first be admitted to the new school and you must complete the new school’s transfer form as well as the NKU ISSS Transfer Out Form. Your transfer will be effective on the “SEVIS release date” that you select to have your J-1 SEVIS record transferred from Northern Kentucky University to the new institution.

In order to transfer out of Northern Kentucky University, please complete the following steps:

1. Apply to the other school: Contact the other school for details on their admissions process

2. Complete the transfer out form: Once you have been admitted, fill out the Transfer Out Form and drop it off to ISSS. Your SEVIS immigration record will be transferred electronically to the other school on the SEVIS release date you indicate on the form.

Note: When choosing your SEVIS release date, make sure you take into account your on-campus job and academic training time. On your release date, you will not be able to work on the NKU campus nor will you be able to participate in any academic training authorized by NKU.

To withdraw from Northern Kentucky University, complete the Withdrawal Form. If you withdraw with approval from the ISSS, you have a 15-day grace period to leave the United States before you fall out of status. No employment is permitted during this grace period. If ISSS did not authorize the withdrawal, you have no grace period to leave the United States and you are immediately out of status.

Immigration regulations state that you must carry your immigration documents with you at all times. These documents include:

• Passport
• Visa
• I-94
• Current I-20

Furthermore, we recommend you carry photocopies of your immigration documents with you at all times when you are in Highland Heights/Cincinnati. Whenever you leave Cincinnati/Highland Heights, you must carry your original immigration documents with you. This still applies to you even if you have a U.S. driver’s license or state ID.

Be sure your DS-2019 states your current and accurate information and there is a signature in the “Travel Validation by Responsible Officer” section of page one. Each travel signature is valid for one year while you are a student at Northern Kentucky University.

If you need a travel signature, bring your DS-2019 to ISSS at least two weeks before you depart Highland Heights/Cincinnati and your international student advisor will e-mail you when it is ready to pick up. In addition to a valid DS-2019, you will need a valid visa and passport for re-entry to the United States. It is also highly recommended that you take with you:

• Evidence of Financial Resources (such as the financial support documents you used to get your DS-2019 or J-1 visa)
• Evidence of Student Status, such as:
  • Recent tuition receipts
  • Transcripts
  • The name and contact information of your international student advisor

Keep in mind that you may need a visa to enter a country other than the U.S. Please contact the consulate/embassy of the country you will be visiting for visa requirements.

Please contact ISSS if you wish to travel outside the United States after you complete your program of studies.