- International Students & Scholars
J-1 Regulations
ISSA provides you helpful information and notifies you about situations that may affect your immigration status in the U.S.
Penn State University’s International Students and Scholars Advising (ISSA) is required to follow federal reporting regulations related to your J-1 status in the U.S. For this reason, it is important to read all communications you receive from ISSA.
While Penn State’s international student advisers can assist you in understanding the benefits, requirements, and limitations of your status, it is ultimately your responsibility to maintain your immigration status. Therefore, it is important to know and follow these regulations.
As a J-1 international student, you have the following responsibilities to maintain your immigration status:
- Enroll in a full-time course load or have approval for a reduced course load.
- Enroll in the correct number of in-person credits. Please review Enrollment Requirements for more information.
- Enroll in courses while you have an active SEVIS record.
Note: If your DS-2019 has a future end date, you must inform ISSA via the Exit form in iStart that you are not enrolling for one of the following reasons:- You have graduated
- Taken a leave of absence
- Returning home for military service
- Withdrawal
- Update your local U.S. address via the U.S. Local Address Update form in iStart within 10 days every time it changes.
Note: Additionally, ISSA encourages you to keep all of your contact information updated in Account Management as well. - Obtain work authorization from your international student adviser.
- Apply for an extension of your DS-2019 before the program end date listed on your document, if necessary.
- Meet mandatory health insurance requirements.
The above regulations are mandatory. It is considered a violation of immigration status when a student does not follow these regulations even if it is unintentional. A violation will result in a student’s SEVIS record being terminated. When this occurs, there is no grace period, and the student is required to leave the U.S. immediately.
Additional Information
As a J-1 international student you are required to abide by the laws of the United States and to have Health Insurance. Please review the examples of unlawful activities and health insurance information below.
Penn State University’s International Students and Scholars Advising (ISSA) is required to follow federal reporting regulations related to your J-1 status in the U.S. For this reason, it is important to read all communications you receive from ISSA.
While Penn State’s international student advisers can assist you in understanding the benefits, requirements, and limitations of your status, it is ultimately your responsibility to maintain your immigration status. Therefore, it is important to know and follow these regulations.
As a J-1 international student, you have the following responsibilities to maintain your immigration status:
- Enroll in a full-time course load or have approval for a reduced course load.
- Enroll in the correct number of in-person credits. Please review Enrollment Requirements for more information.
- Enroll in courses while you have an active SEVIS record.
Note: If your DS-2019 has a future end date, you must inform ISSA via the Exit form in iStart that you are not enrolling for one of the following reasons:- You have graduated
- Taken a leave of absence
- Returning home for military service
- Withdrawal
- Update your local U.S. address via the U.S. Local Address Update form in iStart within 10 days every time it changes.
Note: Additionally, ISSA encourages you to keep all of your contact information updated in Account Management as well. - Obtain work authorization from your international student adviser.
- Apply for an extension of your DS-2019 before the program end date listed on your document, if necessary.
- Meet mandatory health insurance requirements.
The above regulations are mandatory. It is considered a violation of immigration status when a student does not follow these regulations even if it is unintentional. A violation will result in a student’s SEVIS record being terminated. When this occurs, there is no grace period, and the student is required to leave the U.S. immediately.
Additional Information
As a J-1 international student you are required to abide by the laws of the United States and to have Health Insurance. Please review the examples of unlawful activities and health insurance information below.
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