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Program
Extension for J-1 Students
As an international student in J-1
immigration status, you have been admitted into the United States
for "duration of status," which is noted on your I-94 Departure
Record (the small white card in your passport) as "J-1, D/S." This
means that as long as you maintain a full
course of study, or the ISSO has granted you Academic
Training employement authorization following successful completion
of your program, you may continue to remain lawfully in the U.S.
in J-1 status.
However, you have been given a limited amount of time by Boston
University to complete your studies. This time limit can be found
in Section 3 of your Form DS-2019, where it states the beginning
and ending dates of your exchange program. Please pay attention
to the program end date.
If you know that you will be unable to complete your program within
the time provided, you should contact the ISSO at least one month
prior to your current DS-2019 program end date to request a new
DS-2019 for Program Extension.
IMPORTANT
If you fail to process a new DS-2019 for Program Extension before
your current DS-2019 expires, or you are otherwise determined to
be ineligible, you will be considered out of status and may have
to file for J-1 Reinstatement with
the U.S. Department of State.
Eligibility
To determine if you are eligible for a Program Extension, an ISSO
advisor will evaluate the following:
- That you are currently maintaining lawful J-1 immigration status.
- You are permitted by your academic department to continue full-time
enrollment in your program of study.
- You possess sufficient funding to meet the tuition, fees and
cost-of-living expenses for the period of the requested extension.
Requesting a New DS-2019 for Program Extension
If you will need more time to complete your program of study than
is permitted by the program end date in section 3 of your current
Form DS-2019, please follow these steps:
- Download and print the
Program Extension Checklist and Academic Advisor's
Recommendation for Program Extension and have it completed
by your academic advisor. This form can also be picked up at
the ISSO.
- Request that your academic advisor complete the Academic
Advisor's Recommendation for Program Extension form.
- Assemble proof that you have sufficient funds to cover the expenses
for tuition, fees and cost-of-living for the Program Extension
period you are requesting.
If the funding is your own, you need only submit a bank letter
or statement verifying funds. If you are sponsored (e.g.
by your parents), your sponsor will need to provide their bank
documentation, plus a letter of financial support that verifies
they will provide funding for your tuition/fees and living expenses
while you are at Boston University. For your convenience, Boston
University has prepared a Sponsorship
Certification Form for this purpose.
Delays in obtaining financial documentation from abroad do not
justify allowing your DS-2019 to expire without a timely Program
Extension. You are strongly advised to request letters verifying
continued financial support well in advance of the expiration
of your current DS-2019, especially if you rely on sponsorship
from an international agency or your home government.
All financial documents must be written in English and show the
amounts converted into U.S. dollars. Click here to review
the Estimate
of Expenses to determine the amount of funds you must have
available.
- Bring the above documentation to the ISSO along with your current
DS-2019, passport, J-1 visa and I-94 card (do not bring copies).
Ask to fill out a Request Form for a DS-2019 Program Extension.
Once the ISSO has received
a completed extension application (i.e., all required documents
submitted), please allow ten (10) business days for processing.
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