J-1 Exchange Visitor Services

J-1 exchange visa holders must arrive within 30 days prior to the program start date listed on your DS-2019. Exchange visitors arriving in the United States must check-in with the Office of International Student and Scholar Services within 10 days after your arrival. Our office will make the necessary changes to your SEVIS ID and issue a new DS-2019 form certifying you have activated the J-1 status. Before the start of your first semester, our office will conduct international student orientation, providing a high-level overview of maintaining legal status within the United States and an overview of the Rutgers University – Newark campus. The orientation is required for all new incoming J-1 exchange visitor visa holders.

J-1 visa holders are required to report any changes that may occur while in the United States to Rutgers University – Newark AROs within 10 days of the change.

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services’ primary responsibility is to advise future and current J-1 visa holders about maintaining legal presence within the United States. Our office provides group advising sessions and one-on-one advising for our J-1 exchange visitors throughout the progression of their professional careers at Rutgers University – Newark.

Alternate Responsible Officers (AROs) should be your point of contact for receiving advice about maintaining legal J-1 status in the United States. You should report to your ARO any changes to your J-1 visa status or changes that may have occurred within the United States (please see J-1 Student Visa Information about reporting requirements).

The Office of International Student and Scholar Services provides virtual advising appointments to J-1 exchange visitors of Rutgers University – Newark on a daily basis. Select Book An Advising Appointment for scheduling an advising appointment with one of our AROs.

Only a spouse and/or unmarried children under the age of 21 of a student/scholar in J-1 status are eligible for J-2 dependent status.  Children over the age of 21, parents, brothers, sisters and other family members are NOT eligible for J-2 dependent status. They may come to visit on B2 visitor visa.

If your spouse and/or child(ren) plan to visit you in the U.S. for a short period of time, they may also enter the U.S. on B2 visitor visa. If you wish for them to stay with you for the duration of your studies, they will have to enter in J-2 dependent status to remain in the U.S.

Form DS-2019 for the dependent(s) is required to apply for a J-2 dependent visa. The following documentation must be submitted to OISS to obtain the dependent DS-2019:

• REQUEST FOR FORM DS-2019 FOR DEPENDENT(S)
• Marriage Certificate (MUST be translated in ENGLISH)
• Copy of personal identification page of dependent passport(s)Financial documentation of $5,000 for spouse and $3,500 for each child to prove sufficient funding to cover living expenses for all dependents to stay in the U.S. 
• Health insurance for each dependent. (See "Health Insurance” on OISS website for coverage requirement and cost. The fee will be automatically billed by the international health insurance office.  If you have an assistantship which provides you with health insurance, please ask your hiring department to complete the appropriate forms on the Rglobal portal confirming that your dependent(s) will be covered by employee health benefits. (Note: Dependent DS-2019 Form(s) will not be issued if proof of health insurance is not provided.)
• An online credit card payment for a one-time SEVIS Administrative fee payment of $50.00 for spouse and $25 for each child will be assessed at the time of application.

Dependent(s) should submit the following documents to the U.S. consulate nearest to their home for J-2 visa application:

• Original Dependent DS-2019 properly signed, financial documentation, passport and passport-type photo
• Invitation letter from J-1 student

Photocopy of J-1 student's most recent DS-2019, J-1 visa, I-94 record and passport bio page and expiration date.