J-1 Scholars are allowed to enter the U.S. up to 30 days prior to the Program Start Date listed on the DS-2019. The government’s SEVIS database requires OIS to “validate” the J-1 record NO LATER than 30 days following the Program Start Date. If your J-1 scholar does not arrive and check-in with OIS in time for us to validate the DS-2019 the SEVIS record will be cancelled and your J-1 will be considered “out-of-status” by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Therefore, it is critical that OIS is notified anytime a scholar will not arrive in a timely manner. A small delay is acceptable, but arrival more than 2 weeks after the Program Start Date listed on the DS-2019 requires an e-mail to: j1exchg@usc.edu. We are then able to amend the electronic SEVIS record to keep it active and allow your J-1 scholar to arrive later than expected. In most instances the electronic update is sufficient and we are rarely required to issue a new DS-2019.
A failure to check-in with OIS will also result in the SEVIS record being terminated and place your scholar “out-of-status.” Therefore, it is critical to direct the Exchange Visitor to call OIS at (213) 740-2666 to schedule an appointment for “J-1 Check-in” shortly after arrival. Unfortunately, we have had too many scholars arrive in a timely manner only to later go “out-of-status” because they dove into their research before visiting OIS.
If a J-1 scholar is not validated in a timely manner for either reason listed above OIS will be required to request “Reinstatement” of the Exchange Visitor’s record from the Department of State. Reinstatement requests must be accompanied by a $246 fee to the Department of State. OIS will require an internal requisition in this amount to cover the cost of the application fee.