Maintain Status as a J-1 Student Intern

All J-1 Exchange Visitors present in the United States are required to follow specific rules established by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of State (DOS) in order to maintain legal U.S. immigration status.

Your DS-7002 was issued based on a definite phases of training or tasks to be performed with a specific objective for each phase and was agreed upon between your program sponsor, phase supervisor,  and our institution.  DOS requires that the training and tasks be maintained throughout your stay in J-1 status. If you plan to change your training/internship placement plan in any way (including a change in location, training, tasks, supervisor, etc.) you must contact the Center for International Studies in order to ensure that the change is permitted.

Do not allow your DS-2019 Program End Date to expire. If you will need additional time to complete your training/internship training plan, please speak with the Center for International Studies to determine eligibility. 

You are required to update your address with the Center for International Studies within 10 days of moving.

Please send an email to international@stcloudstate.edu to notify us of any changes.

Early Completion of Training/Internship

If you are planning to complete your J-1 Exchange Visitor Program prior to the program end date on your DS-2019, contact the Center for International Studies for next steps.

Grace Period

At the end of the Program End Date listed on the DS-2019, the J-1 Exchange Visitor may remain in the United States up to 30 days.

During this 30 day grace period, the J-1 Exchange Visitor may remain in the United States and prepare to leave. It is not permissible to continue at the student's internship site during the grace period.

Once the J-1 Exchange Visitor exits the U.S. after the Program End Date listed on the DS-2019, the individual may not re-enter.

You and any accompanying dependents are required to maintain health insurance for the entire period of your stay in the United States.

For more information about the health insurance policy at St. Cloud State University, please click here.

For information regarding the health insurance benefits, account information, and policy details, please click here.

• Passport valid 6 months into the future
• Valid DS-2019 with travel validation (travel signature)
• Valid J-1 visa

• A valid U.S. entry visa is not required if you travel to a contiguous territory (Canada, Mexico, or the Caribbean Islands excluding Cuba) for less than 30 days.
• If a person in J-1 Exchange Visitor status enters the U.S. from the contiguous territories within 30 days, the entry visa is considered to be automatically extended to the date of re-entry provided the entry visa has not been canceled or voided.  This is called automatic visa revalidation. If you plan to use this procedure, do not surrender your valid I-94 card to immigration officials when leaving the United States.
• Note: Citizens of Iran, Sudan, Syria and Cuba are NOT eligible for automatic visa revalidation. Also the automatic visa revalidation provision excludes aliens who applied for a U.S. entry visa in Canada or Mexico and whose visa application was denied.
• Certain individuals require an entry visa before entering Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean Islands. Please contact the appropriate consulate for information.

• To travel to any other country you should have a valid, unexpired J-1 visa in your passport (Canadians excluded).
• If you do not, you must apply for a visa at a U.S. embassy abroad. You should also have a letter from your department confirming your employment. Please let the Center for International Studies know that you are planning to travel at least a month in advance so that we can endorse your DS-2019 for travel.

• Check with the appropriate U.S. embassy for general information about visa services.
• Follow the procedure you used when you obtained your previous visa(s) to enter the United States. Bring a current proof of financial support.
• The required documents vary by country so please ask for a list of required documents at the U.S. Embassy in your home country before you leave the United States.
• Due to security background checks, the processing of your visa may take a considerable amount of time.

• If you want to apply to obtain or renew your J-1 visa in Canada or Mexico rather than in your home country, you must make an appointment 2-3 weeks in advance. Schedule online at:
  • US Consulate in Canada
  • US Consulate in Mexico
• If your visa is denied, you will not be able to re-enter the U.S. under automatic visa revalidation.

All J-1 Exchange Visitors must file both state and federal tax forms every year that they are in the U.S. if they are paid while working at their training/internship site.

The deadlines to file the forms are April 15, if U.S. money is earned, and June 15, if no U.S. money is earned.

For more information, click here.

All student interns must be evaluated at the conclusion of their training/internship program.  Those programs lasting more than 6 months must do a midpoint and concluding evaluation.

Evaluations should describe the student intern's projects and assessment of effort and quality of work.

Completed evaluations must be submitted to the Center for International Studies to retain for three years completion of the student's internship.