Information for the Exchange Visitor

U.S. federal regulations require that all J-1 scholars report a change of address within 10 days. To comply, you must notify ISSS in writing via email. ISSS will provide this information electronically to USCIS through SEVIS. To notify ISSS, email ISSS.

There are times when a scholar will leave the university prior to the Program End Date listed on the DS-2019. The scholar must notify the ISSS of the date of departure and the reason for ending their program at Kansas State University. J-1 Professors or Research Scholars will be unable to re-enter the U.S. as a J-1 Professor or Scholar for 24 months after the completion of their program at Kansas State University. If the scholar is not maintaining a continuous and collaborative relationship with Kansas State University and is not transferring to another J-1 program, the 24-month bar to re-enter the U.S. in the J-1 Professor or Research Scholar category will be triggered. Therefore, it is very important for the scholars to keep ISSS informed of future plans and intentions.

If your dependents depart the U.S. before the end date on the DS-2019 and do not plan to return, their departure must be reported to ISSS.

Scholars must notify ISSS whenever there is a change in their program. These changes include new locations, new funding sources, new laboratory or department

J-1 scholars and professors may conduct research or teach only at Kansas State University unless specifically authorized in advance and in writing by ISSS to give a lecture or consult at another institution. Therefore, scholars must contact ISSS if invited to speak or consult at another institution. Interns may only participate in the activity described on the DS-2019 in the department listed on the DS-2019.

J-1 scholars must maintain adequate health insurance for themselves as well as their dependents throughout their entire stay in the U.S. Failure to do so renders the scholars and their dependents "out of status" and the scholars may be removed from the J-1 program.

If you will return to the U.S. within the program period on the DS-2019 and will continue your work at K-State, you (and your dependents, if applicable) must obtain a travel signature on the DS-2019s from a staff member at ISSS prior to traveling outside the U.S.

Please complete the Request for J Services and bring it along with your DS-2019 to ISSS at least 2 weeks prior to traveling.

The university requires all employees and students engaged in university-sponsored international travel and/or activities to register their trips 14 days before departure. Travel registration is required and travelers who fail to register their travel may be subject to sanctions under applicable university policies. For further information please reach out to the Office of Research Integrity, Compliance, and Security (ORICS) at comply@k-state.edu.

1. All international travel must be registered at least two weeks prior to departure. The international travel registration form is completed in IRBManager at this link: you will log into IRBManager with your KSU credentials.
2. Individuals traveling internationally on university business or with university property are responsible for complying with export control laws and regulations. Please visit this link for additional information.

Extensions are granted if the scholar is eligible for the additional time requested and the funding is adequate. Research Scholars and Professors are limited to 5 years; Short Term Scholars are limited to 6 months; and Student Interns are limited to 12 months.

Scholars must notify ISSS of plans to transfer in advance. In order to process the transfer, the scholar must complete and submit the J Transfer Out form. It is recommended that this be submitted at least two weeks prior to the date of transfer.

All Exchange Visitors and all their dependents must depart the U.S. within 30 days of the Program End Date listed on the DS-2019 or the date the program is completed if prior to the end date listed on the DS-2019.

You are eligible to apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) only if you will be employed by K-State. If you will not be paid by K-State, then you cannot apply for an SSN. Dependents can only apply for a SSN if they have been approved for work authorization. (See dependents page for more information on applying for work authorization.)

J-1 Exchange Visitors must check in with International Student and Scholar Services AND be in the U.S. for 10 calendar days before applying for a Social Security number. Please take the following documents.

1. A letter from your employing department that states you will be employed at K-State. The letter must specify your start date.
2. Your passport
3. Your I-94. You can print this out at https://i94.cbp.dhs.gov/I94/#/home.
4. Your DS-2019

Only the spouse and unmarried minor children (under 21 years of age) of the exchange visitor are eligible for J-2 status. If you are already in the U.S. and would like to request a DS-2019 for a dependent, you must submit to the ISSS a Request for J-1 Services and a Request for a Dependent DS-2019. Please be aware that you will need to demonstrate that you have the funding to support additional dependents.

To request a transfer, you should submit our J-1 Transfer-Out Request Form . On your transfer release date, your SEVIS database record will be moved from Kansas State University sponsorship to your new institution. After that, your new school will be able to prepare an updated, "transfer" DS-2019 reflecting your new sponsorship. Once your SEVIS record has been transferred, you will no longer be affiliated with our institution from an immigration perspective, so you should no longer work here unless given authorization from your new sponsor.