Fixed Period of Stay in the U.S.
International Scholar FAQs

Previously, J-1 exchange visitors are admitted to the U.S. for “Duration of Status,” meaning they can remain in the U.S. as long as they are maintaining their J-1 status and their J-1 DS-2019 form remains valid. The D/S annotation can be found on the I-94 admissions record. 

Effective September 15, 2026, new J-1 scholars and their J-2 dependents will receive a fixed end date on their I-94 admissions record instead of D/S when they enter the U.S. on J-1 status. Scholars currently in the U.S. will remain under D/S unless they extend their current J-1 program or travel outside of the U.S.  

In most cases, admission would be limited to the program end date listed on the DS-2019 form or up to a maximum of four years from the program start date.  

Individuals needing additional time to complete their academic or exchange program may need to submit a formal Extension of Stay (EOS) request to USCIS.   

No, it will not be updated to a fixed period of stay. However, once you travel outside of the U.S. and return on your J-1 program, you will receive an Admit Until Date (AUD) that will list your fixed period of stay end date.  

If you do not travel at all during your J-1 program, your J-1 end date will either be the end date listed on your DS-2019 form OR 4 years from the effective date of the rule, whichever is shorter.  

Possibly. DHS has established an Extension of Stay (EOS) process that would allow J-1 scholars and their J-2 dependents (if applicable) to apply for an extension beyond the 4-year maximum. If USCIS approves the EOS request, then you will be able to continue your J-1 program for the extended period of time that USCIS approved.  

Pay close attention to your immigration documents, especially your I-94 admissions record. Every time you return from international travel, you must immediately review your electronic I-94 record to review your Admit Until Date (AUD). The AUD is your fixed period of stay in the U.S., meaning you are allowed to be in the U.S. until that specific date.  

Keep in communication with your PI, department contact and ISEO, especially when you expect changes in your J-1 program or when you travel internationally. Proper planning for international travel, J-1 extensions, or any other change that could affect your J-1 is vital to ensure you are maintaining lawful status.  

The I-94 admissions record is an electronic record issued by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that records your entry into the U.S. You are generally given a new I-94 every time you enter the U.S. Visit the CBP’s I-94 website to retrieve you and your dependents I-94 admissions records. 

The I-94 is an important document because it will notify you of how long you are allowed to remain in the U.S. under your J-1 status. The Admit Until Date will list a specific end date that identifies your fixed period of admission in the U.S.  

• 30-day Grace Period – If your I-94 lists an additional 30 days, your I-94 is correct. The 30 days beyond your DS-2019 end date is the J-1 grace period that allows you to remain in the U.S. after your J-1 program ends. The 30-day grace period does not authorize you to work with UC San Diego. That time should only be used for tourist activities and to prepare for your departure from the US.  
• Passport Expiration Date – If your I-94 AUD matches your passport expiration date, then this is not an error, but rather the date CBP is allowing you to remain in the U.S. Generally, if your passport is expiring soon, CBP has the discretion to limit your time in the U.S. to match your passport expiration date.  
• Other – If the AUD does not align with either your DS-2019 form or your passport expiration date, reach out to your ISEO advisor for assistance in reviewing your immigration documents. Your ISEO advisor will let you know if further action is needed. 

• Yes, it is vital that you review you and your dependents (if applicable) I-94 records after any trips outside of the U.S. When reviewing your documents, review the Admit Until Date (AUD) and make note of the date. The AUD lets you know how long you can remain in the U.S. under your nonimmigration status. You are responsible for monitoring AUD on your I-94 record and notifying ISEO immediately if there are any issues with your document.  
• Update ISEO with your new I-94 admissions record by submitting the document via ISEO’s iServices portal so that we can also assist in monitoring your AUD and notifying you when it is close to expiring.  

• The I-94 Admit Until Date is the date that determines how long you can be in the U.S. under the J-1 program. If it expires before your DS-2019 form, you cannot continue your J-1 program beyond that I-94 expiration date, unless you extend your J-1 by applying for an Extension of Stay with USCIS or traveling outside of the U.S. and returning with an extended DS-2019 form.  
• If you plan to continue your J-1 program beyond the I-94 expiration date, you will need to work with your department and ISEO to extend your J-1 program in a timely manner.  

To extend your J-1 nonimmigrant status in the U.S., you must do the following:  

• Speak to your department about extending your appointment with UC San Diego. You will need to work with your PI and department HR contact to prepare the J-1 extension request and submit it to ISEO.  
• ISEO will review the J-1 extension submission and issue an extended DS-2019 form accordingly.  
• Upon receiving the extended DS-2019, you will need to apply for an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS by filing Form I-539 and submitting the supporting documentation.  
• USCIS will review your I-539 request and will issue a decision whether to approve or deny the extension request. Note that an extension by USCIS is never guaranteed. USCIS may exercise discretion when deciding on EOS requests. 
• If USCIS approves the EOS, they will issue an I-797 approval notice, which is the official document that shows your extended fixed period of stay in the U.S.  

No, your ability to remain in the U.S. is not considered extended until you file USCIS Form I-539 Extension of Stay and are issued an I-797 J-1 extension approval notice by USCIS.  

• USCIS Form I-539 is an application to extend or change nonimmigrant status in the U.S. under certain nonimmigrant visa categories.  
• Under the new rule, you and your dependents will need to submit Form I-539 to USCIS if you wish to remain in the U.S. beyond your current J-1 end date. USCIS will make the final determination as to whether your extension is granted or denied.  

Yes, if you filed the I-539 Extension of Stay with USCIS prior to your current expiration date, may continue working for 240 days after your current program end date. 

• If your J-1 program is still current, as in your AUD has not yet expired, you may remain in the U.S. until the AUD, or your last day of employment at UC San Diego, whichever is sooner.  
• If you are in the U.S. and working under the 240-day rule, meaning your J-1 program end date has already occurred, and you are working based on the pending I-539 application, you must immediately stop working and depart the U.S. immediately. For guidance on this matter, please speak to an immigration attorney. Visit our Legal Resources page for guidance on how to find an immigration attorney. 

ISEO cannot advise you on which pathway to follow when deciding on how to extend your fixed period of stay. This guidance involves legal advice that only an immigration attorney can provide. For information on how to find an attorney, please visit our Legal Resources for guidance. 

Once you travel outside of the U.S. and re-enter under J-1, you will be admitted into the U.S. under a fixed period of stay. The Admit Until Date will no longer list D/S but will list the specific period that you are allowed to remain in the U.S. under your J-1 program.  

As every situation is different, individuals with concerns about travel or potential impacts to their status should consider consulting with an immigration attorney to discuss their specific circumstances and risk factors. 

No, when you return to the U.S., you will no longer be admitted under Duration of Status (D/S). Instead, you will be admitted for a fixed period of stay. The Admit Until Date will be listed on your I-94 admissions record.  

No, once your J-2 dependents travel outside of the U.S. and return under J-2, they will be issued an Admit Until Date, which will list their fixed period of stay in the U.S. This date will likely match your J-1 DS-2019 form but it could differ depending on certain factors.  

No, there is nothing additional that you need to bring with you when you travel outside of the U.S. For information on travel, please visit Travel and Re-Entry.   

Yes, the same rules apply to your dependents. If they travel internationally and return to the U.S. on J-2, they will be given an AUD that lists their fixed period of stay in the U.S. If an extension is needed, they will need to file an EOS OR travel outside of the U.S. and return to extend their fixed period of stay in the U.S. 

No, ISEO is not responsible for tracking I-94 admissions records for J-2 dependents. You and your dependents are responsible for monitoring the AUD and ensuring that your dependents’ statuses are extended if their AUD is close to expiring.  

Your J-2 dependent will need to either file a Form I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status with USCIS OR travel outside the United States and return with their valid DS-2019 to obtain a new admission period and updated I-94. 

If your dependent plans to travel, they should review their travel and reentry documents carefully before departing the United States. 

The new rule will affect J-2 EAD extensions. When you extend your J-1 program, your J-2 dependents will also need to extend their status through the new Extension of Stay (EOS) process. You may submit the Form I-765 application for your dependent’s EAD at the same time as the EOS applications for you and your dependents. 

If your dependent’s J-2 EAD expires while the EAD application is pending with USCIS, they must stop working. They may resume employment only after the EAD is approved and they have received the new EAD card. 

Note that premium processing is not available for Form I-539 (Extension of Stay) or Form I-765 (Employment Authorization). 

Departments will need to be proactive and pay attention to a scholar’s I-94 and DS-2019 end dates. Both these documents play a vital role in ensuring that the scholar has proper authorization to participate in their J-1 programs.  

Below are some things that departments should keep in mind under this new rule:  

• Plan J-1 extensions earlier.  
• Do not rely solely on the DS-2019 end date.  
• Pay attention to the I-94 expiration date.  
• Build USCIS processing time into appointment planning.  
• Consider work authorization implications before extending employment.  
• Coordinate early with all those involved when employment documentation is changing.  
• Encourage scholars to contact ISEO before travel or significant program changes.  

J-1 employment becomes more complicated under these new changes. Below are some key things that departments should keep in mind:  

• Maintaining J-1 status matters - A scholar’s employment authorization is tied to maintaining valid J-1 status. 
• Pay attention to the I-94 admissions record – The I-94 will show the scholar’s authorized period of admission and becomes increasingly important for employment authorization.  
• Scholars must file the Extension of Stay (EOS) in time – Timely filing USCIS Form I-539 is critical to maintaining status and avoiding potential gaps in employment authorization.  
• Plan ahead – Departments should work with ISEO and the scholar well before the I-94 expiration date to avoid potential employment disruptions.  

With the elimination of D/S, departments will need to pay closer attention to expiration dates on immigration and employment authorization documents, as employment authorization must be properly documented on Form I-9.  

For J-1 scholars applying for an Extension of Stay (EOS) with USCIS, it is important to note that a timely filed I-539 EOS does not automatically mean the I-9 should be updated. You would need the expired I-94 along with the I-797 USCIS receipt notice for the pending EOS application. If the EOS was timely filed and the scholar has the expired I-94 and I-797 receipt notice, they may continue working for 240 days after the current program end date while they wait for USCIS’ decision on the EOS application.  

Yes, if they filed the I-539 EOS prior to their current expiration date, they may continue working for 240 days after the current program end date. 

Yes, ISEO Sends out automatic emails notifying J-1 scholars and department contacts 60 days and 30 days before the program expiration date.