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International Services and Engagement Office ISEO
  1. ISEO
  2. Scholar Services
  3. J-1 Scholars
  4. Ending J-1 Status

Ending Your J-1 Status at UC San Diego

 Please contact your ISEO advisor if you have questions about your status ending.

Program Completion and Departing the U.S.

Program End Date and 30-Day Grace Period

Finding your Program End Date

  • The J-1 program end date is on Section #3 of your DS-2019.
  • In all cases, however, the actual status end date is the date that you stop your approved activity, or the end date on your forms, whichever comes first.
  • For example, if a J-1 finishes his/her program three months early, then the lawful J-1 status also ends three months early.

Grace Period

  • J-1 status allows for a 30 day grace period effective immediately after whichever comes first:
    • From the end date on the DS-2019
    • OR
    • From the end date of your J-1 program activity
  • You may not work or be paid during this period, nor may you depart and reenter the U.S.

Bars and Restrictions

Transfer to a Different Institution

If you plan to transfer your J-1 record to a different institution, review the Transferring at UC San Diego webpage.

Early Departures

Early Departure from J-1 Program

If you are ending your appointment at UC San Diego early, your visa status must be shortened accordingly through iServices. Please be careful when submitting a J-1 early departure request and make sure you are actually ending your J-1 status. You will have a 30-day grace period in which to depart the U.S. or change to a different visa status.

A J-1 program should NOT be shortened in the following situations: 

  • You are moving to a different department at UCSD.
    • Your department needs to submit a J-1 Appointment Update Request. Please speak to your department contact regarding having this completed.
  • You will be Out of Country (such as during an approved leave of absence from your position at UC San Diego) and intend to return to the same J-1 program.
  • You are transferring your J-1 record to a different institution.
    • An ISEO advisor needs to coordinate that transfer and will update your J-1 program dates.
  • You are changing to H-1B status at UCSD.
    • ISEO staff will update the J-1 program dates when working on the H-1B.

Submit the J-1 Scholar Early Departure form

Submit the J-1 Scholar Early Departure in iServices: 

  • Find the J-1 Scholar Services category in the left menu.
    • Select J-1 Scholar Early Departure
  • Prepare PDF copy of your letter of resignation
    • This should be the letter or email that you provided to your department to notify them you will be departing early 
  • Prepare the following information:
    • Requested new end date - for paid scholars, this should be the last day on UC San Diego payroll
  • You will be notified via email when your record has been shortened.

WARNING

Submitting a Separation/Early Departure will end UCSD's sponsorship of your visa status on that new end date. If you are not transferring your visa status to another institution or changing to a different status or permanent residency, you will have to depart the U.S.

  • You should be aware of information on the J-1 grace period.
  • If you shorten the program to a new end date that is in the future and then change plans, please notify ISEO immediately.

Change to Permanent Residency

Change to U.S. Permanent Residency

Once you become a Permanent Resident in the U.S., your record is closed out with ISEO, even if you will continue to work with UC San Diego. ISEO is also required to end your current visa status (ex. J-1, H-1B, etc.) as you are now a Permanent Resident of the U.S.

Submit the Permanent Residency Granted form

Submit the Permanent Residency Granted in iServices: 

  • Find the J-1 Scholar Services category in the left menu.
    • Select Permanent Residency Granted
  • Prepare PDF copy of your PR card
  • You will be notified via email when your record has been closed. SEVIS will be updated to note the scholar is no longer in J-1 status.

Reminders