J-1 Arriving in the U.S.
After you have arrived in the U.S., you will need to complete Orientation and Register with ISEO. Find more information below, along with other details about settling into your routine as an international scholar at UC San Diego.
Alert
ISEO Registration and Orientation are required by the U.S. Department of State. This is separate from any registration or orientation your sponsoring UC San Diego Department may require.Complete J-1 Orientation
The U.S. Department of State requires all J-1 exchange visitors to complete a mandatory orientation provided by their program sponsor. Orientation helps scholars understand the regulations governing the Exchange Visitor Program, how to maintain valid J-1 status, and the resources available while at UC San Diego.
When ISEO issues an initial DS-2019, scholars will receive an email with instructions to complete the required J-1 orientation through Homebase, ISEO’s self-paced online orientation platform. Scholars will be asked to create login credentials to access the orientation. Progress will be tracked within Homebase, and a certificate of completion will be issued once the course is finished. ISEO will automatically be notified once the orientation has been completed.
J-1 scholar orientation must be completed before to the J-1 Registration. ISEO cannot validate a scholar’s J-1 SEVIS record until the orientation requirement has been met.
If you have questions about J-1 orientation or registration, please contact ischolars@ucsd.edu.
Submit the J-1 Scholar Registration in iServices
All new J-1 Scholars must submit the J-1 Scholar Registration request in iServices AFTER you arrive to the U.S. The registration process will allow ISEO to validate your record in SEVIS with the Department of State as well as review your immigration documents issued for entry to the U.S.
If your SEVIS record is not validated within 30 days of your program start date, it will cancel itself, jeopardizing your legal status in the U.S.
*Note for Transfers: Your scholar advisor will register your record on your behalf.
How to Register
Submit the J-1 Scholar Registration in iServices:
- Find the J-1 Scholar Services category in the left menu.
- Select J-1 Scholar Registration
- Prepare PDF copies of:
- I-94 Arrival Record
- Current Visa Stamp in passport (except Canadians)
- DS-2019 with consular signature
- If you have dependents:
- J-2 visa stamps, I-94s, and DS-2019s
- If you are a Student Intern:
- Your signed DS-7002 Training Plan
- Submit all of the required eForms, including the Insurance Verification
- You will be notified via email when your request is complete and your record is Active in SEVIS.
Dependents Arriving Later
- If you have dependents that are arriving at a later time, submit the J-2 Delayed Arrival Registration after they arrive in the U.S. in J-2 status.
Complete Your Glacier Record (J-1 Paid Employees Only)
If you are unpaid and receiving no benefits from UC San Diego, you do not need to complete a Glacier record.
The Glacier Online Nonresident Alien Tax Compliance System ("Glacier") allows UC San Diego to collect tax-related information, including treaty eligibility, from international scholars paid by UC San Diego to properly tax and report payments and/or benefits. If you have not received an email request to complete your Glacier record, reach out to your departmental administrator to request their help.
Apply for a Social Security Number
Alert
J-1 Scholars must Register with ISEO BEFORE they apply for a Social Security Number (SSN). If you apply for the SSN before you have been validated by ISEO this could lead to delays or a denial.Generally, all J-1 scholars in the Research Scholar, Short-term Scholar, and Professor categories are automatically eligible to apply for an SSN. J-1 Student Interns are only eligible if they are being paid by UCSD.
Find information on how to apply for an SSN on our Social Security Number (SSN) website.
*We recommend that you wait 2 business days after completing the Registration process at ISEO before applying for an SSN.
Apply for a Driver's License
The State of California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) does not recognize international drivers’ licenses. The State of California, however, does recognize your national driver license as long as it is valid and translated to English. Although the law is ambiguous when dealing with international visitors we recommend that, if you plan to drive, you get a California driver’s license immediately to avoid the risk of a traffic citation.
More information on ISEO's Driver's License webpage.
Apply for a Campus Card
To obtain a UC San Diego ID card, ask your department for assistance. A department administrator needs to determine your eligibility and complete the request with a Campus Card Request Form.
More information on ISEO's Identification Documents webpage.
Confirm Health Insurance Coverage
J-1 exchange visitors are required to maintain health insurance coverage that meets U.S. Department of State requirements (listed on page two of the DS-2019) for themselves and any J-2 dependents for the duration of their program. Minimum levels of health insurance for catastrophic coverage is a condition of participation in the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.
Any J-1 scholar who willfully refuses to comply with this requirement shall be considered to be in violation of their J-1 exchange visitor status, and the program sponsor (UC San Diego) will be obligated to terminate their program in SEVIS.
Find information on health insurance requirements on the J-1 Health Insurance webpage.