J-1 Scholar Departure Information

If you will soon leave the University of Chicago, you should be aware of the following:

1.)  If you are leaving sooner than the end date on your Form DS-2019, please inform our office. An e-mail message indicating your full name and the last day you will be at the University will suffice. We will then set that new date as your program end date in SEVIS. The e-mail where this information should be sent is internationalaffairs@uchicago.edu.

2.)  You have a grace period of 30 days from the end date of your program. At the end of the grace period you must leave the U.S., unless you have a petition for a change of status pending with USCIS. During the grace period, you may remain in the U.S., but you may not be employed. Once you leave, you cannot re-enter the U.S. unless you have a new visa. (In other words, you cannot claim the remainder of those 30 days if you depart from the U.S. before they were used up.)

3.)  Ending your J-1 program in the Professor or Research Scholar category at any point during the maximum 5 year duration will render this category unavailable to you for a period of 24 months from the end date. This does not apply to J-1 status holders in the Short-Term Scholar category. Please note: This is NOT the same as the 2-year home residency requirement, also referred to as 212(e) on your visa and Form DS-2019.

4.)  Transferring to another institution requires legal coordination between our office and the relevant office of your new institution. This coordination must occur BEFORE you leave the University of Chicago. Please contact OIA at least two weeks prior to your intended transfer. Not doing so could result in a violation of your J-1 status.

5.)  Please remember that it is your responsibility to maintain your lawful J-1 status at all times. Not doing so may jeopardize your future plans to come to the U.S. Please direct any questions you may have to our office at internationalaffairs@uchicago.edu or (773) 702-7752.