J-1 Student Information about Enrollment, Travel, and Work

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See here for F-1 Student Information: https://oips.gmu.edu/f-1rules/

As a J-1 student, you are a participant in the Exchange Visitor Program (BridgeUSA) as you pursue your educational objectives at GMU while having a cultural experience in the United States. Although some modifications were allowed during the COVID emergency, the Department of State reminded sponsors that their Exchange Visitor program should be predominately in person. In addition, they provided guidance and clarification about a few other matters. Please keep the following in mind as you continue your J-1 program at GMU:

To keep valid J-1 status, students must follow the updated enrollment and work rules as indicated below.

Important: Guidance from the U.S. Government and resulting OIPS policies are subject to change. Whenever possible, we will provide you with the most up-to-date information. Please make sure that you continue to monitor your email and the OIPS website for any important updates.

J-1 Student Enrollment Requirements

Online and Hybrid Courses 

Undergraduate Students 

  • J-1 students may only enroll in one three-credit online or hybrid* course as part of their full-time enrollment requirement during the academic year.  
  • If undergraduate students are interested in taking more than one online/hybrid course, they must first register for the minimum full-time requirement of 12 credits, before registering for any additional online/hybrid courses.   

To assist you, here is a chart that explains the maximum credits allowed for online/hybrid* courses: 

Total Registered 

Credits 

 Minimum In-person 

Credits 

 Maximum Online or 

Hybrid* Credits 
12  9  3 
13  9  4 
14  9  5 
15  9  6 
16  9  7 

*A hybrid course that meets for 60 percent or more face-to-face may be counted as an in-person course for J-1 student compliance. 

Graduate Students 

  • If graduate students are interested in taking more than one online/hybrid course, they must first register for the minimum full-time requirement of 9 credits, before registering for any additional online/hybrid courses.   

Grad Example with 9 or more total credits 

  • 6 credits face-to-face  
  • 3 credits or more can be online or hybrid* if allowed by the department

GTA/GRA example with 6 total credits: 

  • 20 hours per week GTA/GRA with at least 60% face-to-face components. The student is responsible for ensuring that the GTA/GRA includes 60% face-to-face requirements, including teaching courses, attending meetings, holding office hours, supervising labs and lectures, or other work. 
  • 3 credits face-to-face  
  • 3 credits or more can be online or hybrid* if allowed by the department 

*A hybrid course that meets for 60 percent or more face-to-face may be counted as an in-person course for J-1 student compliance. 

Exceptions to full-time course enrollment, Summer, Fall, and Spring Semesters:

Summer

  • Keep in mind that there is still no summer minimum enrollment requirement for J-1 students unless you plan to complete your program during the summer. Continuing students may use the summer as a break, but students should plan enrollment carefully seeking guidance from their academic advisor. Students that do plan to enroll in summer courses may enroll in any number of hybrid/online courses during the summer as long as you plan to take in-person classes for the upcoming Fall semester and your DS-2019 end date does not occur in the summer. Assistantships do not need to have any in-person components for the summer. Students who plan to complete their J-1 program during the summer may not take only fully online classes. Once you complete your J-1 program, you are no longer eligible for on-campus student employment.

Fall and Spring

  • Final Semester of Study in Fall or Spring: Degree-seeking J-1 students who are in their final semester of study in Fall or Spring may be eligible to take part-time courses if they have been approved for a Last Semester Reduced Course Load (LS RCL) from OIPS. More information at https://oips.gmu.edu/f-1-and-j1-forms/.  Students who are approved for LS RCL must take at least one three-credit face-to-face course. Any additional credits can be online or hybrid* if allowed by the student’s department.
  • Academic or Medical Reduced Course Load. Please see the J-1 RCL webpage for more information: https://oips.gmu.edu/reduced-course-load/
  • Doctoral students taking 998/999 may be eligible to take fewer than 9 credits. Students should work with their academic department to determine eligibility. Doctoral students should also remember that their program must be predominately in person.

How to tell if a class is fully online, hybrid, or Face-to-Face F2F: 

Mode of instruction is determined by the Registrar and shown in Patriotweb under Instructional Method. 

To avoid a course that is online, do not register for any courses that are F2F 0-1%. 

  • Fully online: F2F 0-1% - not acceptable 
  • Hybrid: F2F 2-59% - not acceptable 
  • J-1 in person: F2F: F2F 60-100% - acceptable 

 Sites of Activity 

  • If you are registered for an online or hybrid course, please let OIPS know. OIPS will need to add your local address as an additional site of activity to your SEVIS record. Please also let OIPS know if you are enrolled in any classes at Mason Square or Sci-Tech so that we can also enter that location as a site activity. If your assistantship is on another GMU campus that is not the one listed on your DS-2019 form, OIPS will also need to add an additional site of activity to your SEVIS record.    
  • All sites of activity must be in the United States. If you have an interest in conducting research while abroad during the academic year, OIPS will need to shorten your J-1 program. Then, you will need to apply for a J-1 program extension so that OIPS can issue you a new DS-2019 form before you can apply for a new J-1 visa in order to return to the United States.  

Academic Training 

  • If you are interested in Academic Training, please keep in mind that the work must all take place in the United States since all sites of activity must be in the United States. Remote positions are not allowed. Telework is only allowed for up to two days a week if the organization already has a telework policy in place. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Enrollment, Travel, and Work

These FAQs are based on J-1 regulations, guidance from various government agencies, and University/OIPS Policies and Procedures. Note that rules are subject to change and that you should check for updates and visit the official government resource links above regularly.

General Enrollment
 

1. How many credit hours must a J-1 student take?

J-1 Students are required to be enrolled in a full course of study every Fall and Spring semester.

  • Undergraduate students must take at least 12 credits.
  • Graduate students without an assistantship must take at least 9
  • Graduate students with a qualifying assistantship can take 6 credits if their assistantship meets full-time equivalency requirements as defined by the Registrar. Students must work with the department offering the assistantship to ensure that these requirements are met.
  • INTO Mason Academic English students must take 18 clock hours per week in person
  • INTO Mason Pathways students must follow the schedule assigned to them by INTO Mason but have at least the same credit requirements as their degree-level counterparts (9 for Graduate, 12 for Undergraduate)

2. Are there any exceptions to the full course of study requirements above?

  • In some situations, reduced course loads can be approved so that a student can maintain status with less than the credit hour requirements stated in Question 1 above. Students should not drop courses before discussing eligibility for reduced course load with an OIPS advisor. See the J-1 Reduced Course Load page for more information regarding Reduced Course Load for a Bona Fide Academic Reason, Reduced Course Load during the Last Semester, or Reduced Course Load for an Illness or Medical Condition. Note that Reduced Course Load for Last Semester can only be approved for students who have successfully applied for graduation.

Employment

 

3. How do I apply for on-campus employment or Academic Training?

Please review the rules on the J-1 Student Employment page. Note that ALL positions, whether on-campus or off-campus, must be pre-approved by OIPS and entered into a student’s SEVIS record before a student begins work.

On-campus employment authorization for a specific position is valid for up to one year unless there is a contract that offers employment for less than a year or the DS-2019 end date expires before then. A new approval must take place for additional time, for a new position, or if a student is extending their program and wants to continue their current position. Graduate students need to submit their department’s renewed assistantship contracts for approval.

Academic Training. Please note that all work for Academic Training positions must in the United States. Remote positions cannot be approved. If the hosting organization allows for telework, it should be no more than two days a week.

Travel

 

Entering the U.S.

The information below should apply to all J-1 Students at all U.S. airports. However, please keep in mind that every Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) unit has its own set of procedures, which may vary slightly from the process stated below.

5. What happens when I go through Customs at the airport?

Present your document (valid paper DS-2019, J-1 visa, and passport). The airport official might ask about your plans in the U.S. Be truthful about your studies and plans in the U.S. If the information that you provide and your documents match the information in the SEVIS system, it is highly likely that you will not have a problem entering the U.S.

6. Will I need to show proof of vaccination when I enter the U.S? 

The United States government has announced that beginning May 12, 2023, vaccination requirements for international travelers are no longer required. See Update to Change to U.S. Travel Policy Requiring COVID-19 Vaccination for nonimmigrant travel for official information.

7. Will I need to take a COVID-19 test when I enter the U.S?

Effective June 12, 2022, the U.S. Government is no longer requiring international air passengers to show proof of COVID Testing. Vaccination Requirements are still in effect. See Non-U.S. Citizen, Non-U.S. Immigrants: Travel to and from the United States for official information. Keep in mind that rules are subject to change. Check the link above frequently for updates.s.

8. What do I need to know if I am traveling to the U.S

In addition to following current vaccine and testing requirements, make sure that you have the required or recommended documents listed below when you enter the U.S., and read the following sections for more specific information based on your situation.

Required:

  • Passport that is valid 6 months into the future
  • Valid J-1 visa
  • DS-2019 with appropriate signatures. As of April 27, 2023, J-1 students can receive an electronically transmitted DS-2019 that has been digitally signed by your J-1 advisor, but students must print and sign the paper copy

New Students: 

  • You need a printed DS-2019 that matches your electronic SEVIS record. 
  • The DS-2019 must have the school signature and your signature on Page 1 and has been stamped/signed by a U.S. consulate. 
  • You cannot enter the U.S. more than 30 days before the Program Start Date on your DS-2019
  • Note: if you lose your DS-2019, you must request a re-print from OIPS. Do not print a previously copied version. 

Returning Students/post-completion Academic Training Students:

  • You need a printed DS-2019 that matches your electronic SEVIS record. 
  • The DS-2019 must have the school signature and your signature on Page 1 and a school travel signature in the bottom right-hand corner in the Travel Validation Box. The travel signature must be less than 12 months old if you are currently enrolled and we recommend less than 6 months old if you are on post-completion Academic Training. 

Recommended:

More information is available at https://oips.gmu.edu/travel-and-re-entry/

9. What are the rules about DS-2019 forms? What DS-2019 form do I need to show to the Customs official at the airport?

You need to show a printed hard copy of your most recent DS-2019 form, which must match your current SEVIS record. Your name should be signed by hand in ink with a blue or black pen. The school official signature can be a digital signature. As of April 27, 2022, the Department of State has allowed sponsors to digitally sign and electronically transmit a DS-2019 to an exchange visitor.  

10. Do I need to show the Customs official at the airport all my DS-2019 forms?

You should show the Customs official the most recent one issued to you by OIPS. The DS-2019 form should match the information in the SEVIS system. You should keep copies of all your I-20s/DS-2019s for your records, but you do not need to show all of them to the Customs official.

11. If I have any problems at the airport, how can I contact OIPS?

The best way to contact OIPS is to call the main office line at 703-993-2970 during normal office hours, Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 5:00 p.m. At any other time, call the George Mason University Campus Police at 703-993-2810. You can provide this information to the Customs official if necessary. The Campus Police will then contact OIPS if you need urgent help. 

I-94 Correction Information

13. What is an I-94?

An I-94 is an electronic record of your arrival and departure from the U.S. You can print out a copy of your I-94 here. Click on the blue Get Most Recent I-94 box and enter your information. Then, click on Next to see and print your I-94. It is a good idea to have a copy of your most recent I-94 after each entry into the U.S. and check it to make sure the information is correct. If you are traveling to the U.S. for the first time, you will need the I-94 to complete F-1 and J-1 check-in with OIPS after your entry. 

14. What should I look at on my I-94?

Check to make sure that the following information is correct: 

  • The Most Recent Date of Entry 
  • The Class of Admission 

 15. What can I do if my I-94 is not correct?

You can contact the Deferred Inspection section of the airport to try to correct your information. Often, you will need to go to the Deferred Inspection site in person. However, depending on which airport you entered, you might be able to correct the information by telephone or email. Check here for a list of Deferred Inspection sites and their contact information. 

The Deferred Inspection Information for Dulles Airport is below: 

Washington, D.C.
Address: Deferred Inspection Unit
Washington Dulles International Airport
1 Saarinen Circle, Main Terminal Lower Level, West End
Sterling, VA 20166
Hours of Operation: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Monday – Friday
Contact Information: Phone: (703) 661-2800, ext. 7116
Fax: (703) 661-8394
I-94 Correction Instructions: (703) 661-2800 option 4