J-1 Student Status

To study at The New School in J-1 status, international students must pursue a full course of study during the academic year and make normal progress toward completing the course of study. Failure to maintain a full course load is a violation of your status and can result in severe consequences. While it is your responsibility as a student to comply with federal regulations, ISSS will support and assist you during your time in J-1 status.

Full-time enrollment for each fall and spring semester is defined as:

• 12 credit-hours for undergraduates
• 9 credit-hours for graduate students
• 9 equivalency (EQ) credits and maintenance of status for graduate students working on their thesis or dissertation 

Only 3 credits of online (distance learning) coursework can be applied toward maintaining your full-time enrollment. All other credits must be earned on campus or through a combination of on-campus and online courses. 

The following courses do not count toward full-time enrollment:

• Courses for which a grade of W (withdrawal) or GM (grade missing) has been assigned
• Audited courses
• More than 3 credits of online (distance learning) courses
• Online courses if they are the only ones taken in the final semester of study

J-1 students must pursue a full-time course of study at an accredited post-secondary academic institution except under very specific circumstances.

Vacation

The requirement for full-time study does not apply during official school breaks and summer vacations if students are eligible and intend to register for the next term.

Medical Illness

J-1 students who are compelled to reduce or interrupt a full course of study because of an illness or medical condition must contact [email protected] for assistance immediately and discuss next steps.

Bona Fide Academic Reason

J-1 students who need to pursue less than a full course of study for a term for a bona fide academic reason must contact [email protected] for assistance immediately and discuss next steps.

Final Term

The requirement for full-time study does not apply to students who need less than a full-time course of study to fulfill academic requirements in their final term.

ISSS advises J-1 students not to drop or withdraw from classes and fall below full- time status until they have spoken to ISSS about their options and eligibility for a reduced course load.

For information on working on or off campus as a J-1 student, please see the J-1 Exchange Visitors employment section of our website.

In order to process an extension for a J-1 student, ISSS must receive the following items:

• Financial documentation for the period of the extension
• An I-20/DS-2019 Program Extension Request/Program Completion form
• For a non-degree J-1 student on an exchange program, a letter from the program director or academic advisor showing that the student will be extending his or her time at The New School and that the student has received permission to do so from the home university

Please note that the DS-2019 extension must be completed before the current end date of the DS-2019 and that processing for a DS-2019 extension requires five to ten business days. Please send all documents to ISSS by emailing [email protected].

The movement of a J-1 student from one educational level to a higher level is called a matriculation. J-1 students can matriculate only to a higher degree level. For example, if your current DS-2019 is for a master's degree, you may matriculate only to a doctorate. J-1 students may matriculate only in the J-1 Student Degree category and may not switch from that category to the J-1 Student Non-Degree category.  If you have questions about matriculation eligibility, please contact [email protected].

In order to process a matriculation for a J-1 student, ISSS must receive the following items:

• Financial documentation for a year of study in the new academic program
• A letter of acceptance to the new academic program

Please note that the DS-2019 matriculation must be completed before the current end date of the DS-2019 and that processing for a DS-2019 matriculation requires five to ten business days. Please send all documents to ISSS by emailing [email protected].

Students who engage in study abroad or research abroad for an academic semester or longer (not including academic break periods such as summer vacations) must inform ISSS of their study or research abroad plans. International students are generally not permitted to be outside of the United States for more than five consecutive months due to the Five Month Rule. If a student is outside of the United States for more than five months, their SEVIS record will be terminated and their J-1 status will end, however, students who do research or study abroad may be exempt from this rule. Please inform ISSS if you plan to do study or conduct research abroad. We will review your eligibility and tell you how to keep your J-1 status active while you are outside of the United States.

Final Semester Reminder
If you are studying or conducting research abroad in the last semester of your academic program and plan to apply for post-completion academic training, you must return to the United States in J-1 status by the DS-2019 program end date, or you will not be eligible for academic training employment authorization. Also keep in mind that you must complete the process for academic training authorization no later than your DS-2019 program end date.

Visa Reminder
Check the expiration date of your J-1 visa in your passport. If your visa has expired or will expire during your study or research abroad, you must renew the visa before returning to the United States.

Tax Reminder
If you are studying abroad in the spring semester, keep in mind that you must still meet tax-filing requirements if you were in the United States at any time in the prior calendar year.

J-1 students planning to transfer to another institution are encouraged to set up an appointment in Starfish with an ISSS advisor to discuss transfer-out procedures. In order to process a Transfer-Out Request for a J-1 student, ISSS must receive the following items:

• A service request, submitted with our online request form. Choose the "transfer out to another school" option from the drop-down menu. Also indicate the transfer release date when you fill out the form.
• For students who are not graduating this semester, a completed University Exit form. Students who are graduating at the end of the semester for which they are requesting transfer out do not need to submit this form. For the University Exit form, go to Starfish and click on the "request help" button on the navigation bar at the left. Select "I am considering withdrawing/taking a temporary leave" from the drop-down menu and follow the instructions.
• A copy of the acceptance letter and the new institution's transfer-out form, sent by email. If the institution uses an e-form, ask for the form to be sent to [email protected].

J-1 students who transfer their SEVIS record from The New School to another academic institution are required to begin their academic program at that institution the day after completing the transfer-out process from The New School. Students may travel and re-enter the United States in J-1 status with a valid travel signature and documents until the transfer-out date. Students who plan to travel after the transfer-out date must re-enter the United States with the DS-2019 issued by the new academic institution.

We strongly recommend that J-1 students follow up with their new academic institution during this time regarding issuance of their new DS-2019 and any travel plans after the transfer-out date. Please be aware that J-1 students face a greater risk of running into problems if they try to re-enter the United States close to the transfer-out date.