Keeping Your Sevis Record Open

SEVIS has an Out of Country functionality that allows ISSS to notify the Department of Homeland Security / US Department of State that a J-1 Professor or Research Scholar is participating in his or her exchange program for a one-time only period of six or fewer months during her/his program outside the US. The record remains in Active SEVIS status during that period.

Please note that if the J-1 Exchange Visitor will depart the US again for 31 days or more after this one-time only period, it is inappropriate for our office to keep the SEVIS record open. In this case, ISSS will complete the current J program, and the individual can return later in either J-1/ Short-Term Scholar status (which requires payment of a new SEVIS fee) or possibly another appropriate status. Failure to maintain status will cause the SEVIS record and DS-2019 to be inactivated, compromising eligibility to participate in the Exchange Visitor program and return to the U.S.

Out Of Country Authorization

Situations That Do Not Require “Out-of-Country” Authorization

If a J-1 professor/research scholar is vacationing outside the U.S. for 30 days or less in agreement with the department, no permission from ISSS is required (ISSS signature on DS-2019 still required)
If the J-1 professor/research scholar is an instructor and will be outside the U.S. during a term in which the department does not require the EV to teach, but s/he will return the following term to resume teaching responsibilities (i.e. Summer sessions).
If the J-1 professor/research scholar is leaving the U.S. and will not be pursuing the J-1 program objective. In this case, the J-1 Scholar Notice of Departure form must be submitted, indicating ISSS should end the J-1 program. In this case, the 24 month bar will go into effect
If none of these situations apply, the academic department should write a letter describing the situation. The research scholar/professor must arrange an appointment to meet and discuss it with Sarah Froberg in ISSS.

Procedures Department Must Follow to Obtain Continuing Program Out-of-Country Authorization

During the absence, the department must:

Continue to supervise the J-1 professor/research scholar while he/she is out of the country
Notify ISSS if there is any change in the purpose, activities, or dates of the EV's “Out-of-Country” period.
In the event that the J-1 professor/research scholar will not return to ISSS after his/her absence, coordinate with the visitor to file a J-1 Scholar Notice of Departure form with ISSS so we may end the J-1 status and SEVIS record.

During the absence, the J-1 Visitor must:

Ensure that J-2 dependents depart the U.S. with the J-1 professor/research scholar
Continue to maintain status and comply with the regulations of the Exchange Visitor program
Report to department administrator any changes in purpose, activities, or dates as indicated in this request form
Maintain a permanent (foreign) and current (last residential address in the U.S.) address and update ISSS within 10 days of any change
Maintain an ISSS email address
Maintain health insurance that meets US Dept of State Criteria
Read over information regarding travel at www.temple.edu/isss/immigration/travel-h1b.html
Inform ISSS and my department if flight schedule changes.
Email ISSS a copy of new I-94 [www.cbp.gov/i94] (J-1 as well as J-2 dependents) upon reentry into the US (sarah.froberg@temple.edu)
Inform ISSS of address and/or name change within 10 days from moving/name change.

Health Insurance Requirements and Responsibilities

International Studentand Scholar Services

Out Of Country Authorization

International Student
and Scholar Services