J-1 Start and End Dates

The “start date” on the UW1025-J Visa Request Form is the date the Exchange Visitor is expected to report for work at the UW (not the date the Exchange Visitor is expected to arrive in the U.S.). The start date will be indicated in item 3 of the DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status. Be sure to select a start date that is far enough in the future to allow sufficient time for processing the UW1025 Visa Request Form, for mailing the DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility to the Exchange Visitor overseas, and for the Exchange Visitor to schedule a visa interview appointment at a U.S. consulate, wait for the visa to be approved (could take days or weeks), purchase an airline ticket, and otherwise prepare to travel to the U.S. We recommend these issues be discussed with the Exchange Visitor prior to selecting the start date.

The Exchange Visitor must arrive in the U.S. on or before, but not more than 30 days before, the start date listed in item 3 of the DS-2019. Occasionally, even with careful planning, an Exchange Visitor is unable to arrive in the U.S. prior to the DS-2019’s start date. Should that happen, send an e-mail to ISO and request an amended DS-2019 showing a new start date, then forward the updated DS-2019 to the Exchange Visitor overseas. If the Exchange Visitor arrives early and you wish to immediately place him or her on payroll, contact ISO and request an amended DS-2019 with a new start date.  An individual cannot be employed by the UW before the start date listed on the DS-2019.  A new UW1025-J Visa Request Form is not needed to request an amended DS-2019.

ISO will normally issue a DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for a period of up to one year. Extensions of stay may be requested in one-year increments. The DS-2019 may be issued to cover a longer period, up to five years, if the sponsoring UW department commits to pay full salary to the Exchange Visitor for the entire duration of stay.

Note that Exchange Visitors are permitted to remain in the U.S. for a “grace period” of 30 days after the expiration date on the DS-2019. Paid employment is not permitted during the grace period.

As the Exchange Visitor may arrive in the U.S. as early as 30 days prior to the start date listed on the DS-2019, and may depart the U.S. up to 30 days after the DS-2019’s end date, the start and end dates on the UW1025-J Visa Request Form should include only time that the Exchange Visitor will actually be performing his or her scholarly activity at the University of Washington.