Correction Requests and Cancellations for Exchange Visitors

If a J-1 scholar plans to arrive more than 15 days past their DS-2019 start date, their department administrator is required to submit a correction request to amend their DS-2019 start and end dates. If a J-1 non-degree student plans to defer to a future term, their department administrator is required to submit a correction request to amend their DS-2019 start and end dates. Exchange visitors who attempt to enter the United States after their start date may be sent for secondary inspection or denied entry.

Sponsoring departments must submit a correction request no later than the 15th day after the exchange visitor’s DS-2019 start date. If a correction request is not filed, the SEVIS record will automatically close. Please factor in additional time for the first step prior to submitting the correction request to OIS.

OIS takes around 10 business days to process a correction request. The processing window begins on the business day following final submission to OIS.

Step 1: Submit the $150 Application Fee for Internal Service Delivery (ISD)

Before completing the steps to submit a correction request, the department administrator must pay the $150 Internal Service Delivery (ISD) fee through Workday. Individual ISD numbers are required for each applicant, as Trojan International does not offer group processing.

When submitting the ISD, include the Internal Service Provider (ISP) name for OIS: ISP-SP-059 – Office of International Services. Additionally, indicate the exchange visitor’s name and request type (Correction Request NDS or Scholar) in the ISD memo.

Learn more about ISD best practices through Workday.

The CHLA ISD contacts are Jesse Castro at jcastro@chla.usc.edu or Karina Cortez at kacortez@chla.usc.edu.

Step 2: Submit the DS-2019 Correction Request

Next, the department administrator should submit the correction request via Trojan International. 

The application should include either an updated USC invitation letter or an addendum to the existing invitation letter that indicates the new start and end dates. Dates should be for the same length of the previous DS-2019.

For additional guidance in submitting the correction request, please refer to OIS’s Trojan International training slides for department administrators submitting requests for J-1 scholars and J-1 non-degree students, respectively.

The exchange visitor will be emailed an electronically signed DS-2019, also known as the “Certificate of Eligibility,” along with a handout called “Information for J-1 Students/Scholars.” Please note that exchange visitors are not permitted to electronically sign the DS-2019. 

The exchange visitor can reference the SEVIS ID number on the DS-2019 to schedule a visa appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

If an exchange visitor no longer plans to attend USC, the department administrator must submit a cancellation request so that OIS can cancel the visitor’s immigration record.

Visit Trojan International to submit a cancellation request for J-1 scholars or J-1 non-degree students. Note that a DS-2019 will not be issued.

For additional guidance on submitting the cancellation request, please refer to OIS’s Trojan International training slides for department administrators submitting requests for J-1 scholars and J-1 non-degree students, respectively.