J-1 Non-Degree Students — USC OIS

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J-1 Non-Degree Students

USC is proud of its long tradition of international exchange, and we look forward to welcoming you as a non-degree student. Please review this page for guidance through each step of the process.

If you need additional help, contact OIS and we will answer your immigration-related questions.

Obtaining a DS-2019 for J-1 Non-Degree Students

The Form DS-2019 is the “certificate of eligibility” for J-1 status. All exchange visitors must have this document to receive a J-1 visa and enter the United States. J-1 exchange visitors are issued DS-2019s by OIS at the sponsoring academic department’s request.

Department administrators may review our page on DS-2019 requests for non-degree students for more information.

Pre-Departure for Non-Degree Students

After obtaining their DS-2019, exchange visitors must pay an online SEVIS fee, obtain a J-1 visa and purchase health insurance for their time in the United States.

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Any J-1 exchange visitor in an “initial” program of study or research is required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee, which supports operational expenses toward the Student and Exchange Visitor Program System (SEVIS) database, to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The SEVIS fee is a separate charge and must be paid in addition to any visa or USC-related fees.

While exchange visitors may schedule their visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate before paying this fee, the SEVIS fee must be paid at least three business days before the visa interview. Print the fee payment receipt to present at the visa interview and at the U.S. Port of Entry. The visa application will be denied if the SEVIS fee is not paid.

Please note that Citizens of Canada and Bermuda, while exempt from obtaining a J-1 visa stamp, are still required to pay the SEVIS fee at least three business days prior to entering the United States.

SEVIS Fee Exceptions

Two groups of people do not need to pay a SEVIS fee:

J-1 exchange visitors transferring to USC from another U.S. institution do not pay a SEVIS I-901 fee.

J-2 dependents do not pay a SEVIS I-901 fee.
Once exchange visitors have received their DS-2019, they must obtain a J-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Please review our page on the application requirements for obtaining a J-1 visa.

Health Insurance

If you experience an emergency in the United States, always dial 911.

The U.S. Department of State and J-1 visa regulations, 22 CFR 62.14, require all exchange visitors and accompanying J-2 dependents to be covered by adequate health and accident insurance for the duration of the program. Failure to carry adequate insurance may lead to termination of your J-1 status.

J-1 non-degree students are also required to purchase USC student health insurance for the duration of their academic program. Please note that USC student health insurance does meet the U.S. Department of State health insurance requirements. Failure to maintain health insurance is a violation of status.

Health Insurance Requirements	Health insurance must meet the following minimum coverage requirements: Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness. Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000. Medical evacuation to home country in the amount of $50,000. A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness. A provider must issue insurance policies that meet these requirements with one of the following ratings: An AM Best rating of “A−” or above; a McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A−” or above; a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above; a Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of “A−” or above; a Moody’s Investor Services rating of “A3” or above; or such other rating as the U.S. Department of State may from time to time specify. Backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor’s home country. Part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor. Offered through or underwritten by a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization or eligible Competitive Medical Plan as determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. An exchange visitor may be insured by a company from their home country. Please be aware that if you require medical care at a hospital or clinic in the United States, you may be asked to pay up front and then be reimbursed by your insurance company.
Duration of Coverage	The period of required coverage is the actual duration of the exchange visitor’s participation in the sponsor’s exchange visitor program as recorded in SEVIS in the “Program Start Date” and “Program End Date.” Exchange visitors should consider purchasing insurance to cover their stay in the United States during their 30-day grace periods before and after their program end dates.
Sponsor Guidelines	If the exchange visitor is sponsored by an organization, they should be aware of the following information: Sponsors are not authorized to charge fees to their sponsored exchange visitors for the provision of insurance coverage beyond any demonstrable and justifiable staff time. Sponsors are not required to, but may, offer supplemental “entry to exit” coverage (i.e., coverage from the time the exchange visitor departs his or her home country until he or she returns). If the sponsor provides health insurance or arranges for it to be offered to the exchange visitor via payroll deduction at the host organization, the exchange visitor must voluntarily authorize this action in writing and be allowed to make other arrangements to obtain insurance.
Insurance Companies That Offer J-1 Coverage	Exchange visitors are welcome to select their preferred insurance company, provided their plan meets the minimum coverage requirements listed above. Below are three American companies that offer acceptable health insurance plans specifically developed for participants in international educational activities. Lewer Global Phone: 1-800-821-7711 Email: InternationalStudents@lewer.com International Student Insurance Phone: 1-877-758-4391 or 1-904-758-4391 Email: info@internationalstudentinsurance.com Garnett Power Phone: 1-888-441-3719 Email: UniversityServices.GBS.jvisainsurance@ajg.com

Arriving in the United States

Exchange visitors are expected to arrive by the start date indicated in section 3 on page 1 of their DS-2019. There is a 30-day grace period before the start date to locate housing. Employment is not permitted during this time frame.

At the airport, remember to keep your immigration documents with you and not in your checked luggage. Upon entry to the United States, exchange visitors must present their DS-2019, SEVIS fee receipt and valid passport/visa to the officer at the U.S. Port of Entry. The officer will stamp the date of entry and return the DS-2019 to you. Double-check the officer’s stamp to ensure that you have entered the United States as a J-1.

Review our page on entering the United States for more details.

Immigration Status Verification

Upon arrival in the United States, non-degree students are required to complete Immigration Status Verification (ISV) with OIS.

How to Complete ISV

Orientation

Initial J-1 non-degree students must watch this orientation video to learn about maintaining J-1 status, health insurance requirements, travel signatures and other questions they may have during their time at USC.

Watch J-1 Non-Degree Student Orientation Video

Your Life at USC

To make your arrival and life here as smooth as possible, please review our pages on arriving at USC and living in the United States.

Additionally, if you plan to be employed during your studies, refer to our instructions on obtaining a Social Security number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), Academic Training and paying U.S. taxes.

Get Started

J-2 Dependents

An exchange visitor may be accompanied by their dependent(s) at any time. Please review our pages on living in the United States as a J-2 dependent and J-2 dependent employment for more information.

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Maintaining Status

Should your department invite you to continue studying at USC, please review our information on DS-2019 extension requests for non-degree students, travel and visa renewal.

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Program Completion

When your time at USC comes to an end, there are several options for your next steps. Learn about program completion and review our page on J-1 bars to learn about restrictions that may limit what you can do after completing a J-1 program.

If you wish to transfer to a new institution, refer to the transfer-out process for J-1 exchange visitors.

J-1 Non-Degree Students — USC OIS