1. BECHTEL INTERNATIONAL CENTER
Beyond the Initial Request: Best Practices for J
Elsa Gontrum Spring, 2013

2. Keeping tabs on your J Scholar
Arrival
Amend
Cancel
Shorten
Extension
Moving to another department
Changes in funding/payment
Transferring to another institution
Transfer To Stanford
Replacing a DS-2019

3. Preparing for arrival of scholar
Make copy of Ds-2019 after picking up from Bechtel
You will need the SEVIS number on the Ds-2019 for any subsequent workflow requests.
Maintain a calendar/list of scholars’ start dates
scholar verifying actual arrival date to Stanford
Inform scholar that J visa health insurance is required to begin upon actual entry to the US for scholar and dependents

4. ARRIVAL
Program start date on Ds-2019 should correspond to actual start date of program at Stanford.
Immigration regulations allow scholar to arrive 30 days BEFORE the Ds-2019 start date.
If the scholar is not present on campus by the program start date, contact the scholar and find out why and when he/she will arrive and keep tabs until arrival has been confirmed.
If the arrival of the scholar will be delayed more than 25 days beyond the start date of the Ds-2019, submit a request in workflow to “amend” the Ds-2019 with a later start date.
Make copy of amended DS-2019 and send original to scholar. Keep copy of amended Ds-2019 along with originally-issued DS-2019.

5. If your scholar cancels…
Obtain an confirmation if your scholar wishes to cancel program. If cancellation is at the request of the department, notify scholar that the Ds-2019 has been cancelled and is not valid for entry.
Submit a “Cancel” request in workflow using the scholar’s current SEVIS number on the Ds-2019
Request that scholar return the Ds-2019 to you and bring it back to Bechtel

6. Ending early Two scenarios:
1. Scholar has left without your knowledge As soon as you find out, submit a “shorten program” request to shorten to the day following submission of the request. When revised DS-2019 is issued, before sending it to scholar, make copy and retain copy in your file
2. Foreknowledge of Scholar’s early departure: Submit in a timely way, make copy for your file and give new revised original to scholar.

7. Extensions
Keep calendar of scholar’s end dates and three months ahead of the end date, initiate conversation about extending.
Make sure scholar is in appropriate J category to allow for extension (i.e. Short-Terms are limited to 6 months, Research Scholar to 5 years)
Submit request for extension well ahead of Ds-2019 end date.

8. Moving to another department
The department to which the scholar is moving is responsible for this update
However, sometimes the current department may need to send a reminder to the new department
New department should submit a “Change Site of Activity” request in workflow

9. Changes in funding/payment
All changes in the scholar’s funding should be submitted in workflow BEFORE the changes actually occur.
All changes must be calculated as total program for the period of the extension, not annual
All changes to funding without an extension must be calculated from the date of the submission of the request to the end date of the current Ds-2019.
--Evidence of all sources of funding need to be kept as hard copies for 3 years
--Stanford salary changes should also be submitted in total program costs

10. FEI a.k.a. “Frequently Encountered Issues” regarding payment
Visiting Scholar’s department wants to pay him/her
--VS by definition is “unpaid”
Post-doc needs to work part-time in another department in addition to his/her own full-time position
--activities should be consistent with program objective as stated on Ds-2019

11. TRANSFERS What does this mean?
Transfer OUT: J sponsorship moving to a new institution
Transfer IN: Stanford assuming J sponsorship of scholar
TRANSFER OUT:
What do you do if the scholar tells you he/she is transferring?
Ask when and determine if that is convenient for your department. If not establish a “last day” that is good for all concerned.
Send Bechtel an stating that you are aware the scholar is transferring out and that the last day is agreeable to all.
Advise scholar to inform scholar advisor at the new institution to send an request to Bechtel for this transfer out.

12. TRANSFERS Transfer IN:
More complicated: Scholar already in J status coming to Stanford
Get scanned copies of prospective scholar’s Ds-2019(s), including those of any J2 dependents, and send set to Bechtel.
Work with scholar and department to arrange a reasonable start date and tell scholar firmly what this date will be.
Inform scholar that there can be no gap between current program and start of program at Stanford.
Submit a “Transfer to Stanford” request in workflow. When filling out the form, make sure biographic data matches data on current DS-2019s.
Inform scholar that he/she must be present in the US during the SEVIS transfer.

13. Replacing a DS-2019
The request to reprint a current DS-2019 must come from you
Send us an with the scholar’s SEVIS ID number and name and the reason for the reprint must be:
Lost
Stolen
Damaged
Other (and explain)

14. Misc Best Practices
Keep all financial/funding records for scholars for 3 years
Never scan and send a DS-2019 by
Make sure your scholars attend our J-1 Scholar Orientation: 1st and 3rd Thursday of each month
Work only from passports (machine-readable strip) when entering biographical information in workflow
Stay in contact with your scholar, prior to arrival and during the entire duration of the J program
Whenever sending inquiries to include the name and SEVIS number and/or Emplid.

15. Q & A