Length of Stay

Length of Stay

Scholars and interns on a J-1 visa are admitted to the United States for a specific period of time called duration of status:

• D/S is marked on the scholar's entry visa and I-94 record upon arrival in the U.S.
• Duration of status means that the scholar or intern may legally remain in the United States as long as the J-1 status is valid:
  • the DS-2019 is active (the ending date of the DS-2019 is a future date)
  • the scholar or intern is meeting all the requirements of the appointment contract
  • the scholar is obeying the J-1 regulations.

Term of Appointment

Scholar appointment procedures are governed by both the U.S. Department of State (DOS) regulations and by the University's policies on honorific and post-doctoral appointments:

• The shortest appointment allowed for student interns, professors, and research scholars is three weeks
• The longest appointment for a student intern program is twelve months
  • the appointment may be extended to up to two years (under UMass Dartmouth’s Honorific Appointments Policy) upon permission of Department of State
• The longest appointment for professors and research scholars is five years; but
  • note that UMass Dartmouth’s Policy on Honorific Appointments allows appointment of visiting scholars for a period of only one year
  • renewal is not usually allowed
• The longest appointment for a short-term scholar is six months
  • there is no minimum stay required

* Under the UMass Dartmouth’s Policy on Honorific Appointments a student intern appointment may last up to 2 years.

** Please note that, even though the maximum duration allowed professors and research scholars by the U.S. Dept. of State is 5 years, the UMass Dartmouth’s Policy on Honorific Appointments allows only 1 year and renewal is not usually allowed.