It is essential to remember that you must take full responsibility for maintaining your status with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the United States Department of State. That is, you are responsible for finding out, knowing, and following pertinent regulations.

As your visa sponsor, Columbia University has legal obligations with the Department of Homeland Security and sometimes the Department of Labor which are met by the International Students and Scholars Office (ISSO) or the International Affairs Office (IAO) that serves the University's Medical Center, CUMC.

Scholars coming to the U.S. in J-1 Exchange Visitor are in a national database known as SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). Their SEVIS record must be "activated" by the University within 30 days of the program start date on the visa certificate form DS-2019 that was issued by the ISSO or IAO. You are requested to come to our office with your documents—passport, DS-2019 form, and I-94 card so we can verify your J-1 status and update your SEVIS record.

Our offices are required to notify U.S. government authorities when scholars in all non-immigrant classifications terminate their activities at the University.

The best resources available to assist you in maintaining your status are this Web site, the Coming to Columbia handbook, and the staff of the ISSO, at 524 Riverside Drive, and the International Affairs Office at the Medical Center, Room 1-126B Black Bldg., 650 West 168th Street. Every effort has been made to provide reliable and accurate information on rules that govern scholar immigration classifications. When regulations change - as is frequently the case - the ISSO and the IAO will have current information. Come in and ask questions any time, or contact us by phone or e-mail.

Last Reviewed: 22 November 2005 Last modified: 22 November 2005
International Students and Scholars Office
Columbia University