F1 Visa
The F1 nonimmigrant visa allows International students to enter the United States in order to matriculate and complete a program of study at a U.S. institution of higher education. The majority of international students who apply and are accepted to Bard will be required to secure an F1 visa to enter the United States for the purpose of being a student in a degree or certificate-granting program.
F1 Visa
KEEP YOUR PASSPORT VALIDYour passport my be valid for at least six months prior to your program end date. You can renew your passport while you are in the United States by visiting your home country’s consulate or embassy in New York City. Contact the embassy directly for more information about the renewal process.
KEEP YOUR LOCAL RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS UPDATED WITH OISSS
Complete and submit a change of address form if you change your residential address at any point during your program. You are required to notify OISSS every time you move.
ENROLL FULL TIME
You must be enrolled full time, a minimum of 12 credits, every semester.
CHANGE OF PROGRAM / WITHDRAWAL
You are required to meet with, and have the authorization of, the Office of International Student and Scholar Services before you can drop below full time or withdraw from your program of study.
KEEP YOUR I-20 ACCURATE AND UP TO DATE
You are required to have a current, valid I-20 form issued by Bard College. If you transfer to Bard, the transfer process must be complete before you enroll and begin coursework at Bard. If you change your major or degree level (e.g., bachelor’s to master’s), you must meet with the OISSS and request a new I-20 form.
EXTENSION OF PROGRAM
If you need to extend your program to complete your degree program, you can request an extension of program and request an updated I-20 to reflect a new program end date.
TRAVEL ENDORSEMENTS
Be sure to have your I-20 authorized for travel before you depart the country. The PDSO or DSO will sign page 2 of your I-20 authorizing your exit from and return to the United States. The signature is valid for one year. A new signature is required every six months while you are on OPT.
GRACE PERIODS
AN F1 may enter the United States up to 30 days prior to, but no later than, the initial program start date on the I-20. There is a 60-day grace period at the of a an F1 program. The grace period will end 60 days after your program end date on your I-20 (completion of program of study) or EAD card (completion of preauthorized postcompletion OPT) or when you depart the United States.
EMPLOYMENT
On-campus employment does not require any special permissions or authorizations. Part-time (up to 20 hours/week) on-campus employment is permitted during the semester. Full time on-campus employment is permitted during the semester breaks and vacation periods.
Off-campus employment requires permission from the OISSS and USCIS authorization. See OPT.
J1 Visa
The J1 nonimmigrant visa allows international students to enter the country with the intention of participating in either a degree or a nondegree program that is approved for the purpose of teaching, studying, demonstrating special skills, or receiving training. J1 programs are designed to promote the interchange or persons, knowledge, and skills in the fields of education, art, and science.
J1 Visa
KEEP YOUR PASSPORT VALIDYour passport my be valid for at least six months prior to your program end date. You can renew your passport while you are in the United States by visiting your home country’s consulate or embassy in New York City. Contact the embassy directly for more information about the renewal process.
KEEP YOUR LOCAL RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS UPDATED WITH OISSS
Complete and submit a change of address form if you change your residential address at any point during your program. You are required to notify the International Services office every time you move.
ENROLL FULL TIME
You must be enrolled full time every semester. Full-time status is defined by the program you are participating in.
CHANGE OF PROGRAM / WITHDRAWAL
You are required to meet with, and have the authorization of, the International Services office before you drop below full time or withdraw from your program of study.
KEEP YOUR DS 2019 ACCURATE AND UP TO DATE
You are required to have a current, DS 2019 form issued by Bard College or the Institution sponsoring your J1 program at Bard College. If you transfer to Bard, the transfer process must be complete before you enroll and begin coursework at Bard.
EXTENSION OF PROGRAM
You can request an extension of your J1 program before your program end date. This request must be made with supporting documentation from your hosting department.
TRAVEL ENDORSEMENTS
Be sure to have your DS 2019 authorized for travel before you depart the country. The RO or ARO will sign your DS 2019 form authorizing your exit from and return to the United States. The signature is valid for one year.
GRACE PERIODS
A J1 visitor may enter the United States up to 30 days prior to the program start date on the DS 2019. There is a 30-day grace period at the end of a J1 program. The grace period at the beginning and end of your J1 program is intended for recreational purposes; travel and preparation for arrival in and departure from the U.S.
EMPLOYMENT
All employment, both on campus and off campus, requires preauthorization. Part-time (up to 20 hours/week) on-campus employment is permitted, with authorization, during the semester. Full-time on-campus employment is permitted during the semester breaks and vacation periods.
Off-campus employment also requires authorization from the OISSS. See Academic Training.
HEALTH INSURANCE
Maintain required health and accident insurance J1 students must have RO-approved health and accident insurance for themselves and any J2 dependents throughout their stay in the United States. The U.S. Department of State requires the following as minimum levels of coverage: (1) medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness; (2) repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000; (3) expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000; and (4) a deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
Visa vs. Immigration Status
It is not uncommon for the term visa and status to be used interchangeably, however it is important to recognize they mean two different things. Visa refers to the stamp placed in your passport that is used for entry into the United States. Status refers to the immigration classification you have while you are in the United States. It is possible to have more than one active visa stamp in your passport; however, you can only enter the United States in one immigration status. You can legally remain in the United States after your visa has expired, but you can not legally remain in the United States if your immigration status has expired or terminated.
VISA STAMP
The Visa Stamp is the entry document, placed in your passport, required to enter the United States as a nonimmigrant visitor. The visa stamp can only be applied for at a U.S. consulate or embassy outside of the United States. This passport stamp will indicate the type of nonimmigrant visitor you will be (F1, J1, O1, H1B, B1/B2), the number of entries you are allowed (1 or M for multiple), and the expiration date. If your visa expires while you are in the United States, as long as your program and immigration status remain active and you do not leave the United States and try to reenter, you do not have to take any action. If you leave the United States and plan to return after your visa expires, you will need to reapply for a new visa to reenter the United States.
Your passport must always be valid while you are in the United States. If you plan to travel outside the United States, your passport should still be valid for six months on the day that you will reenter the United States. You can apply for a new passport in your home country or at your country’s consulate in New York City.
IMMIGRATION STATUS
Immigration status determines the legal category for which you were admitted to the United States. Bard welcomes international visitors with various immigration statuses: F1, J1, J2, H1B, O, TN. Each category has different governing regulations, responsibilities and benefits.
At the port of entry, visitors must demonstrate their eligibility to enter the United States by providing documents to support the nonimmigrant category they are entering with. Visitors will be issued an entry stamp at the port of entry that will show the date of entry, immigration status, and expiration of that status. F1 and J1 visitors are given an expiration date of D/S, which stands for Duration of Status. The duration of status is determined by the program dates as stated on the I-20 (F1) or DS 2019 (J1) form. The program end date on that form determines the end of a person’s legal status in that category.
Changing Status
If you are already in the United States and need to change the purpose of your visit, you have two options:
- Exiting the country, applying for a new visa stamp, and reentering the United States in your new immigration status.
- Remaining in the United States and filing a Change of Status request with USCIS before your authorized stay expires. Do not begin the activities of your new immigration status before you have received authorization from USCIS that your status change has been approved. Failure to maintain your approved immigration status may prevent you from returning to or have you removed from the United States.
Which visa is right for me?
| F1 | J1 | |
| Source of Funding | Personal/family, outside funds or a combination of both can be used to support an F1 status. | Must have a substantial portion (51% or more) of their funding from an outside source. Majority of funding cannot be from a personal/family source. |
| Proof of Funding | To be eligible for F1 visa, newly admitted student must show the school and U.S. consulate proof of sufficient funding for the first year of study in the U.S. | To be eligible for J1 visa, newly admitted student must show the school and U.S. consulate proof of sufficient funding for the duration of the academic program in the U.S. |
| Employment | Work authorization not required for on-campus employment. Optional practical training (OPT), which is usually used for working after completion of studies. Both CPT and OPT are only available to students who have completed one academic year of full-time enrollment in the U.S. Only degree-seeking students are approved for OPT. Under OPT authorization, F1 students are eligible to work off campus for up to 12 months (an extension for 17 months is possible for certain STEM majors) in a position that is directly related to their program of studies. This benefit is approved by USCIS. It is not required that you have specific employment prior to application for this benefit. Once approved, however, you cannot have a period of unemployment that exceeds 90 days. | Work authorization required for on-campus employment. One authorization option: academic training for working off campus either before or after completion of studies. J1 students are eligible to apply for up to 18 and in some cases (PhD students engaged in postdoctoral research) 36 months of work that is related to their major area of study. This benefit is approved by an international adviser at the International Center. You must have secured employment to be eligible. For postgraduation work, you will not be eligible for this benefit if you do not have a job before you graduate. |
| Dependents | Dependents in F2 status are not eligible for employment. They can study part time but not as a degree-seeking student. | Dependents in J2 status are eligible to apply for permission to work in the U.S. through the duration of the J1 student’s program once they have entered the U.S. in the J2 category. This permission is obtained through an application to USCIS. There are no restrictions regarding studying in J2 status. |
| Medical Insurance | Must meet Bard College's requirement for student health insurance coverage. | The DOS, per the Code of Federal Regulations (22CFR 62.14), requires the following minimum levels of coverage: Medical benefits of at least US $100,000 per accident or illness Repatriation of remains in the amount of US $25,000 Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to their home country in the amount of US $50,000 A deductible not to exceed US $500 per accident or illness |
| Restrictions | No two-year home residency. No 12-month/24-month bar. | J1 and J2 dependents may be subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement. J1 and J2 dependents may also be subject to the 12-month bar depending on the length of the J program. Note that the two-year home-country physical presence requirement and 12-month bar are separate rules. |