Keep all of your immigration documents for your records. It may be necessary to present these documents when applying for a new U.S. immigration status in the future.
Be certain that you have informed your department of your departure and completed all necessary departure documents and procedures with them. If you have further questions about your departure, please contact us.
Reminders for J-1 Scholars
- After completion of your J-1 program, you have a 30-day grace period to depart the United States.
- After the completion of their current program, J-1 Research Scholars/Professors are barred from beginning a new Research Scholar/Professor program for a period of two years.
- If you are subject to the two-year home residency rule (212e), you will have certain restrictions on your future U.S. immigration status until you have lived in your home country for two years or you have obtained a waiver of the requirement. Specifically, you are restricted from applying for a change of status from J within the U.S. You cannot apply for an H, L, or K visa, and you are not eligible to adjust your status to permanent resident (i.e. apply for a green card) or obtain an immigrant visa.
- If you plan to transfer to another J-1 program sponsor, you must complete a J-1 Scholar Transfer Out Request and submit it to the ISSS office immediately.
Reminders for H-1B and O-1 Employees
- After the completion of your program, you have no grace period and must depart the U.S. immediately (unless you are at the end of your status and your I-94 includes a 10-day grace period).
- If you plan to move to another employer, you should have no gaps in your employment.
- All original I-797 Approval Notices are the property of the petitioner (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) and must be returned to the ISSS office before your departure from
Reminders for Visitors Not Sponsored by Illinois
- Report your departure to your program sponsor immediately. They can provide further information about your grace period and other departure guidelines.