International Travel & Temporary Absence/ Out of Country

International Travel

If a J-1 Exchange Visitor and/or a J-2 dependent will travel abroad, to return to the U.S. in J-1 or J-2 status they must have a valid travel signature on their DS-2019.

  • The travel signature is valid for one year or until the J-1 program end date listed on the DS-2019, whichever date is earlier.

To request a new travel signature for either the J-1 EV or their dependent, the EV will need to complete the DS-2019 Reprint e-form available under “J-1 Scholar Services” in the MyISSS portal.

Review the Exchange Visitor: Travel Outside of U.S. handout prior to traveling and contact the ISSS advisor assigned to your department with questions.

Temporary Absence from the U.S.

permits Exchange Visitor (EV) program sponsors to keep the SEVIS (J-1 visa) records active for EVs in the professor and research scholar categories who are temporarily outside of the U.S. if the EVs will actively pursue the goals and objectives of their Exchange Visitor program during their absence and if the EV plans to return to the United States in J-1 status.  

  • The Out-of-Country function in SEVIS allows program sponsors (such as Boulder) to indicate that the EV is participating in their Exchange Program outside the U.S temporarily which allows the EV to maintain their J-1 nonimmigrant (visa) status during their temporary absence.
  • Completing the Out-of-Country request process is required to keep the EV’s SEVIS record active and open during temporary absences of more than 30 days.  

To be authorized for an absence of more than 30 days, EVs in the research scholar or professor categories must submit the Temporary Absence/Out of Country Request e-form (available in MyISSS portal) at least 5 business days before their scheduled departure. This form requires the electronic signature of the EV, the host supervisor, the department administrator, the Office of Export Controls, and the Office of Information Technology-Security. By signing the form, the EV, department administrator, and host supervisor attest that the EV will continue to pursue their exchange program goals and objectives while temporarily outside of the U.S. and that the EV plans to return to the United States in J-1 status during their program period. The e-form also provides department administrators with ilinks to the Global Employees Guidance and for employees working outside of the U.S.  

  • ISSS is not able to submit out of country dates to SEVIS retroactively, making it imperative that the EV complete the Temporary Absence/Out of Country Request e-form (available in MyISSS portal)  prior to their departure or as soon as they realize their absence may be more than 30 days. 

If the collaboration and program objectives will not be pursued during the EV’s absence or if the EV does not plan to return to the United States in J-1 status, then ISSS will need to end the EV’s J-1 nonimmigrant (visa) status. The U.S. Department of State has recently reminded Exchange Visitor Program sponsors of the requirement for in-person collaboration to meet the BridgeUSA program’s expectations for cultural exchange. Extended periods of absence contradict the intention of BridgeUSA for the Exchange Visitor program.  

ISSS understands that sometimes dependents (spouse or children) of EVs may wish to remain in the U.S. while the primary visa holder is outside of the U.S. ISSS has confirmed with the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) that dependents in J-2 nonimmigrant status may remain in the U.S. for up to 6 months during the primary EV’s approved out-of-country period. 

Temporary Absence/Out of Country Request 

A complete Temporary Absence/Out of Country Request (available in the J-1 Scholar Services section of the MyISSS portal) consists of 5 required e-forms.

  • Temporary Absence/Out of Country Request
  • Departmental Administrator Review
    • You will enter your departmental administrator's name and email address into the e-form and submit to send it to them to complete.
  • Supervisor Review
    • You will enter your supervisor's name and email address into the e-form and submit to send it to them to complete
  • Export Controls Review
    • The Office of Export Controls' email address is pre-populated in the e-form. Click on "Submit" to send the e-form to them to complete.
  • Information Security Review
    • The Office of Information Technology- Security's email address is pre-populated in the e-form. Click on "Submit" to send the e-form to them to complete.

Prior to Departing the U.S.

In addition to submitting the 5 required e-forms in the Temporary Absence/Out of Country Request, complete the following actions prior to departing the U.S.:

During a temporary absence outside of the United States, Exchange Visitors who wish to maintain their J-1 visa status must: 

  • Comply with the BridgeUSA Program regulations including maintaining health insurance that meets the .  
  • Report any changes to the information submitted in the Temporary Absence/Out of Country Request e-form (available in MyISSS portal) within 10 days of the change.  
  • Maintain both a permanent (foreign) address and current (U.S.) address in the SEVIS system and update them by reporting any changes to ISSS within 10 days. 
  • Provide the address of the institution or residence where they will be performing their exchange visitor activities while abroad. 

The EV must have a valid travel signature on their Form DS-2019, a valid passport and a valid J-1 visa when seeking re-entry to the United States in J-1 status. Please review the Exchange Visitor Travel Handout. 

During the EV’s out-of-country period, the host department must: 

  • Continue supervising the EV while they are outside of the U.S. 
  • Notify ISSS of any changes to the information submitted in the Temporary Absence/Out of Country Request e-form (available in MyISSS portal).

EVs in J-1 visa status are not required to request out-of-country authorization if: 

  • They will be outside of the U.S. for 30 days or less with the permission of their department. 

ISSS will end the SEVIS (J-1 visa) records of EVs if any of the following apply: 

  • The EV will depart the U.S. and will not continue their EV program objectives and activities while outside of the U.S. 
  • The EV will be outside of the United States continuing their EV program activities, but does not plan to return to the United States in J-1 status. Ending the SEVIS (J-1 visa) record of an EV does not terminate the collaboration and/or employment with Boulder. J-1 status and an active J-1 SEVIS record are not needed for an EV to continue working from outside of the United States at Boulder. If an opportunity arises for the EV to return to the United States in J-1 status in the future, a new Exchange Visitor program could be requested for the EV’s return to the United States in J-1 status.  

The Temporary Absence/Out of Country Request E-Form (available in MyISSS portal) will ask the EV to indicate their return date. It is ok if the return date is tentative or an estimated return date. ISSS will communicate with the EV as the return date approaches and if adjustments are needed, ISSS can make those before the planned return date passes. If an EV does not have a return date because they will not return, ISSS will need to end the SEVIS record of the EV’s J-1 immigration status.

The Temporary Absence/Out of Country Request E-Form (available in MyISSS portal) will ask the EV to indicate their return date. It is ok if the return date is tentative or an estimated return date. ISSS will communicate with the EV as the return date approaches and if adjustments are needed, ISSS can make those before the planned return date passes. If an EV does not have a return date because they will not return, ISSS will need to end the SEVIS record of the EV’s J-1 immigration status. An active J-1 SEVIS record is not needed for an EV to continue working from outside of the United States at Boulder. If an opportunity arises for the EV to return to the United States in J-1 status in the future, the Department and EV will need to speak with ISSS to discuss if a new Exchange Visitor program could be requested for the EV’s return to the United States in J-1 status.

If an EV does not have a return date because they will not return, ISSS will need to end the SEVIS record of the EV’s J-1 immigration status. J-1 status and an active J-1 SEVIS record are not needed for an EV to continue working from outside of the United States at Boulder. If an opportunity arises for the EV to return to the United States in J-1 status in the future, the Department and EV will need to speak with ISSS to discuss if a new Exchange Visitor program could be requested for the EV’s return to the United States in J-1 status.

Yes. While the J-1 program and J-1 SEVIS record are active, insurance compliance must be maintained. While outside of the United States, Exchange Visitors must comply with the BridgeUSA Program regulations including maintaining health insurance that meets the minimum EV program insurance requirements. If an EV does not have a return date because they will not return, ISSS will have to end the SEVIS record of the EV thus alleviating the EV of the insurance compliance requirement. 

No. ISSS understands that sometimes dependents (spouse or children) of EVs may wish to remain in the U.S. while the primary visa holder is outside of the U.S.  ISSS has confirmed with the Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) that dependents in J-2 nonimmigrant status may remain in the U.S. for up to 6 months during the primary EV’s approved, temporary out-of-country period.