Extension Requests
Step 1: Search for scholar record
Finding an Existing Scholar Record
To find a scholar, follow the instructions noted in the Finding an Existing Scholar Record section. If you are unable find the record, or receive the message below, contact IFSO at ifsoisd@ucsd.edu before proceeding.
Review Scholar Email and Update Department User
Once you find the scholar, go to the Tasks Tab and under the Edit Visitor Login and Permissions review the scholar’s email (edit if necessary) and update the department user from ISD, IFSO to yourself.
Don’t forget to hit save.
Reviewing/updating the scholar email in the Edit Visitor Login and Permissions is especially important for extensions/amendments as the email listed there is usually from an initial request, which typically won’t be the scholar’s UCSD email.
After every request is completed IFSO clears the processing stage and sets the department user as ISD, IFSO. This allows departments to use ISD as a case manager.
Scholar Access
To change permissions, select the Tasks Tab and click on Edit Visitor Login and Permissions.
To prevent the scholar from making changes to their record while it is being processed by you and IFSO, we recommend you change the scholar’s permissions to View only at some point in your process.
If you request the scholar to update their record directly, however, you will need to change their permissions back to Read/Write.
We leave it up to you to decide where in your process you choose to lock the scholar’s access to their record.
Step 2: Invite the Scholar to Update Personal Information
Scholar Permissions
- Click on the Tasks tab and select Edit Visitor Login and Permissions.
- Select Read/Write so that the scholar can input their information.
- Make sure that you are noted as the department user
- Review the scholar email to make sure its correct
- Go back to the Tasks tab and click Invite Visitor. An email dialogue box will open. Paste the following message in (or create your own) and then click the Send button.
- When the scholar completes updating their record they will be prompted to submit it to the department for review, and you will receive a system-generated email when it is available in ISD prompting you to review the record.
Step 3: Recharge Fee
You do not need to include proof of recharge payment through ISD; it will be checked by IFSO.
You can find instructions on IFSO’s website: https://ifso.ucsd.edu/dept-facilitators/online-recharge.html
Step 4: Review the Scholar Record and Input Department Information After Scholar Submission
When the scholar completes and submits their information and uploaded documentation, an email will be sent to the department administrator indicating that the record is ready for review. The departmental administrator reviews the data and documentation uploaded by the scholar for completeness. The administrator will also input additional information and upload documentation from the department.
Finding an Existing Scholar Record
To find a scholar, follow the instructions noted in the Finding an Existing Scholar Record section.
If you are unable find the record, contact IFSO at ifsoisd@ucsd.edu.
Scholar Access
To change permissions, select the Tasks Tab and click on Edit Visitor Login and Permissions.
To prevent the scholar from making changes to their record while it is being processed by you and IFSO, we recommend you change the scholar’s permissions to View only at some point in your process.
If you request the scholar to update their record directly, however, you will need to change their permissions back to Read/Write.
We leave it up to you to decide where in your process you choose to lock the scholar’s access to their record.
Adding Notes
If you have notes for this record that you would like to make IFSO aware of, select the Notes Tab on the Horizontal Fields Navigation Bar and click on Add Note. These notes will be visible to Department Administrators with ISD access under your specific department and to IFSO advisors but not to the scholar.
The notes section is a great way to let IFSO know anything pertinent to the case.
Contact Scholar to Verify Information
If you need to contact the scholar to verify certain information, you can select Compose Email in the top right side of the screen. This will generate an email to the scholar.
TIP: This will send the email you compose. However, it will not treat the email as an initial invitation and thus will not overwrite the scholar’s current password.
Biographical Section
Address Section
The scholar will have added their local (San Diego/U.S.) and permanent address (home country).
Tip: please note that we advise the scholar to never use the mailing address option.
REMOTE WORK
- U.S. Department of State guidance limits remote participation of J-1 Exchange Visitors in their programs to 40% of their time. J-1 Exchange Visitors are required to be on-campus or at their non-residential worksite at least three of five days a week.
Appointment Section
- Update the End Date to the end of the newly granted appointment period (if the Start Date is empty, input the original UCSD J-1 program start date)
- Input/Update the Job Title as needed
- Input/update the Other or Additional Job Title and Level: Enter the job title if not listed in the Job Title Section.
- Add an additional job title if there are multiple.
- If the job title is a staff appointment under Career Tracks, indicate the level here; for example, "P3" or "S2" or "M1".
- If Clinical, enter the PGY level.
- Input/Update Faculty Sponsor as needed
- Input any missing data under the J Visitors Only section, approximating as closely as possible the information from the initial J-1 request
- RUSH Request: Indicate “Yes” or “No.” RUSH requests entail paying the RUSH fee (for online payments, see: https://ifso.ucsd.edu/dept-facilitators/vs-recharge-form.html).
Site of Activity Section
- Input/Update the site of activity as needed; add an additional site of activity if needed
Funding Section
Note
Do not delete funds but rather add to existing funds. Corresponding funding proof/documentation must be uploaded in the documents tab. Proof/documentation cannot be more than 6 months old. If funds are listed in foreign currency include a currency converter. Any document in a foreign language must include a translation of the key information such as source, amount, time, and date. Translation does not need to be issued by official translating company.- If the funding fields are empty, make sure to include the funding amounts from the initial J-1 period, and add those of the extension period to these.
- There can be multiple sources of funding.
- Funds reported should cover the entire period of the extension.
Overall funding amount must meet minimum monthly requirement of:
- $2400/month for scholar
- Additional per month:
- $800/month for spouse
- $400/month for each child
Funding should be entered without any spaces, dashes, periods, or dollar signs. Do not include cents, round the funding. Please note that you will be able to save the information with spaces, dashes, dollar signs, or cents but when you try to submit the case with IFSO you will receive an error.
Don’t forget to use the help bubbles, summary/reminders:
- Program Sponsor Funds
- Add the entire amount being given for the requested program duration.
- Funding being distributed to the faculty/scholar by UC San Diego; UC San Diego issues a check or direct deposit to the faculty/scholar, regardless of the granting source.
- Typically, Postdoc appointments 3252 or 3253
- Please note that a Postdoc 3254 is NOT Program Sponsored Funds as the outside organization is paying the postdoc directly. For Postdoc 3254:
- If it's a home country ministry, place the amount under Government Funding.
- If it's NATO, place the amount under International Organization.
- It its a home country academic institution, place the amount under Other Organization.
- Program Sponsor Funds Documentation:
- UC San Diego appointment/offer letter. Upload this in the Documents Tab.
- U.S. Government Org Funds
- Add the entire amount being given for the requested program duration.
- Funding is only considered U.S. government funding if it is paid directly to the J-1 Exchange Visitor and/or is intended specifically for international exchange. NIH or other federal agency grants to PIs to fund their research projects would not be considered "U.S. government funding" for purposes of international exchange.
- This option would rarely be used.
- International Org. Funds
- Add the entire amount being given for the requested program duration.
- If unsure if funding is from an International Organization, input funding in "Other Organization Funding" data field.
- This option would rarely be used.
- Government Funds
- Add the entire amount being given for the requested program duration.
- Funding the scholar will be receiving from their Home Country Government.
- If unsure if funding is from Home Country Government, input funding in "Other Organization Funding" data field.
- Other Organization Funds
- Add the entire amount being given for the requested program duration.
- A company/academic institution/employer/government agency, not an individual person.
- Entity distributes funds directly to Scholar.
- Use if unsure of funding source or if the funding source does not match any of the other fields.
- Examples:
- A foreign employer is paying the Scholar while they are on leave from their job, such as a sabbatical.
- Scholar received a scholarship that is distributing funds directly to them.
- Scholar has fellowship from their home country’s government or the U.S. government.
- Documentation Examples:
- Funding organization/scholarship letter indicating amount of funds and disbursement period.
- Employer letter stating the salary and that they will continue to be paid for the date range of the program at UC San Diego. The letter should state funding amount, frequency, and that they will continue to pay this amount while the scholar is at UC San Diego, in the U.S., on sabbatical, etc.
- Please note: a pay statement or tax document cannot be used as proof of funding.
- Personal Funds
- If Personal Funds or individual sponsor funds are being used, only enter the additonal minimum amount required instead of the full bank balance.
- Personal funds should only be listed/used/included after all other sources of funding are provided. Personal funds should be supplemental to any other funding sources.
- If only personal funds are included, this is an indication to IFSO that there are no additional funding sources. Please note that excluding any additional funding sources could be seen as a misrepresentation of program funding source.
- Personal Funds are from scholar or a sponsor (individual not an entity/organization/employer)
- Examples:
- J-1 has sufficient money in a personal bank account and they are fully/partially funding themselves.
- A family or friend is fully/partially supporting the J-1 appointment. This person has enough money in their personal bank account.
- Documentation Examples:
- Bank statement showing personal funds of scholar or sponsor.
- Funding documentation from a sponsor (spouse, friend, family, etc.) must also include an affidavit of support, indicating the sponsor will support the scholar and the amount of funding that will be provided for the date range of the program. Affidavit does not need to be notarized, a simple letter signed and dated.
- Evidence must show currently existing liquid funds. Not acceptable: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, pay statements or tax documents.
Benefits
- You must select Yes or No.
- Indicate Yes for BELI 1,2, or 3 only.
- Indicate No for BELI 4 or 5. These do not meet J-1 insurance coverage requirements.
- This field has replaced Form C
- This will allow IFSO to confirm health insurance has been obtained (Gallagher/Garnett Powers, Waived, or UCSD insurance) directly with the scholar.
Other Section
These are sections that should have been completed by the incoming J-1 scholar. Please go through them to verify that they have been completed.
- Position In Home Country
- Must be completed for all J-1 requests.
- Last position listed must be from the scholar's home country.
- Verify that the Scholar - Home Country Position Instructions were followed.
- Passport and Visa
- Must be completed for all requests as it contains immigration history.
- This section alerts IFSO if this is a transfer-in, there was a previous J-1 or J-2 status, and other prior immigration history that could affect eligiblity for the J-1 status.
- Verify that the Scholar - Passport and Visa Instructions were followed.
- Education Section
- If the scholar indicated they have a Medical Degree, then section 3 of the J-1 submission form will need to be completed and uploaded to ISD. This section indicates if the scholar will provide any patient contact during their UC San Diego appointment.
- Verify that the Scholar - Education Section Instructions were followed.
- Dependent-Specific and Dependent-General
- If the scholar indicated they will have dependents (spouse/children) with them in the U.S. that require a dependent status (J-2) they MUST include their information. All fields must be completed.
- J-1 Spouse: An email is required as IFSO sends information to spouses.
- Verify that the Scholar - Dependent Sections Instructions were followed.
- If the scholar indicated they will have dependents (spouse/children) with them in the U.S. that require a dependent status (J-2) they MUST include their information. All fields must be completed.
J-1 Student Intern T/IPP Section
If the scholar will be coming in the J-1 Student Intern category, make sure to complete the section titled T/IPP Information. This can be found under “Other.” Please note that the T/IPP Information section will not appear if the J Visitor category is not listed as Student Intern in the Appointment Tab.
See our instructions regarding how to complete the T/IPP section.
Step 5: Attach Supporting Documentation
Click on the Documents Tab on the top of the Horizontal Fields Navigation Bar towards the top of the screen in order to upload the required documents from the list below. For more detailed instructions regarding how to upload documents to ISD, view our Upload/Attach Documents in ISD instructions.DO NOT DELETE ANY PREVIOUS DOCUMENTS.
TIP: Do not use any symbols when naming a document.
Upload Extension Documentation
For extensions, the documents you need to upload will be largely dependent on the specific scholar situation. Typical items that are required are:
- Upload proof of funding
- Upload new appointment letter
- If Scholar traveled since last request:
- Most recent visa (ex: Canadians)
- Most recent I-94
- If scholar has a new passport, upload updated passport
***No request form is required for J-1 extensions***
Step 6: Review and Submit to IFSO
Click on the Tasks tab on the left-hand side of the top Horizontal Fields Navigation Bar and click on Review and Submit Visitor's Information.
Review Information
Click on the Tasks tab on the left-hand side of the top Horizontal Fields Navigation Bar and click on Review and Submit Visitor's Information.
The screen will show a list of all fields lacking information that need to be completed and submission will not be allowed until the fields are complete.
Rush Fee
Before you proceed to submit the case to IFSO, review the rush request field in the Appointment Section. By the time you are ready to submit the case, the rush processing fee may now be required.
Submit to IFSO
- Profile Status: SEVIS - Active
- Active, because the scholar currently has active DS-2019 issued by UC San Diego
- Profile Type: J-1 Exchange Visitor
- Profile Subtype: Scholar
- Profile Subtype If Other: leave blank
Click Submit button toward the left-hand top of the screen. This action forwards the complete record to IFSO staff to review.
After the request is submitted, it should show that the record was “sent to ISSM.” You can also see when a request was submitted to IFSO by going to the history tab, this will show as a line item event that says Data Submission by Department with description Department submitted information to the international office.
IFSO Receives Request and Issues DS-2019
Please allow 15 business days for IFSO processing. Once the DS-2019 is issued, it will be emailed to the Scholar and Department. Anything less than 15 business days will require a rush processing fee.
The processing stage in ISD will be changed from Submitted to International Office to a Clear/Blank processing stage. The department user will also be updated to ISD, IFSO.