All extension requests for J-1 participants can only be made by the J-1’s sponsoring department on their behalf and should be requested at least two months before the expiration of the current DS-2019. In some Stanford classifications, additional approval from the appropriate offices (e.g. Office of Postdoctoral Affairs, Registrar’s Office, Dean of Research, Medical School Dean’s Office) must also be obtained before the extension can be processed by the I-Center. See below for more information.

Extensions for J-1 participants under the Research Scholar category are permitted for up to a maximum period of five years. However, Stanford Visiting Researchers (who require additional approval from the Registrar’s office) under the SEVIS Research Scholar category are limited to the University’s policy in the maximum period of participation, which is normally two years.

J-1 participants in the Short-Term Scholar category are limited by J-1 Regulations to a duration of 6 months and may not be extended beyond 6 months.

All temporary employees in either category are limited by Stanford policy to six months.

Please note: The Research Scholar category and the Short-Term Scholar category are SEVIS categories, not Stanford classifications. Examples of Stanford classifications are: Post-Doctoral Scholar, Visiting Scholar, Visiting Researcher, Research Associate, Visiting Faculty, Visiting Lecturer.
Once the extended DS-2019 has been issued, we will notify the department to pick up the form from our office. If you have dependents, their stay will be extended automatically with the extension of your DS-2019.

If your (and your dependents’) entry visa has expired, you will need to apply for a new visa IF you travel outside of North America and seek to return to the US to continue your program. Don't forget to secure a travel endorsement on your DS-2019 before you leave. Go to the Travel page for more information >>

To request the DS-2019 extension, please go here >>

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H-1B Employees

Please carefully read this H-1 extension overview below before initiating an extension request.

A Few Things To Remember:

For employees only: no fellowships or other non-salary funding
H status may be held for a cumulative maximum of six years, three years at a time.
Physicians MUST be approved by the California Medical Board.
H-1B employment applications can only be received from Stanford departments.
It will take the I-Center 3 to 4 weeks to prepare the petition for submission to USCIS.

When To Request An Extension - at least one condition must apply

90 to 120 days in advance of an H-1 employee's expiration of stay
The job title has not changed since the last petition was filed.
The employee has moved between postdoc and research associate

When To Request An Amendment - at least one condition must apply

A change in FTE
A job title change other than postdoc to research associate.
- A change of department does not require an amendment unless there is a change in job title.

Go back to the instructions for new H-1s if an amendment is needed >>

Premium Processing

This service is ultimately used in 95% of H-1 filings. Please use it at the time of initial submission, rather than waiting until the need for travel or other urgency. Non-Premium cases take about 6 months to be processed. We assume Premium Processing will be used in this case; if you don't want it, please state that explicitly in the email we refer to under the "Submission" heading.

Submission of Required Documentation

Stanford Administrative Guide Memo 28.1 requires the department be responsible for filing visa petitions on behalf of prospective foreign national employees. The Bechtel International Center reserves the right to require that all communication regarding the visa be through a designated department representative other than the beneficiary. All academic staff appointments may be submitted by the department, however, we require all non-academic staff's petition to be submitted to be approved by and submitted through your school's Human Resources Administrator. We also require that all forms and documentation be submitted through the designated department representative unless requested otherwise.

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