IS

There are many details to know and understand about your program. The information below will assist you in being informed and in making appropriate decisions concerning your program.

• Program Length: How long you can stay at BYU

• Student: Until you complete your studies
• Short-Term Scholar: Six months maximum
• Specialist: One year maximum
• Researcher or professor: 42 months maximum

• Extension of Program

  Based upon your classification, if it necessary for you to extend and you are eligible for an extension beyond that listed on item #3 of your Form DS-2019, you may request an extension by completing the following steps:

1. At least 30 days before your program ending date (see item #3 on Form DS-2019), have your department complete a Request for Renewal of Extension of Form DS-2019.
2. You must sign the request.
3. If you are being funded and insured by a third party, proof of continued support for the duration of the extension must be documented and attached.
4. Your department will submit the completed form to International Services for the issuance of an updated Form DS-2019.
5. The new DS-2019 will be returned to your department to give to you.

• Transfer of Program Sponsors

• You may transfer from one program sponsor to another if the purpose of the transfer is to complete the objective for which you were admitted to exchange-visitor status, and if you remain within the same category.
• Procedure

1. Obtain an new DS-2019 from the new sponsor.
2. Take the new DS-2019 to the Responsible Officer of the current sponsor and have him/her sign Part #8 of the DS-2019. (If the current sponsor agrees that the transfer is for the purpose of completing the original objective and is consistent with the goals of the exchange-visitor program, he/she will sign the form, thus releasing sponsorship.)
3. Submit the new DS-2019 (with the signature releasing sponsorship) to International Services.

• Leaving the United States Between Sponsors
  
  
  • If you are leaving the United States temporarily between sponsors, it is not necessary to obtain the endorsement of the previous sponsor. Instead, you simply use the new Form DS-2019 to reenter the United States. If your visa has expired, you will need to obtain a new one to reenter the States.