Can I change my J-1 program sponsor?
FAQ.
Answered by Robin Catmur-Smith, Managing Director of the International Student Resource Center
Last updated: July, 2026
Can I change my J-1 program sponsor?
Usually yes, but the requirements and the process for changing your J-1 program sponsor depend on who your current sponsor is, your program objective, and the necessary approvals. If your DS-2019 is university-issued, transferring schools changes your sponsor through the standard J-1 transfer. Third-party sponsors (e.g., Fulbright) can have more restrictions.
How it works
University-issued DS-2019: transferring to another school changes your sponsor — the standard J-1 transfer, allowed if your objective and category stay the same and both schools coordinate the SEVIS release.
Third-party sponsor (Fulbright, IIE, LASPAU): a transfer to a university sponsor may be possible but rests with your current sponsor and the State Department.
Fulbright is unique: extensions/transfers need multiple approvals (IIE, State Department, home-country Fulbright office, host institution), must be funded by non-Fulbright sources, and usually mean giving up Fulbright benefits.
Important
Complete any transfer before your DS-2019 end date — not during the 30-day grace period.
No gap allowed: the new DS-2019 start date must immediately follow the old end date.
A SEVIS transfer keeps your current SEVIS ID. A new SEVIS ID from a new initial record would invalidate your current visa stamp — you would need a new one to re-enter.
A sponsor change does not remove the two-year home residency requirement if it applied.
Transferring from a U.S. government-funded program (code starting "G") means repaying the I-901 SEVIS fee before a new visa.
If a transfer of your J program will involve the need for an extension to your end date, you must follow the procedures required by the new Loss of D/S rule.
