Orientation Modules

Welcome to your J-1 status!

There are many types of immigration statuses for foreign nationals coming to the U.S.  Each has its own purpose, restrictions, and benefits. J-1 status has sub-categories such as researcher, intern, and student. Please check your DS-2019 if you are unsure which subcategory you are in.

• "In status" refers to complying with USCIS regulations (a branch of the U.S. government).

• "Out of status" means you are not following the J-1 regulations and are reported. 

Do NOT confuse status with a visa. A visa is a 'ticket' to enter the U.S. only. Your visa can expire while you are in the U.S. However, if you 'fall' out of status, you must leave the U.S. immediately.

CLICK HERE to watch a video on Maintaining Your J-1 Status.

Visit the U.S. Department of State Website on J-1 Status for more information.

Based on your J-1 Sub-Category:

• If you are a J-1 Student, proceed to Module 1A

• If you are a J-1 Research, Scholar, or Short-Term Scholar, proceed to Module 1B

• After completing either Module 1A or Module 1B based on your sub-category, you MUST take the following quiz, which is based on the information in those sections

  • Maintaining Status Quiz

1. You MUST watch the following videos

• • Professors: Professors play an important part in your life here at South Dakota Mines. Make sure you understand how to interact with them.

  • Syllabus: Learn more about the syllabus and how to stay on track for your classes.

  • Academic Integrity: Academic Integrity is taken very seriously in the U.S. Make sure you understand what academic integrity is to avoid getting into trouble.

  • Class Registration for Undergraduate Students ONLY

  • Class Registration for Graduate Students ONLY

2. You MUST take the following quiz based on the information from the videos above

• Academics Quiz

Relevant Resources:

• SDSMT Experience Portal

• Purdue Online Writing Lab: The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue University houses writing resources and instructional material, and we provide these as a free service of the Writing Lab at Purdue. Students, members of the community, and users worldwide will find information to assist with many writing projects. Teachers and trainers may use this material for in-class and out-of-class instruction.

• Registrars Forms: The links on this page will take you to various administrative forms used by the Office of the Registrar. Most of these forms can be submitted electronically, but due to signature requirements, others must be printed, completed, and delivered to the Office of the Registrar. 

• Academic Integrity @SDSMT

• Policies & Compliance @SDSMT

• Syllabi Search: Find the syllabus of a past, current, or upcoming course.

You MUST watch THIS video regarding your status

1. You MUST watch the following videos

• Healthcare in the U.S.

• J Status Health Insurance Requirements for the U.S.

• Health Insurance at South Dakota Mines

2. Go through the Health Insurance Page for J-1s.

3. You MUST take the following quiz based on the information from the videos above

• Insurance Quiz

Relevant Resources:

• South Dakota Board of Regents (SDBOR) Insurance Policy

1. You MUST watch the following videos:

• • Transportation in Rapid City 

  • Contracts, Leases, and Housing Insurance 

  • State ID Cards, Bank Accounts, and Social Security Numbers 

2. You MUST answer the following quiz based on the information from the videos above

• Living in Rapid City Quiz

Relevant Resources:

• Bank Checklist & Bank Listings

• Banking Terminology

• South Dakota Laws: Bicycle Rules of the Road

• Buying a Used Car

• Cellular Phones

• Food and Groceries

• Ride-Sharing Apps: Uber & Lyft

• Public Transit: Rapid Ride Transit System: There is a bus system called Rapid Ride. The bus system hours are limited, and stops are infrequent. You must have good scheduling skills to make sure you do not miss a pickup time. More information can be found on this website

• South Dakota Driver's License & State ID Cards: Find information on how to apply for state IDs here.

1. You MUST watch the following videos:

• Taxes for Internationals: You are REQUIRED to file taxes even if you do not make any money

• Money in the US 

• Budgets

2. You MUST take the following quiz based on the information from the videos above

• Financial Planning Quiz

Related Resources:

• Non-Resident Alien Tax Information [IRS]: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) provides useful information at this link about taxes in the U.S.

• Filing Tax Returns for International Students: All international students inside the United States must file their tax returns each year.

• Money in the U.S.

• How do I make a Budget?

• Make a Budget Worksheet

• Budget Worksheet for College Students

• Mint Student Budget Template

1. You MUST watch the following videos:

• Housing-General Information

• Housing Contracts, Leases, Insurance, and More

• Roommates

2. Go through our Housing Resources Page.

3. You MUST take the following quiz based on the information from the videos above

• Housing Quiz

Relevant Resources:

• Apartment Hunting Checklist

• Apartment Terminology

• Lease Checklist

• Rental Agreement Terminology

• Roommate Agreement

1. You MUST watch the following videos:

• Tea Consent (Clean)

• Scams and Tips to Avoid 

• Scams - What to Do

2. You MUST take the following quiz based on the information from the videos above

• Scams Quiz

Relevant Resources:

• South Dakota Consumer Protection Resources: This has great resources and a place to report fraud.

• Personal Safety Tips

• Website for Scam Resources

• Strong Password Tips

• Cryptocurrency Scams