SafeJ1I have a U.S. Social Security number
Learn how U.S. credit reports work, check all three credit bureaus, and consider a free credit freeze.
Read the prevention guide →Identity protection for J-1 participants
Your U.S. identity can outlast your program.
SafeJ1 helps current and former J-1 participants protect their Social Security numbers, check for identity fraud, and take organized action if something is wrong.
Choose your path
What do you need today?
I found an account or debt that is not mine
Preserve evidence, report identity theft, stop new accounts, contact institutions, and dispute fraudulent information.
Start the emergency steps →A problem that can remain hidden
Leaving the United States does not deactivate your SSN.
A former participant may not discover fraud until years later, when applying for housing, credit, employment, or another opportunity in the United States.
Check
Review reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. Fraud may appear on only one.
Freeze
If you do not need U.S. credit, a free credit freeze can make new-account fraud harder.
Keep records
Preserve program, travel, tax, address, and financial records securely for the future.
Why SafeJ1 exists
“I discovered that someone had been using my identity for years.”
Fraudulent checking accounts, credit cards, and other credit lines totaling approximately $100,000 had been opened in Arkadiy Lenchak’s name after his J-1 program ended.
Correcting the records took more than a year. That experience became the reason for creating a practical resource for participants who may otherwise have nowhere to begin.
Read Arkadiy’s storySafeJ1 provides educational information, not legal advice. If you have a lawsuit, court date, or legal deadline, seek qualified legal assistance promptly.