J-1 Exchange Visitor Program

The Exchange Visitor Program J-1 Visa promotes international educational and cultural exchange to cultivate understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries.

The Global Engagement office has been authorized by the Department of State (DOS) to act as a J-1 sponsor for international scholars interested in participating in the following programs: 

Category 

Length of Stay  

Short-Term Scholars 

Time necessary to complete the program, not to exceed 6 months. 

Specialist 

Time necessary to complete the program, but not to exceed 1 year. 

Professors and Research Scholars 

Time necessary to complete the program but may not exceed 5 years. 

 

These programs are structured to foster professional development and international collaboration, with careful selection providing the success and effectiveness of the exchanges.

Our office is here to provide comprehensive support and guidance throughout the visa application process. Our priority is to assist with all necessary paperwork and maintain accurate information regarding the visitor's participation in the Exchange Visitor program and prospective activities. 

Collaborating closely with the hosting department is essential. This allows us to facilitate clear communication, and seamlessly gather the required documentation necessary for this program. Compliance is our main priority. The host department responsibilities include: the initial invitation to the program, which involves an official letter from the department. Within the letter there must be a specific exchange category the visitor will be working in, along with a clear beginning and ending date. An official letter must also include a signature from the department head, which can also be the department's dean. For a more details please visit our Resources tab. As a reminder this letter is essential to initiate the application and to ensure that all the necessary documentation is collected accurately to issue a DS-2019 certificate. 

J1 Visa Checklist:

It is important to keep your J-1 status in good standing. To do that, make sure you understand and fulfill the following requirements:

1. Keep Your Documents Valid
Ensure your passport, Form DS-2019, and I-94 records are always valid and unexpired.

2. Update Your Contact Information:
Report any changes of U.S. residential address, phone number, or email to our office within 10 days of the change.

3. Maintain Health Insurance:
You and any J-2 dependents must have health insurance that meets J-1 visa requirements. If you have any questions, please visit The Code of Federal Regulations Website

4. Engage in Authorized Activities
Only participate in activities and employment authorized by your Form DS-2019.

5. Travel with Proper Documentation:
When traveling internationally, ensure you have all necessary documents, including a valid travel signature on your DS-2019.
Following these guidelines will help you comply with your J-1 status requirements.

ONLY IF YOU ARE A STUDENT

6. Full-Time Enrollment:
If you are a student, maintain full-time enrollment unless you have authorization for a reduced course load.

For more detailed information and specific document requirements please visit our Resources Page found on the left-hand side of this website. As a reminder, Immigration matters are the responsibility of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the visitor.

 

For more information please contact Diana Briceno in Global Administration at [email protected]