The purpose of the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa is to promote academic
exchange of education, information, or training of mutual benefit to the
U.S. and the country of origin.
The Office
of Diversity and International Affairs is authorized by the United
States (US) Department of State to administer a J-1 Exchange Visitor
Program for UTMB.
ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS
Regulations of the US Department of State require that J-1 exchange
visitors have the appropriate education and experience to perform the
activities in which they will engage. With the exception of individuals
who will enroll as university students or are enrolled as university
students in their home countries, it is our policy to require evidence
of having received a college or university degree to be eligible for J-1
visa classification under the UTMB program. To establish that this
requirement is met, the prospective J-1 must provide a copy of his/her
resume or curriculum vitae and university level diploma, with English
translation if required.
It is important to note that UTMB hiring and selection procedures
require that the academic credentials and relevant experience of
prospective employees is documented before they may begin employment at
UTMB. For persons who received a foreign degree, this documentation must
include a U.S. credential equivalency evaluation prepared by an
independent agency. Prospective J-1 individuals must obtain a credential
equivalency evaluation before reporting to UTMB.
Click here for a partial listing of credential evaluation agencies
that will prepare the required degree equivalency statement.
PROOF OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Written documentation of financial support available for the duration of
the requested program must be provided before a J-1 visa document, Form
DS-2019, is issued. Sources of funding may include a UTMB stipend,
government funding, personal finances or other sources.
OBTAINING A J-1 VISA
Upon receipt of a “J-1 Sponsor Letter” and other documents provided by
the UTMB sponsoring department, the Office of Diversity and
International Affairs will request a Form DS-2019 through the Student
and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). The Form DS-2019,
“Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) status is
required to apply for a J-1 visa stamp from a US consular post in the
country of residence. It will be forwarded to the prospective
international visitor with information about how to proceed. If the
visitor has never held a J-1 visa classification, or has held status in
another J-1 category or another immigration status since the original
J-1 status, a $100 SEVIS fee must be paid and a SEVIS fee receipt notice
obtained before applying for a J-1 visa from a US consular post. It is
the responsibility of the prospective visitor to determine additional
visa application fees and requirements of the US consular post where the
visa will be issued.
Click here
for SEVIS fee instructions, and
click here to access the web pages of US consular posts abroad.
J-1 TWO YEAR HOME COUNTRY REQUIREMENT
Certain J-1 individuals and their J-2 dependents are required to return
to the country of last legal residence for two years following
completion of the J-1 program objective. Consult the Office of
International Affairs regarding long range plans to remain in the U.S.
after completion of the J-1 program. For further information about the
J-1 two-year requirement, visit the
U.S. State Department web site.
J-1 RESEARCH SCHOLAR 12-MONTH BAR
The J-1 Research Scholar category is used to bring many researchers to
UTMB. It is important to note, however, that not everyone is eligible
for this J-1 category. Persons who completed more than six months in the
United States in any other category of J-1 exchange visitor status and
whose prior J-1 status expired less than 12 months in the past are not
eligible for the J-1 Research Scholar category. This includes those with
prior periods of stay in the J-1 student or alien physician trainee
categories, as well as those who held J-2 dependent visa classification
for longer than 6 months ending less than 12 months before a proposed
visa in the J-1 Research Scholar category.
J-1 RESEARCH SCHOLAR EXTENSIONS TO 5 YEARS
Effective November 18, 2006, J-1 Research Scholars may extend their
authorization to remain in the United States for up to a maximum of five
years from the initial date of entry to the US in that status. The five
years of maximum presence is consecutive; it is not based on cumulative
dates of presence in J-1 Research Scholar status as in the past. On or
after November 18, 2006 a J-1 Research Scholar who leaves the United
States after less than five years from the initial date of entry in that
classification forfeits the balance of the five years. (See “J-1
Research Scholar Two-Year Bar” below.)
J-1 RESEARCH SCHOLAR TWO-YEAR BAR
Also effective November 18, 2006, when a J-1 Research Scholar leaves the
United States and the SEVIS record becomes inactive that person is
automatically ineligible to return to the United States as a J-1
Research Scholar for two years (twenty-four consecutive months.) Should
this occur, consideration of other visa options for returning to the
United States will become necessary.
WHAT DO ALL THESE RULES AND BARS MEAN?
Confused about all these rules and bars? Click here to view a chart
showing how these rules and bars affected J-1 Research Scholars under
the original regulations and after the implementation of the J-1 Five
Year Rule on November 18, 2006.
CHANGES OF J-1 PROGRAM OBJECTIVE
In general, changes of program objective (as from Research Scholar to
Student, or from Research Scholar to Alien Physician) are not allowed.
Careful consultation is required if future plans include such changes.
Depending upon the individual case, J-1 exchange visitor status may not
be advisable.
DEPENDENT INFORMATION
Immediate relatives (spouses and children) of J-1 exchange visitors
qualify for J-2 visas based on Form DS-2019 issued to the principle
applicant. It takes 4-6 months from arrival in the U.S. to obtain
employment authorization for a J-2 individual aged 16 or older. J-2
spouses and children cannot change visa classification in the U.S.
unless the J-1 individual is not subject to, or has obtained a waiver
of, the “two year home country physical requirement.” Spouses and
children aged 16 and over may apply for
J-2
employment authorization.
J-1 HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENT
Specific minimum levels of health insurance coverage in the U.S. must be
maintained for each J-1 exchange visitor and all J-2 dependents. Failure
to buy this health insurance coverage is considered a violation of
J-1/J-2 immigration status. UTMB employee health insurance meets this
requirement, with the exception of coverage for “medical evacuation” and
“repatriation” insurance. This coverage pays for the medical transport
of an impaired individual, or transport of the remains of an individual
who has died in the US. This insurance must be purchased separately.
Brochures and enrollment forms are available from the Office of
Diversity and International Affairs. If you will be eligible for UTMB
employee health insurance benefits,
click
here to purchase a separate “medical evacuation/repatriation”
insurance policy.
If you are not eligible for UTMB employee health insurance coverage
(because you will be employed for less than 4.5 months and/or will not
be paid a UTMB salary,) you must buy full health insurance coverage that
meets the J-1/J-2 health insurance requirement. You may purchase a
policy backed by your home country employer or government and provide a
copy of the insurance brochure with English translation, or enroll
on-line in the Mega Life and Health insurance policy that is provided
for UTMB students and scholars.
Click here to purchase full health insurance coverage offered
through the Mega Life and Health Insurance Company.
Pre-Arrival Data Sheet - Must be completed by all foreign
nationals seeking visas status for UTMB and provided to prospective UTMB
supervisor who will forward it to the Office of International Affairs
with the visa request.
Checklist to Apply for Initial or Transfer J-1 Visa Classification
Checklist to Extend or Amend J-1 Visa Classification
J-1 and J-2 SEVIS Compliance
Questionnaire
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