91制片厂 | International Student Services

J-1 Scholar

General Eligibility Requirements for hosting a J-1 Exchange Visitor

The host department at 91制片厂 is the first to receive requests for J-1 Scholar designation. Speaking with an academic department is the first step for anyone interested in or in need of J-1 status. The department will then start the procedure with the Office of International Student and Global Scholar Services.

All of the necessary paperwork and information must be completed at least two months before J-1 Scholar's expected start date at 91制片厂due to delays in visa processing overseas. Please be aware that the processing of visas may take longer in some cases.

91制片厂Departments are required to review the following information in order to determine the eligibility requirements for the prospective J-1 exchange visitor:

Length of Stay: Professors and research scholars are permitted to remain in the United States for a total maximum of five years. Short-term scholars are permitted to remain in the United States for up to six months; no extension is permitted.
Repeat Participation in the Research Scholar and Professor Categories: After a scholar spends time in the U.S. in one of these categories, he/she is prohibited from returning to the U.S. for 24 months in either the professor or research scholar category. There are no exceptions to this rule.
12-Month Rule: An individual will not be eligible for J-1 research scholar or professor status if he/she was in the U.S. in any J status for six out of the previous 12 months. In such cases, he/she must be out of J status for one year before being eligible for J-1 research scholar or professor status.
English Language Requirement: New federal regulations beginning January 5, 2015 require use of an “objective measurement of English language proficiency” to determine the language proficiency of all J-1 scholars.
Two-Year Home Residency Requirement: Some J-1 scholars and their dependents are required to return to their country of permanent residence for a minimum of two years upon completion of the J-1 program before they will be eligible for H, L, K, or permanent residency status. On rare occasions the visitor may file for a waiver of this requirement. Without the waiver, the J-1 exchange visitor may not change non-immigrant status while in the U.S. or apply for any of the four statuses listed above. Once a waiver is received, extensions of J status are not permitted.

Type of J-1 Scholars

SHORT TERM SCHOLAR

The Short-Term Scholar program is designed for individuals coming to the United States on a short-term basis for the purpose of lecturing, observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills at research institutions, museums, libraries, and similar types of institutions.

ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS

Participants must be professors, research scholars, or individuals with similar education or accomplishments.
Duration of program: 1 day to 6 months
There is no requirement for participants to maintain a home-country residency after the completion of their program.

KEY FEATURES

Flexibility for brief academic or research-related activities.
Allows for a broad range of academic and professional interactions and collaborations.
No formal teaching requirement.

RESEARCH SCHOLAR

The Research Scholar program is intended for individuals primarily involved in conducting research, observing, or consulting in connection with a research project at research institutions, corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, and similar types of institutions in the United States.

ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS

They must have a specific research objective (i.e. perform research on xyx鈥�”)
They must have a specific job title (Visiting Scholar, Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Lecturer, Visiting Faculty, etc)
They must have documented English proficiency documented in an English Proficiency Form (we can help facilitate assessment if needed)
Must have sufficient funding (can be self-funded, funded by home institution, paid/offered a stipend from host institution, and/or funded by a government or NGO)
Must have health insurance for the duration of their stay (including dependents)
Cannot be tenure-track
Must have appropriate education and experience for the position/research
Purpose is to research, teach, observe, consult
Non-immigrant intent (subject to 2 year home residency requirement)
Duration of program: 3 weeks to 5 years

KEY FEATURES

Opportunity to engage in long-term research projects.
Ability to collaborate with American colleagues and institutions.
Participants may also teach or lecture, but their primary purpose must be research.
May be subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement.

PROFESSOR

The Professor program is designed for individuals to teach, lecture, observe, or consult at post-secondary accredited educational institutions in the United States. This program aims to promote the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and teaching techniques between U.S. educational institutions and their counterparts overseas.

ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS

They must have a specific research objective (i.e. perform research on xyx鈥�”)
They must have a specific job title (Visiting Scholar, Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Lecturer, Visiting Faculty, etc)
They must have documented English proficiency documented in an English Proficiency Form (we can help facilitate assessment if needed)
Must have sufficient funding (can be self-funded, funded by home institution, paid/offered a stipend from host institution, and/or funded by a government or NGO)
Must have health insurance for the duration of their stay (including dependents)
Cannot be tenure-track
Must have appropriate education and experience for the position/research
Purpose is to research, teach, observe, consult
Non-immigrant intent (subject to 2 year home residency requirement)
Duration of program: 3 weeks to 5 years

KEY FEATURES

Focus on teaching and lecturing at U.S. educational institutions.
Participants can also engage in research, but teaching must be their primary purpose.
Opportunities for professional development and academic collaboration.
May be subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement.

Eligibility Requirements for a Research Scholar or Professor

Must have a specific research objective (i.e. perform research on xyx鈥�”) and purpose (to research, teach, observe, consult)

Must have a specific job title (Visiting Scholar, Visiting Postdoctoral Fellow, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Lecturer, Visiting Faculty, etc)
Must have appropriate education and experience for the position/research
Documented English proficiency (ISGSS can help facilitate assessment if needed)
Sufficient funding (can be self-funded, funded by home institution, paid/offered a stipend from host institution, and/or funded by a government or NGO)
Health insurance required for the duration of their stay (including dependents)
Cannot be tenure-track
Non-immigrant intent (subject to 2 year home residency requirement)
Duration of program: 3 weeks to 5 years

General Information about J-1 Visa Funding Requirements

J-1 Exchange Visitors may receive a salary or stipend from various parties. They can receive funding from 91制片厂, the government, private organizations, their current place of employment (outside the U.S.), or personal funds. The funding must meet the current living expense requirements. This requirement is currently $1,500/month or $18,000/year and does not include the cost of dependents or health care costs.

Required Documentation to Establish Funding

In order to confirm that the proposed Exchange Visitor has adequate funding for their program, they and the sponsoring 91制片厂 host department will be required to submit proof of funding from one or more of the following sources:

Personal Funds: Bank statement or letter.
Family/Friend Funds: Bank statement and an Affidavit of Financial Support.
91制片厂 Funds: Department letter.
Other Institutional Support: Support letter.

All documents must be recent and in English. Compliance is crucial for a smooth exchange process. For additional inquiries, please contact 91制片厂’s Office of International Student and Global Scholar Services at ISGSS@lewisu.edu.

Health Insurance

Mandatory Coverage: All J-1 Exchange Visitors and their J-2 dependents must maintain appropriate health insurance coverage throughout their program at 91制片厂, aligning with United States government regulations for J visa holders.

Automatic Enrollment: Exchange Visitors are automatically enrolled in 91制片厂's health insurance plan through Lewermark upon their program start date.

91制片厂 prioritizes the health and well-being of its Exchange Visitors. For detailed information about the Student Health Insurance Plan visit 91制片厂 | International Student Services | Insurance . Below is a summary of the policy:

Exchange Visitors must provide verification of the following coverage:

$100,000 per accident or illness: With a deductible not exceeding $500.
Repatriation of Remains: In the event of death, coverage of $25,000 is required.
Medical Evacuation: Coverage of $50,000 for expenses associated with medical evacuation to the home country or country of permanent residence.

Health Insurance Waiver Policy: J-1 Exchange Visitors at 91制片厂 do not have the option to waive the university's health insurance plan. Therefore, they should not purchase additional health insurance before arriving on campus, as it cannot be used while enrolled at 91制片厂.

For detailed information about the health insurance plan, please contact ISGSS@lewisu.edu.

Employment

A Social Security Number (SSN) is necessary for most on and off-campus work opportunities, but a job offer letter is required to apply

INVITING A VISITING SCHOLAR/PROFESSOR TO LEWIS UNIVERSITY (Info for sponsoring department/faculty sponsor)

How to Invite a Visiting Scholar/Professor to Lewis

The 91制片厂 host department initiates sponsorship and collects the required information for the proposed exchange visitor and submits it to the ISGSS Office to review. If everything is approved, ISGSS will issue a form DS-2019 (the form that the proposed exchange visitor will use to obtain their J-1 visa).

First Step: Department completes Required Forms

Departmental Job/Volunteer Application (HR) (coming soon)
Scholar Invitation Letter for Funding (contact ISGSS@lewisu.edu for an example)
Official Appointment Letter / Position Confirmation signed by Department Chair/Program Director/Dean and Provost (contact ISGSS@lewisu.edu for more information)

Second Step: Department forwards required documents to the Proposed Exchange Visitor for completion (and CCs ISGSS@lewisu.edu)

Copy of Passport bio page
Proof of funding (if not fully funded by Lewis)

Letter from outside sponsoring agency
Personal Bank Statement
Letter from exchange visitor’s bank stating amount of available funds

J-1 transfer-in form (if coming from another US institution on a J-1)
J-1 Check-In and Health Insurance Confirmation Form (to complete upon arrival)

Third Step: To be completed by HR/Office of Academic Affairs

Visiting Scholar Courtesy Appointment Form (to grant the EV temporary campus access)
For Paid positions: if Staff (managed through HR) or Faculty (managed by faculty admin) 鈥� clarify benefits offered, probationary period, vacation accrual, etc. as there would be for any other employee.

INFORMATION FOR PROSPECTIVE J-1 SCHOLAR/PROFESSOR CANDIDATE

Application Process

Requesting Funding

English Language Requirement
J-1 Mandatory Health Insurance
Required Forms for Proposed Exchange Visitor (with links)
After Receiving the DS-2019

For more information about housing, employment, cultural requirements, the 2 year home residency requirement, and checking in upon arrival, please contact ISGSS@lewisu.edu or arodriguez58@lewisu.edu.