IMMIGRATION 

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J-1 Scholar Immigration Information

• Documents

• Arrival

• J Categories

• Health Insurance

• Extension

• Transfer

• 212(e) requirement

• Waiver of 212(e)

• Departure

• New J regulations
   

J Visa Status Documents
Passport:
The passport is issued by your country of citizenship. The passport contains information that identifies the issuing country, and identifies the passport holder as a citizen of that country. It belongs to the issuing country. Keep your passport valid while in the United States. If it is going to expire, contact your embassy for instructions for renewal.

U.S. J-1 or J-2 visa stamp:
The J-1 or J-2 visa stamp is issued by a U.S. consulate outside the United States. It allows you to request permission to enter the United States. Once you are in the United States, it does not matter if this expires. If it expires, and you travel outside the U.S. (except Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean – see Travel), you will need to apply to a U.S. consulate for a new visa stamp before reentering the U.S.
The school listed on the visa stamp must be the same as the school listed on the DS-2019 when you first enter the U.S.

DS-2019:
The DS-2019 certificate of eligibility allows you to apply for a J-1 or J-2 visa stamp. You can think of it as a contract between you, the University of North Texas, and the U.S. government. Once inside the U.S., it will show the length of time you may remain in J status in the U.S.. It will also show your program of research or teaching, and your funding. You may participate at the institution listed on the DS-2019.

I-94 card, also called and admission/departure record:
The I-94 is a small square white card. Do not lose it. It was completed by the Immigration officer at the port of entry when you entered the U.S.. The officer will have written your visa status on this card. This is your official visa status while in the U.S. (If there is a mistake, see your international advisor.) It will have your immigration file number in the upper left corner. The card also tells you how long you can stay in the U.S. in J status. On most cards with J visa status you will find a “D/S”, which means duration of status, and refers to the completion of your J program, which you can find listed on your DS-2019. If you travel outside the U.S. (other than Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean), you will turn in the I-94 card as you depart. You will receive another upon re-entry.
I-901 Receipt
When you pay for the SEVIS fee, be sure to print off a receipt, and make a copy. You will need this when you apply for a visa. You may also need it when entering the U.S. Canadians will need to pay the fee and present the receipt at the port of entry. SEVIS Fee (link to for scholars/SEVIS Fee)

I am a citizen of Canada. Do I need all those documents?

If you enter from the Western Hemisphere, you do not need to have a passport. You do not need to have a visa stamp. You will need your DS-2019, and you will receive an I-94 when entering the U.S. If you will be entering the U.S. from outside the Western Hemisphere, you will need a passport, but not a visa.

Arrival

You may arrive up to a maximum of 30 days before the begin date on the DS-2019.
If you can not arrive by the begin date, notify International Advising of your new entry date. They will adjust the information on the SEVIS system to facilitate your entry into the U.S.
Telephone: 940-565-2195
Fax: 940-565-2195
Email: dotty@isp.admin.unt.edu
After arrival, you must report to International Advising with your immigration documents and health insurance. International Advising must validate your arrival on SEVIS inside of 30 dates from your entry. If this is not done in time, SEVIS will list you as a “no show”.
Please contact the office to arrange a time.
What an exchange visitor (J-1) scholar can expect when arriving at a U.S. port of entry
http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/factsheet/100104ent_exchng_fs.htm


J Categories

The University of North Texas uses the following categories for visiting scholars (not students). Each has certain restrictions placed on them by the Department of State.

Professor
The main activity will be teaching, although there may be some research involved.
Maximum duration of participation: 3 years. Possibility of 6 month extension.
If necessary, application to Department of State can be made for a maximum of 1.5 years, to bring the total to 5 years. Approval is not guaranteed.
At the end of the program, scholar is allowed 30 additional days in the U.S., although no employment is allowed.
After ending this J program, and leaving the U.S., the scholar must be out of the J program for 12 months before returning as a J scholar.
Research Scholar
The main activity will be research, although there may be some teaching involved.
Maximum duration of participation: 3 years. Possibility of 6 month extension.
If necessary, application to Department of State can be made for a maximum of 1.5 years, to bring the total to 5 years. Approval is not guaranteed.
At the end of the program, scholar is allowed 30 additional days in the U.S., although no employment is allowed.
After ending this J program, and leaving the U.S., the scholar must be out of the J program for 12 months before returning as a J scholar.
Short Term Scholar
This category is for the scholar who will be in the U.S. for 6 months or less.
It is not possible to extend past the 6 month mark.
However, after the completion of the program, the scholar does not have to remain outside the U.S. for 12 months before returning as a J-1 scholar.

Transfers

Transfer in to UNT:
Make arrangements with your present professor, the new professor at UNT. The new professor at UNT will need to contact International Advising to request the transfer DS-2019. International Advising will contact the J-1 Responsible Officer at your present school to make arrangements for the transfer of the SEVIS file. Because of the way SEVIS works, the file will be transferred the day after you end at your present school. You will begin at UNT the day after you end at your present school. It is only then at UNT can produce your new DS-2019.

When you are in a J-1 program, you must remain in the same area of research or teaching. You must also remain in the same category, for example, a student will remain a student, a research scholar will remain a research scholar.

Transfer from UNT:
We hope that you enjoy your experience at the University of North Texas, and that your research and teaching will be successful and rewarding. However, if your academics take you elsewhere, it may be possible to transfer your J program to a new school.

If you transfer, you must remain in the same field of research or teaching. You must also remain in the same category,

The Responsible Officer at UNT will need to be in touch with the Responsible Officer at the new school to make arrangements for the SEVIS transfer. You will end your stay at UNT one day, and begin at the new school the next. The new DS-2019 can only be produced the first day the SEVIS file is at the new school.

Please consult International Advising if you are planning on transferring. You will also want to discuss the move with the professor you are working with to arrange the end of your research or teaching here.

212(e) Home Residency Requirement

Some, but not all, J-1 scholars will be subject to the 212(e) home residency requirement. If a scholar is subject to 212(e), the J-2 dependents are also subject.

212(e) requires that the scholar, and dependents, return to his home country of nationality, or last country of permanent residence, for 2 years before returning to the U.S. in H visa, L visa, or permanent residency status. It does not prevent the scholar from entering the U.S. in other statuses, such as visitor or student.

The scholar, and dependents, also will not be able to change visa status within the U.S.

The scholar may be subject to the 212(e) requirement if he is supported by government funding, or if the scholar’s research is included in the skill’s list.

The regulation concerning 212(e) can be found in 22 CFR 41.63. It can be accessed at
http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_02/22cfr41_02.html
The skills list is in a PDF document file, and can be accessed from http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges/participation/waivers.htm .


Waiver of 212(e) Requirement

Some scholars may wish to apply for a waiver of the 212(e) requirement. Information can be found on the Department of State website:
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges/participation/waivers.htm
and http://travel.state.gov/visa/tempvisitors_info_waivers.html
The regulation concerning 212(e), and the waivers of 212(e), is in 22 CFR 41.63, and can be accessed at http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_02/22cfr41_02.html


Departure

The J-1 scholar may remain in the U.S. for 30 days following the completion of the J-1 program, or the end date of the DS-2019, whichever comes first. The J-1 may not be employed during this 30 day period.

Please notify International Advising of your departure date, so that International Advising can provide this required information to SEVIS.

We hope that you have had a successful and enjoyable visit, and will take home many happy memories.

New J Regulations

SEVIS has announced that this regulation will go in to effect on Nov. 3, 2006. We expect more information on implementation to become available in November. Please check back later, or contact Dotty Horton, dotty@unt.edu with questions

J-1 Research Scholars and Professors will be eligible for 5 years in the J-1 status. The 5 years will be calendar years. They will count 5 calendar years, even if there is a break in the middle.

J’s will be subject to a 24 month bar from returning as a “repeat participant of the professor or research scholar category”.

There is also a 12 month bar that “applies to any non-immigrant and accompanying spouse or who has held F or J nonimmigrant status within the 12-month period immediately preceding the commencement of a professor or research scholar program". This was corrected by removing the “F” with a submission in the June 23, 2005 Federal Register, returning it to the regulation in effect now. 
 

The quotes here are taken from the regulation published in the Federal Register on May 19, 2005. It can be accessed at http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a050519c.html under the State Department.

As noted, this regulation will not take effect until Department of Homeland Security, SEVIS, has published the regulation implementing the technical changes necessary to facilitate the J regulation. We expect this to be fall or winter.

In addition to this new regulation, the 2 year home residency, 212(e), will still apply to some J exchange visitors. Whether a scholar and his dependents are subject to 212(e) depends on a variety of factors, including being supported by government funds, and the skills list. Information on 212(e), the skills list, and information on the waiver procedure can be found at  http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges/participation/waivers.htm .