Transcript IFSS Tuesday Trainings

J-1 Categories
Tuesday April 30th, 2013
Today’s Topics

 J-1 Categories Handled by IFSS
 J-1 Research Scholar
 J-1 Professor
 J-1 Short-Term Scholar
 Non J-1 alternatives to J-1 Short-Term Scholar Status
 J-1 Specialist
 J-2 Dependents
 Work
 Study
Features Common Among All Four
J-1 Categories

 Must be appointed to either an Academic Staff or
Employee-in-Training title
 Can hold either paid or unpaid appointments
 Minimum Educational Attainment: Bachelor’s
Degree
 Cannot be enrolled as a degree seeking student at
UW-Madison
 May or may not be subject to the Two-Year Home
Residency Requirement
 Subject to mandatory J-1 health insurance
requirements
J-1 Research Scholars

 Most commonly used J-1 category
 Purpose: For J-1 Exchange Visitors engaging
primarily in research
 Minimum Program Length: 3 Weeks
 Maximum Program Length: 5 Years
 Subject to the 24 Month Bar on Repeat Participation
 Have the option to switch to the J-1 Professor
category
J-1 Professors

 Purpose: For J-1 Exchange Visitors engaged
primarily in lecturing
 Minimum Program Length: 3 Weeks
 Maximum Program Length: 5 Years
 Subject to the 24 Month Bar on Repeat Participation
 Have the option to switch to the J-1 Research Scholar
category
J-1 Short-Term Scholars

 Purpose: For short-term J-1 Exchange Visitors
engaging in either research or lecturing
 Minimum Program Length: 1 Day
 Maximum Program Length: 6 Months
 Is not subject to the 24 Month Bar on Repeat
Participation
 Not eligible to receive a Driver’s License
Alternatives to the J-1 Short-Term
Scholar Category: B Visa Status

 Length of stay determined by purpose of the visit
 Typically, no longer than 6 months
 Invitation letter need from department hosting the
visitor
 Cannot be an employee of the university
 Cannot be paid a salary
 Travel expenses can be reimbursed
 Can receive an Honorarium
Alternatives to the J-1 Short-Term Scholar
Category: Visa Waiver Program

 Allows citizens of participating countries to travel to
the U.S. without a visa for trips of 90 days or less.
 There are currently 37 participating countries
 Participants cannot be paid a salary or take classes in
the U.S.
 Travel expenses can be reimbursed
 Can receive an Honorarium
 Must have authorization through the Electronic
System for Travel Authorization (ESTA)
J-1 Specialists

 Purpose: For highly specialized J-1 Exchange
Visitors whose purpose is not served by any other J-1
categories
 In practice, this has been interpreted that a J-1
Specialist can only be granted if there is no one else in
the U.S. qualified in their field of study
 Maximum Program Length: 1 year
 In rare cases, a J-1 Specialist can obtain an additional
year’s extension
 Application of 24 Month Bar is dependent upon
length of stay
J-2 Dependents

 The Department of State narrowly defines who can
hold J-2 dependent status:
 Legally wed spouse of a J-1 Exchange Visitor
 An unmarried child, under the age of 21, of a J-1
Exchange Visitor
 J-2 Dependents are derivatively subject to many of
the same regulations & restrictions as the J-1
 Two-Year Home Residency Requirement
 24 Month Bar on Repeat Participation
 Must be compliant with mandatory health insurance
requirements
J-2 Dependents: Work

 J-2 Dependents are allowed to apply for an
Employment Authorization Document (E.A.D. Card)
 Can only apply after they have arrived in the U.S.
 Takes approximately 90 days to obtain
 Must show proof that purpose of work is primarily for
the J-2’s benefit
 IFSS requires all J-2 dependents working with the
university, whether paid or unpaid, to obtain an
E.A.D. Card
 If a J-2 dependent is receiving outside funding for
work being done at UW-Madison, they must change
to J-1 immigration status
J-2 Dependents: Study

 J-2 Dependents are allowed to enroll in class and
seek a degree while in the United States
 Please note:
 A J-2 dependent’s status is only valid for as long as the
J-1’s status is
 J-2 must be sure that they will complete their study
before the end of their J-1’s program
 IFSS will not extend a J-1 exchange visitor’s program so
a J-2 dependent can obtain their degree
Contact Us!

 Contact Information:
 Kim Maday: Program Coordinator
 [email protected]
 608-265-5114
 Ryan Redmer: Assistant Program Coordinator
 [email protected]
 608-262-3259
 Nat Olson: Student Assistant
 [email protected]