J-1 Scholars & Student Interns

The primary purpose of the J-1 exchange visitor program is to promote educational and cultural exchange between the United States and other countries. The exchange of professors and research scholars stimulates international collaborative teaching and research efforts and promotes the establishment of mutually beneficial relationships between institutions in the United States and those abroad.

  • Purpose: Educational and cultural exchange
  • Intent: Return home. May be subject to 212(e) home residency requirement.
  • Application: DU issues certificate of eligibility, Form DS -2019. May change status in the U.S. or apply for visa at U.S. embassy abroad.
  • Duration: 6 months to 5 years depending on the subcategory
  • Timeline: Submit request to ISSS at minimum 90 days before the program start date

 

How to Request J-1 Sponsorship for a Visitor

To receive the most accurate advice and avoid unexpected delays, departments should start a new sponsorship request as early as possible.

For visiting J-1 exchange visitors who will NOT be employed at DU, departments must request Special Community Member (SCM) status BEFORE submitting the sponsorship request in the ISSS Portal. Choose "J-1 Visiting Scholar" as the type of SCM in the request form. If a US address is required, you may use the DU departmental address. Proceed with the steps below AFTER the SCM status is approved and a DU ID is issued.
  1. Navigate to the ISSS Portal at isss.du.edu

2. Select ‘Department Access to Visiting Scholars’

3. Click Login for Department Admins'

4. Follow the instructions for submitting a sponsorship request

After a sponsorship request for a scholar or employee has been started, ISSS will first confirm the visa type required. Further instructions and the documents needed for processing are available after this stage.

If you need access to the ISSS Portal or have questions about this process, please contact ISSS at isss@du.edu.

  • Eligibility

    Scholars may only be invited to DU if they have the appropriate academic credentials and will participate in an activity that furthers educational and cultural exchange between DU and research or educational institutions in other countries.

    The proposed exchange visitor must have:

    • appropriate academic credentials to perform the proposed activity
    • adequate English language proficiency to perform the proposed activity
    • financial support, either from DU or other sources, to maintain an adequate quality of life
       

    J-1 exchange visitors cannot be hired for tenure-track positions.

  • J-1 Categories

    Research Scholar

    • Conduct research, observe, or consult. May teacher or lecture.
    • Length: 3 weeks to 5 years
       

    Professor

    • Teach, lecture, observe, or consult. May conduct research.
    • Length: 3 weeks to 5 years
       

    Short-Term Scholar

    • Conduct research, observe, consult, teach, train, or lecture.
    • Length: 1 day to 6 months
       

    Student Intern

    • An international student enrolled in a university abroad who comes to DU to intern in their major field of study.
    • Length: 1 year maximum
  • English Proficiency Verification

    A scholar must be proficient in English to perform the academic activity and function on a day-to-day-basis. English proficiency for J-1 Scholars must be evaluated by the department prior to submitting the sponsorship request in the ISSS Portal.

    The department must complete the English Proficiency Attestation Form (available in the ISSS Portal) and submit the required supporting documentation (i.e. score report, diploma).

  • Department Responsibilities

    Departments are expected to provide workspace, library and computer access, an ID card, and cross-cultural interaction between the J-1 Scholar and the department’s faculty and staff. ISSS relies on departments to refer concerns about immigration to ISSS. Departments are also required to:

    • Remind the scholar to make an appointment with ISSS upon arrival.
    • Orient the scholar to the academic unit and university resources.
    • Notify ISSS if the scholar completes their program early.
    • For J-1 Student Interns only: complete a mid-point evaluation (if internship is over 6 months) and final evaluation.

 

Incoming J-1 Scholars

  • Pay the SEVIS Fee

    You will use the SEVIS ID list on the Certificate of Eligibility to pay the I-901 SEVIS fee online at www.fmjfee.com. 

    NOTE: Citizens of Canada are still required to pay the SEVIS I-901 fee even though they do not need a apply for a US entry visa.

    You should print a copy of Form I-901 receipt which confirms payment of the SEVIS fee. You will need to bring the payment receipt with you to your visa appointment and when you enter the US.

  • Apply for the J-1 Visa

    After paying the SEVIS fee, you will need to contact a US consular office or embassy to schedule a visa appointment to obtain the J-1 visa stamp in your passport (Citizens of Canada are exempt from the visa stamp requirement).

    Scheduling practices vary among offices, so visit the specific consular post's website to learn how to make an appointment. You can also check the Visa Wait Times calculator to see how long it will take to get an appointment. 

    In general, you should allow several weeks to schedule an appointment and complete the visa application process. The US Department of State strongly recommends students apply for a visa at a consulate or embassy in their home country.

    Visa applicants typically are required to have a face-to-face interview with a consular officer. The interviews are often very short and you will not have much time to respond to the officer's questions. Here are a few resources to help you prepare for your interview:

  • Required Health Insurance

    The US Department of State requires all J-1 visa holders to maintain health insurance for themselves and for any dependents in J-2 visa status, for the entire period of the program indicated on the DS-2019.

    To meet the minimum requirements mandated by the US Department of State (listed below), ISSS requires J-1 scholars to purchase a plan from a specific list. These plans have been vetted by DU and meet J-1 requirements. No waivers will be granted for insurance plans not on this list. More information on purchasing these insurance plans is provided in the ISSS Portal. 

    Minimum Requirements

    Program participants and their dependents are required to have medical insurance coverage with the following minimum benefits.

    • Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
    • Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
    • Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
    • A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
    • Any insurance policy, plan, or contract must be underwritten by an insurance corporation with an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A-I" or above, a Standard and Poor's Claims Paying Ability rating of "A-" or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above. Alternatively, the sponsor may ascertain that the participant's policy is backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country.
  • Entry to the US & Report to ISSS

    Once you have your visa, you can travel to the US and request to enter at a Port of Entry. J-1 scholars cannot enter the US more than 30 days before the program start date printed on their Form DS-2019. 

    Be prepared to present the following documents at the Port of Entry:

    • Passport
    • US visa stamp (unless visa exempt)
    • Original Form DS-2019
    • I-901 SEVIS fee receipt printout
    • Proof of University of Denver affiliation (DU job offer letter, invitation letter, etc)
    • Financial documentation used to obtain DS-2019
    • Customs Declaration Form (this will be issued to you on the airplane by a flight attendant)

    It is very important that you keep these documents in a secure location while traveling, such as your personal or carry-on bag. Do not place any personal documents in your checked luggage.

    Required ISSS Check-In

    Notify ISSS if you will not arrive by the program begin date listed on your DS-2019. ISSS is required to report your arrival within 30 days of the program begin date on Form DS-2019 or modify the program start date.

    You must report to ISSS with your immigration documents soon after you arrive. ISSS is required to validate your J-1 SEVIS record within 30 days of arrival. ISSS staff will contact you a few weeks before your arrival to schedule your immigration check-in/orientation.  

  • Dependents

    A J-2 dependent can be a spouse or a child under the age of 21. 

    J-2 dependents can enter the US with their J-1 spouse/parent. J-2 dependents may also enter the US after their J-1 spouse/parent is already in the US in J-1 status.

    J-2 dependents are permitted to stay in the US as long as the J-1 is in the U.S. If the J-1 is approved for an extension of their program, the status of the dependents is automatically extended.

    • You must report if your J-2 dependents leave the US and do not intend to return in J-2 status.

    Benefits of J-2 status:

    • Spouses of J-1 exchange visitors in J-2 status may apply for work authorization using form I-765: https://www.uscis.gov/i-765.
    • Dependents may also engage in study while in the United States.

 

Current J-1 Scholars

  • Reporting Requirements

    J-1 scholars must report changes in US address and phone number to ISSS within 10 days of the change. Report these changes by emailing isss@du.edu.

    J-1 Student Interns must complete a mid-term evaluation (if the internship is longer than 6 months) and a final evaluation at the completion of the internship.

  • Travel

    J-1 scholars may travel outside of the US during their program. If the time spent outside of the US will be more than 1 month, you must submit the EV Out of Country request in the ISSS Portal before you travel.

    When re-entering the US, be prepared to present the following documents at the Port of Entry:

    • Passport
    • US visa stamp (unless visa exempt)
    • Original Form DS-2019 with valid travel signature from ISSS
    • I-901 SEVIS fee receipt printout
    • Proof of University of Denver affiliation (DU job offer letter, invitation letter, etc)
    • Financial documentation used to obtain DS-2019
    • Customs Declaration Form (this will be issued to you on the airplane by a flight attendant)

    It is very important that you keep these documents in a secure location while traveling, such as your personal or carry-on bag. Do not place any personal documents in your checked luggage.

  • Extension

    If you and your host department need to request an extension of your J-1 status, the department must submit an extension request in the ISSS Portal at least 5 business days before your DS-2019 end date. Once the DS-2019 end date has passed, ISSS cannot extend.

    J-1 exchange visitors in the categories of Research Scholars and Professors are eligible for a maximum of 5 years in J-1 status.

    J-1 exchange visitors in the category of Short-Term Scholar are eligible for a maximum of 6 months in J-1 status.

  • Early Departure

    Please notify your host department and ISSS if you or any of your J-2 dependents leave the US permanently before the program end date listed on the DS-2019.

General Forms