J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa for Non-Degree Personnel
The primary purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program is to foster the exchange of ideas between the United States and other countries and to stimulate international collaborative teaching and research efforts.
Applying for J-1 status is a fairly simple process, but has certain limitations which must be considered when bringing foreign nationals to Brandeis University.
The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is appropriate for Lecturers, Visiting Faculty, Non-Tenure Track Professors, and Researchers typically coming to the U.S. for appointments of five years or less. J-1 status is not appropriate for tenure-track positions or staff positions at Brandeis.
To be eligible for J-1 status the foreign national must not have not been in J-1 status within the previous 24 months, except if they are transferring directly from another J-1 program. The J-1 Exchange Visitor will only be eligible for a transfer to Brandeis University if they are continuing with their original program objective.
If a foreign national is already in the U.S. in J-1 status in the Professor or Research Scholar categories, the time spent at another institution must be deducted from the five-year maximum.
Foreign nationals already in the U.S. in J-1 Exchange Visitor status but in another category, such as J-1 Student, are not normally eligible to change to a different category (such as Professor or Research Scholar category) within the U.S. – they would be required to leave the U.S. to process this change of category.
Additional information on the Exchange Visitor Program is available on the U.S. Department of State website.
All ECA exchange programs are expected to comply with category regulations of 22 CFR Part 62 as explained in this Guidance Directive and, as of July 1, return to predominantly in-person program activities.
The application process for J-1 Exchange Visitor status for non-degree personnel at Brandeis University is coordinated by the ISSO.
If the scholar's appointment is for 6 months or less, the ISSO will issue a Form DS-2019 for a Short-Term Scholar (STS) category. That category offers no possibility of extending beyond 6 months, but those offered an appointment for 6 months or less are permitted to apply for a J-1 status either as an STS with no wait to participate again in that category or Research Scholar (RS) category while facing a 24-month bar on repeat participation. Please e-mail scholars@brandeis.edu if your appointment is for 6 months or less but you prefer the RS category.
If the scholar's appointment is for more than 6 months, the ISSO will issue a Form DS-2019 for a Research Scholar (RS) category. That category permits extensions for up to 5 years, but once the program ends even if less than 5 years, an individual must wait 24 months before returning to the RS category. They are, however, permitted to use the STS category during the wait time.
If you have any questions about J-1 Exchange Visitor status, please contact the ISSO at 781-736-3480 or scholars@brandeis.edu.