IFSS Tuesday Trainings

J-1 Categories

Tuesday April 30th, 2013

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

Today’s Topics

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

Features Common Among All Four J-1 Categories

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 Research Scholars

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 Professors

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

J-1 Short-Term Scholars

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: B Visa

Status

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)

Alternatives to the J-1 Short-Term Scholar Category: Visa Waiver

Program

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-1 Specialists

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

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: Work

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

J-2 Dependents: Study

Contact Information:

Kim Maday: Program Coordinator kmaday@ohr.wisc.edu 608-265-5114

Ryan Redmer: Assistant Program Coordinator rredmer@ohr.wisc.edu 608-262-3259

Nat Olson: Student Assistant ischolars@ohr.wisc.edu

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