NC STATE UNIVERSITY
The J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa for
Visiting International Researchers
Office of International Services
ois@ncsu.edu
919-515-2961
http://www.ncsu.edu/ois/faculty/training.php
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Organization and Overview
Office of International
Services
Study Abroad
International
Affairs
Global Training
Initiative
Confucius Institute
NC Japan Center
Other Units &
Programs
Global Health Initiatives
Peace Corps
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Common Acronyms and Definitions
http://www.ncsu.edu/ois/immigration/immig_docs.php
DHS – Department of Homeland Security
SEVP – Student and Exchange Visitor Program
SEVIS – Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System (centralized database)
USCIS – US Citizenship and Immigration Service
ICE – Immigration and Customs Enforcement
CBP – Customs and Border Protection
DOS – Department of State (foreign affairs, including US
consulates and embassies)
DS-2019 – host/sponsor-issued visa document for J-1
RO / ARO – Responsible Officer / Alternate
Responsible Officer (EV Program administrators)
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
J-1 Visa “Research” Options
http://www.ncsu.edu/ois/faculty/Jcategories.php
OIS
 J-1 “Scholars”
 J-1 “Student Interns”
Enrolled F-1 and J-1 students
NC State SEVIS-sponsored
International Employment
H-1B, TN, O-1, E-3
(Visitor’s – B1/B2, Visa
Waiver Program)
 Perm. Residents
Post-completion
student “trainees” (F-1
OPT and J-1 Academic
Training)
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Research
Observation
Consultation
Limited teaching
Not an “employment” visa (not suitable for
administrative, or “non-academic” positions)
Positions may be paid or unpaid (by NC State)
Requires minimum of Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent)
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
J-1 Scholar
vs.
Visitor” visa
J-1
Temporary (shares,
learns, returns home
Visitor (VWP, B-1/B-2)
Temporary (related to
employment abroad)
5 year max.
3 or 6 month max.
Consult, observe,
research, teach
Consult, observe, meet
Allows employment
Allows payments
DS-2019 from OIS
smoothes visa/entry
process
Prohibits employment
Restricts all payments
Potential visa/entry
confusion (no OIS
support)
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
J-1 Scholar
vs.
No immigrant intent
5 year max.
Low cost for dept.
Allows non-NC State funding
/ payments
Temporary research
positions
Dept. not required to pay
costs of return for early
termination
Could result in Two-year
HRR and/or 24-month bar
Affected by 24-month bar
H-1B visa
Allows dual-intent (to
immigrate)
6 year max. (3 year
increments)
Can be costly for dept.
Requires NC State
funding
Potential for permanence
Used for temporary
positions when J-1 status
not an option
Affected by Two-year HRR
Full-time internship for
short periods (2-12 months)
Must be an enrolled student
overseas (undergrad or grad)
 May be paid or unpaid
 May be on or off-campus
(through third party agreement)
Nominal Administration fee

NC STATE UNIVERSITY
J-1 “Student Intern” Category (continued)
• May begin and end anytime (not semester based)
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No credit – no tuition charges
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May live on campus (if space available)
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Access to certain student services (fee-based)
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Liability insurance included
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Can use School attestation for English proficiency
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Benefits and Advantages of the J-1 Options
Fast – supported by OIS (minimizes govt. involvement)
Low-Cost – no/minimal charge for processing DS-2019
-- no funding requirement put on department
-- no requirement for dept. to pay costs of EV’s return
home
Flexible – funding sources
-- relative ease of payments
-- allows changes in and multiple “sites of activities”
-- range of activities
-- easy to extend or transfer (within max. durations)
Supported by OIS – unlike “Visitor” visa options
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
Limitations of the J-1 Options
There are legal, administrative, and financial requirements
Cannot be used for clerical/ administrative/ support positions
Exhausted duration (six months for Short-term; 5 years for
Research Scholar; one year for Student Intern):
http://www.ncsu.edu/ois/research/categories.php
Educational or affiliation requirements
Insufficient funding
Timing, processing, denials
Home residence requirement:
• http://www.ncsu.edu/ois/research/j1home212.php
Bars of Repeat Participation:
• http://www.ncsu.edu/ois/research/1224bars.php
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
“Scholar” or “Student Intern” Eligibility
(host department answers these questions first)
http://www.ncsu.edu/ois/faculty/deptrespJ.php
Bachelor’s degree in hand?
Enrolled student overseas?
Proof of sufficient funding for self and family?
NC State faculty supervisor, resources, and space (and
support of Dept/College)?
Prospective visitor’s English language skills assessed?
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J-1 Scholar - $1,500 per month (plus additional
support for spouse and each child)
J-1 Intern - $1,250 per month (plus additional
support for spouse and each child)
Funding documentation must be in English
and US dollars or may be translated
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Translations may not be done by the scholar
Departments may use the Translator’s Certification
Form for translations completed by NCSU professors
(http://www.ncsu.edu/ois/orientation/documents
/Translatorcertification.pdf )
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
“Scholar”? Or “Student Intern”?
 Follow simple OIS guidelines for determining
eligibility and submitting a DS-2019 request:
http://www.ncsu.edu/ois/faculty/deptrespJ.php
 Begin early enough to allow time for the visa,
administrative process, and logistics (2-3 months prior
to anticipated start date)
Contact OIS with questions whenever you have them:
ois@ncsu.edu
919-515-2961
NC STATE UNIVERSITY
OIS Advising Staff: http://www.ncsu.edu/ois/oisadvisingteam.php
Name
Primarily advises students, scholars, faculty & staff in:
Thomas Greene
College of Design
College of Management
Provost
Elizabeth Behringer
College of Natural Resources
College of Humanities & Social Sciences
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering
Electrical & Computer Engineering
Operations Research
Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (including BTEC)
Civil, Construction & Environmental Engin. Computer Science
College of Physical & Mathematical Sciences
Kelia Hubbard
Nieke Ploemen-Guillory
College of Education
College of Textiles
Biological & Agricultural Engineering
Industrial & Systems Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences
College of Veterinary Medicine
Biomedical Engineering
Materials Science & Engin.
NC STATE UNIVERSITY