Welcome to UGA!
J-1 Scholar Orientation
International Student, Scholar, & Immigration Services
Sylvia Schell
Assistant Director
What is a J-1 Exchange Visitor
 A foreign national temporarily in the U.S. under the
U.S. Department of State
 Purpose: Educational and Cultural Exchange
(Not employment, although incidental employment is ok)
 Expectation: Return to home country at end of
program
J-1 Categories at UGA
 Student
 Student Intern
 Professor
 Specialist
 Research Scholar
 Short-Term Scholar
Each category has its own rules and
regulations.
*Changes of category require approval from DOS and are rarely granted.
Common Acronyms






CBP:
DHS:
DOS:
EV:
ICE:
SEVIS:
 USCIS:
Customs and Border Protection
Department of Homeland Security
Department of State
Exchange Visitor (J-1)
Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Student and Exchange Visitor Information
System
United States Citizenship and Immigration
Services
Step 1: Check-In with ISSIS
 All exchange visitors & J-2 dependents are
required to check in with ISSIS after arriving in
the U.S. Validation of the SEVIS record will only
occur after check-in is completed.






J-1 & J-2 Visa
Passport
Printed I-94
DS-2019
Proof of Health Insurance
Pay ISCF Fee
Step 2: Check In with UGA
Departments











Check in with your Academic Department
Obtain UGA ID Card at UGA Card Office
Obtain UGA MyID. https://myid.uga.edu
If you receive payment or funding from UGA, Contact Susan
Caldwell susanc@uga.edu
Complete New Employee Orientation
Sign Up for Health Insurance
Parking Permit with Parking Services
Post Doc Association: Contact Jessica Hawks - jhawks@uga.edu
or opa@uga.edu
Open Bank Account
Obtain Social Security Number & Driver’s License
Check out ‘New to Campus’ at newtocampus.uga.edu
International Scholar &
Compliance Fee: ISCF
 Unrelated to the I-901 SEVIS fee paid to the U.S.
Government to obtain your visa, UGA has an ISCF that
must be paid to OIE upon arrival:
 This fee is:
 $50 for a stay of 6 months or less
 $100 for 6 months to a year & each year thereafter
 The fee can be paid by check or money order payable to
“UGA/OIE.”
SEVIS
 Student Exchange Visitor Information System
 The internet-based system streamlines reporting and
record keeping within the Department of Homeland
Security & Department of State
 SEVIS ID number is assigned to all exchange visitors
and their dependents within SEVIS that appears on
the Form DS-2019
Certificate of Eligibility
DS-2019
 Generated by your Program
Sponsor via SEVIS
 Shows you have been
accepted to participate in an
exchange visitor program
designated by the U.S.
Department of State
 Determines what date you are
allowed to enter the U.S. and
what date you should depart
the U.S.
 Should remain valid at all times
I-94: Admission Document
 New Process!
 Printed from cbp.gov/i94
 “Determining” document:

Determines status in which
visitor is granted entry to the

U.S., and the duration of that
status
 “D/S”=Duration of Status
 You will print a new I-94 each time you enter the U.S.
Visa
 Visa is placed in an individual’s passport and allows the
person to travel to a U.S. port of entry and request
permission to enter the U.S. Inspecting Officer will
determine eligibility for entry into the U.S.
 Obtaining a visa does not guarantee entry into the U.S.
 Used for entry purposes only
 Does not need to be valid to remain in the U.S.
 Ok if it expires in U.S.
 Does not determine legal status in U.S.
 Must be obtained OUTSIDE the U.S.
Passport
 Official identification while in the
U.S.
 Name in passport should be the
same on all immigration
documents
 Should always have at least 6
months of validity
Maintaining J Status
 Comply with Health Insurance Requirements for self
& dependents
 Check-In with ISSIS- SEVIS Record is Validated
 Attend ISSIS Orientation
 Depart from US in a timely manner
 Engage ONLY in activities listed on DS-2019
Maintaining Status (Cont…)
 No Unauthorized Employment
 Comply with all Local, State, and Federal Laws
 Keep Passport current for at least 6 months in the
future
 Report Address Changes within 10 days of the move
date
 File timely & appropriate transfers & extensions
Program Termination
 Exchange visitors who fail to comply with the J-1
regulations are subject to termination from their J-1
program
 Reasons for termination can include:
1. Failure to conduct the activities listed on the DS-2019
2. Violation of the regulations of the exchange visitor program
and/or rules of The University of Georgia
3. Willful failure to maintain the mandatory exchange visitor and
dependent (if applicable) insurance coverage requirements,
and;
4. Engagement in unauthorized employment
J1/J2 Health Insurance
 The U.S. Department of State requires all J-1 exchange visitors and
their J-2 dependents to purchase and maintain medical health
insurance coverage while in the United States including medical
evacuation & repatriation insurance. It mandatory!
 Minimum insurance requirements are:
 Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness;
 Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500;
 Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange
visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $10,000; and
 A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness
Transfers
 Exchange visitors may continue their program objective under the
sponsorship of another authorized sponsor in the U.S. by having their SEVIS record
transferred to the new program sponsor.


 Requirements for transfer of program include:
Program sponsor is approved by Department of State (DOS) to sponsor the same J
Exchange Visitor category
 Program objective/activity remains unchanged
Period of program will not exceed maximum DOS established period; and J Exchange
Visitor checks in with new sponsor immediately following transfer date
 Proof of acceptance to new sponsor is required before transferring
 Further information concerning a transfer of program can be found:
J1 Exchange Visitor Transfer Out Request Form
Departure Form
 As you finish your stay at the University of Georgia, we ask you
to take a few moments to complete a departure form. The
information gathered here will allow us to update your record in
a timely manner.
 The Notice of Departure form is located on our website:
J1 Exchange Visitor Departure Form
J1 Travel
For re-entry into the United States, the
exchange visitor needs:
 Valid DS-2019
 Valid travel signature (every year if traveling)
 Valid passport
 Valid visa (if subject to the requirement)
Temporary Absences – contact OIE before leaving
U.S. for extended period of time
* YOU WILL RECEIVE A NEW I-94 NUMBER EACH TIME YOU ENTER
THE U.S., and can print your I-94 record at www.cbp.gov/i94*
Extension of Stay
 Extensions are obtained for exchange visitors through the
sponsoring department. Proper paperwork must be submitted to
ISSIS 30 days before the end date of the J program
 A professor or research scholar can be sponsored by UGA for a
maximum period of five years
 A short-term scholar program is limited to 6 months in duration.
NO extensions granted
 A specialist is limited to 1 year in duration. No extension granted
 Your department will be required to initiate the extension request at
Departmental Information for Hiring or Hosting a J-1 Exchange Visitor
Two-Year Home Country Residence
Requirement
 Requires a J-1 exchange visitor (EV) to return home for two years after
completing a J-1 program, or be granted a waiver through DOS before
changing status to an H, L or immigrant status
 An EV is subject if one or more of the following are true:
1. His/her program is financed directly or indirectly by U.S. government,
the EV’s own government, or an international organization
2. The EV’s home country has deemed his/her field of research or skill
necessary to the development of that country, as shown on the
Exchange Visitor Skills List
3. The EV has come to the U.S. to receive graduate medical education or
training
 J-1 “subjectivity” may be notated on J-1 visa stamp and/or DS-2019
 Waivers must be filed directly by the J-1 to the DOS. ISSIS does not assist
(conflict of interest)
12-Month Bar
 A visiting scholar is not eligible to begin an exchange program as a Professor
or Research Scholar based on a DS2019 issued “to begin a new program” if
he or she was physically present in ‘any’ J status (including J-2) for “all or
part of” the “twelve month period immediately preceding the date of
program commencement set forth on his or her Form DS2019.”
 If in the U.S. for less than 6 months OR as a short-term scholar, this does not
apply
 Example:
 EV was a Research Scholar at UGA from 1/1/2013 – 8/1/2013 (7 months). EV is not
eligible to return to UGA on another J-1 Research Scholar program until 08/01/2014
(12 months after end of 1st program). EV could come back earlier as a Short-Term
Scholar
24 Month Bar
Repeat Participation As A Professor or Research Scholar
 If the Professor or Research Scholar completes a full five years of program
participation with one or more sponsors; or If, before the full five-year period is over,
the Professor or Research Scholar completes his or her program. In this case, the
continuity of the five-year period is broken, the five-year window is "closed," the
individual is not eligible to access the remaining unused time, and the individual must
wait for two years before beginning a new program as a J Professor or Research
Scholar.
 Must wait two years before holding the Professor or Research Scholar category again
 Could possibly come back earlier as Short-Term Scholar
 This rule is separate from and in addition to the:
 12 month bar
 2 Year Home Residency Requirement
 Example:
 EV completes Research Scholar program at UGA on 6/1/2013 and returns home. EV must wait
until 6/1/2015 before returning to UGA as a Research Scholar. Could come back earlier as
Short-term Scholar, as long as 12-month bar met.
J-2 Dependents
 Exchange visitors with family members (spouse and/or children under the age of 21)
may be eligible to have those family members accompany them during their stay
 Dependents of J Exchange Visitors are granted J-2 status and are required to have a
separate Form DS-2019 issued in order to apply for a J2 visa stamp
 Dependents are required to carry health insurance meeting specific requirements as
outlined in the insurance information.
 Minor J2 dependents are allowed to attend kindergarten through high school. Adult
J-2 dependents can study full or part-time
 Dependents are subject to the Two Year Home Residency Requirement – 212(e)
along with the J-1
 Dependents are eligible to apply for work authorization once they arrive in the U.S.
by filing an I-765 with the USCIS. Information can be found at: http://www.uscis.gov
under immigration forms.
Social Security
 UGA Scholars who are actively employed on campus are eligible to apply for
a social security number
 The Social Security number is used by the U.S. Government to identify wage
earners for tax purposes
 To apply for a social security number, you need the following:






Valid passport
DS-2019
Printed I-94 record
Letter of offer/invitation from department
Mailing address: 1650 Prince Avenue, Athens, GA 30606-6027,
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., Monday – Friday
 For additional information go to www.ssa.gov
1-800-772-1213
Driver’s License
 You can use your unexpired international driver’s license to drive in the U.S.
for the first 12 months
 To apply for a Georgia Driver License, you need the following
 Social Security card (or denial letter from social security office if you are not eligible
for a card)
 Passport
 Printed I-94 card Record
 DS-2019 (Eligibility of Certificate)
 Proof of residence in the state of Georgia such as:
 Bank Statement showing your Georgia address
 Current Lease agreement
 Employer verification
 Current utility bill (i.e. water, electricity or gas)
 For more information, please contact GDDS at http://www.dds.ga.gov
Payroll & Taxes
Susan Caldwell
susanc@uga.edu
Payroll Department
Room 204 Business Services Building
706-583-8193 fax:542-6779
Website:
www.busfin.uga.edu/payroll/itc
J Scholar Listserv
 This listserv is for scholars and UGA departmental faculty
and staff.
 Updated immigration and general information is sent out
as needed.
 If you are not getting messages please email
issis@uga.edu and asked to be added to the Scholar
Listserv!
Walk-In Hours
Tuesday 2 pm – 4 pm
Wednesday 2 pm – 4 pm
Thursday 9 am – 11 am
Compliance Unit- J-1 Exchange Visitor
Program Office
Compliance Unit
Office of Exchange Coordination and Designation
Bureau of Educational and Cultural Exchanges
U.S. Department of State
301 4th Street, S.W., Room 734
Washington, D.C. 20547
Fax 202 203-5087
http://j1visa.state.gov/
JVisas@State.gov
Contact OIE/ISSIS
Office of International Education
International Student Scholar & Immigration Services
1324 South Lumpkin Street
Athens, GA 30602
Phone: (706) 542-2900
Fax: (706) 583-0123
issis@uga.edu
http://www.international.uga.edu/
Questions?