Training Guide for Inviting J-1
Exchange Visitors (Scholars)
The entire Exchange Visitor Application Process must begin at least 2-3
month prior to the Visitor’s Start Date. DO NOT SUBMIT A VISITOR’S
RECORD IN ISD FOR A PROGRAM THAT BEGINS LESS THAN EIGHT
WEEKS IF THE VISITOR IS OUTSIDE THE US.
An ISD Training Guide is available on our website at
www.temple.edu/isss/international/index.html
If you need assistance logging into ISD, contact Sharon Loughran in ISSS at sharonl@temple.edu
Begin the Process by Adding the Scholar to ISD
Invite the Scholar to complete her/his sections in ISD through the
Tasks Tab by clicking on “Invite Visitor”. If the Scholar is locked out
of ISD, you can reset her/his password on the Tasks tab by clicking
on “Edit Visitor Login and Permissions.”
Determine the Temple University Title The J-1 Scholar Will Hold
How will you bring in this person?
Postdoctoral Fellow? Visiting Research Scholar? www.temple.edu/grad/pfo/index.html
Non Tenure-Track or Adjunct Faculty? www.temple.edu/vpfaculty/
Decide Start and End Dates
Next, before you do anything else, discuss the dates that the scholar would like to come to
the US with the scholar and the Faculty Mentor. Do not assume anything. Be very sure of the
dates before you move forward. Determine the J-1 program dates with the visitor before s/he
purchases the insurance.
Add the start and end date in ISD
Decide the J-1 Category (NOT the TU Title)
You will need to know the scholar’s long term plans….will s/he be in the US for six months or less
and then return home with no plans to return to Temple? Does s/he plan on being here for more
than six months? Will s/he come to Temple intermittently?
Note that a scholar who enters the US for any length of time in the Professor or Research
Scholar category is prohibited from returning to the US in the J Professor or Research
Scholar category for a period of two years once her/his J Program closes. The five-year
period is a "continuous" period given to a participant on a "use or lose" basis.
Categories:
 Professor (3-week minimum, 5-year maximum / subject to 24 month bar) – teaching,
observing, lecturing)
 Research Scholar (3-week minimum, 5-year maximum / subject to 24 month bar) -conducting research, observing, or consulting
 Short-term Scholar ( 6-month maximum per J-1 program objective, but not subject to 24month bar) – lecturing, conducting research, observing, or consulting
 Specialist (3-week minimum, 1 year maximum but not subject to 24-month bar) -observing, consulting, or demonstrating his/her highly specialized knowledge or skills
When you know which category you want, indicate it on the Appointment Tab in ISD
Determine Level of Patient Care
[22 C.F.R. § 62.27(c)(1)(ii)]
Temple University does NOT sponsor J visas for clinical programs of graduate medical education
or training, or for other programs that require direct clinical patient care or contact (e.g.,
veterinary medicine, nursing, dentistry, psychological counseling or speech therapy). For questions
regarding J-1 visas for clinical training programs sponsored through the Educational Commission
for Foreign Medical Graduates, contact ECFMG at www.ecfmg.org
Indicate Whether or Not the Scholar Will Have Any Patient Contact At All on the
Appointment Tab by Typing “Incidental Patient Contact” or “No Patient Contact”
Incidental Patient Contact
If the Scholar will have any Patient Contact whatsoever, you will need to upload to ISD a memo on
the Department’s Letterhead signed by the Dean of the Medical School or the Dean's designee
using the following text verbatim:
"(A) The program in which [name of physician] will participate is predominantly involved with
observation, consultation, teaching, or research.
(B) Any incidental patient contact involving the alien physician will be under the direct supervision
of a physician who is a U.S. citizen or resident alien and who is licensed to practice medicine in the
state of ______.
(C) The alien physician will not be given final responsibility for the diagnosis and treatment of
patients.
(D) Any activities of the alien physician will conform fully with state licensing requirements and
regulations for medical and health care professionals in the state in which the alien physician is
pursuing the program.
(E) Any experience gained in this program will not be creditable toward any clinical requirements
for medical specialty board certification."
No Patient Contact
If the Visitor will have absolutely NO Patient Contact at all, please indicate “No Patient Contact” on
the Appointment Tab. No Patient Contact Activity means that the program in which visitor will be
engaged is solely for the purpose of observation, consultation, teaching, or research and that no
element of patient care services is involved.
Upload Remaining Items
1. You must upload a Signed Departmental Declaration Form for every J-1 Scholar that
you submit to ISSS in ISD
www.temple.edu/isss/international/documentsneededforjscholars.htm
2. If your Scholar will be Non Tenure Track or Adjunct Faculty, you must upload a
properly-issued and signed Appointment Letter to ISD. Do not upload the letter for
Visiting Research Scholars or Postdoctoral Fellows, you do not need to upload the
Appointment Letter as the Postdoctoral Affairs Office will send a signed appointment letter
to ISSS.
3. If you want ISSS to express the DS-2019 when it is ready, you must upload a UPS
Airway Bill in PDF format to ISD. If no airway bill is uploaded, your department will need to
pick up the DS-2019 when you are notified by email that it is ready. You will delay the
mailing of your scholar’s DS-2019 Form if you do not upload the UPS airway bill into
ISD before you submit the scholar’s ISD record to ISSS. In order to be most efficient
in the DS-2019 process, include the UPS airway bill before ISSS receives the ISD
record.
Remind The J-1 Scholar To Upload Required Documents To ISD
Health Insurance
Decide the J-1 program dates with the visitor before s/he purchases the insurance. Make
certain that the insurance dates match the appointment letter dates. If the dates do not match, you
and the scholar must determine if either s/he will change insurance dates or if you will change the
dates on the appointment letter. Once you have decided, make the necessary changes and upload
the correct health insurance to ISD.
If dependents will arrive after the scholar, insurance may be purchased for them closer to their
arrival in the US. No DS-2019 Form for a dependent will be issued until ISSS has received
sufficient health insurance for each dependent.
Visiting Research Scholars must purchase full health insurance which meets US Department of
State Criteria.
Program participants and their dependents are required to have medical insurance coverage FOR
THE DURATION OF THEIR PROGRAM with the following minimum benefits [22 CFR 62.14].
 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
 A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
 An insurance policy secured to meet the benefits requirements 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, your
government may submit a statement verifying that they fully support your insurance policy.
Names of suggested insurance companies are available online at
www.temple.edu/isss/general/insurance-companies.html
Visiting Research Scholars do not need to purchase Medical Evacuation and Repatriation
separately as these two items are included in the insurance policies of the companies listed on
our website (like PSI, TaiAn International Health Insurance, etc)
If your visitor has insurance coverage from a company not listed on our website, the visitor
must upload an Insurance Compliance Form to ISD.THE VISITOR SHOULD NOT COMPLETE
THIS FORM – IT MUST BE COMPLETED BY AN INSURANCE COMPANY OFFICIAL. This form
can be downloaded from www.temple.edu/isss/general/health-j-scholar.html
Postdoctoral Fellows and TU-Appointed Faculty ONLY need to purchase medical evacuation
and repatriation insurance such as Medex Plus Scholastic, International SOS or Basic Emergency
Travel Assistance. . Visit our website for links to these companies at
www.temple.edu/isss/general/health-j-scholar.html
Funding Documents
If Temple will not pay the J-1 Scholar, s/he must upload sufficient funding in English for the
ENTIRE length of time listed on the Appointment Letter. The visitor must be able to document
a minimum of $21,000 per year as well as $4,000 for a J-2 spouse and $2,500 per J-2 child.
Bank Statements In Applicant’s Name
 Most recent 3–4 Months in English of recent bank statements (per account) on bank letterhead
 Must demonstrate that funds would be readily available to meet applicant’s expenses (money
cannot be frozen - must be “liquid”
Bank Statements In Sponsor’s Name And Letter of Support
 Most recent 3–4 Months in English of recent bank statements (per account) on bank letterhead
 Sponsor must write a letter explaining relation to applicant and declaring support for applicant
while s/he is participating in a program in the US
Funding from a University Abroad
 Letter from institution stating amount and terms of stipend/salary on University letterhead and
signed by a University Official indicating that applicant will be participating in a Program at
Temple University
Scholarship from a Company or Institution
 Most recent 3–4 Months in English of Company’s recent bank statements (per account) on
bank letterhead
 Must include a statement from a company employee, not related to the applicant, indicating the
amount of funds that have been set aside for scholarship and the specific details of what
expenses will be paid by the scholarship
 Must indicate that applicant will be participating in a Program at Temple University
Scholarship from a Government
 Applicant must attach a clear copy of the formal award letter from the government to
her/his record in ISD
 Letter should clearly state stipend/salary and any covered expenses, including living
expenses, health insurance, etc.
 Must be dated within 3 months
 Must indicate that applicant will be participating in a Program at Temple University
Immigration Documents
The visitor must upload the following items to ISD:
 Copy of J-1 Exchange Visitor’s passport photo page
 Copies of all previously-issued immigration documents (issued by the U.S. Gov’t ONLY);
 Copies of J-2 dependents' passport photo pages
Additional Items That Must Be Uploaded to ISD
Signed Applicant Statement
www.temple.edu/isss/international/documentsneededforjscholars.htm
2. Recent CV/Resume
3. Copies of original diplomas
4. English translations if diplomas are not in English
1.