International Education Center
Campus Box 49
Milledgeville, GA 31061
Tel: 478-445-4789  Fax: 478-445-2623
J VISA EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM
Introduction to the Exchange Visitor Program
The purpose of the J Visa Exchange Visitor Program is to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange. The Exchange
Visitor Program is administered by the U.S. Department of State and provides foreign nationals opportunities to participate in exchange programs in the United States exposing them to American society, culture and institutions, with the expectation that on completion of their exchange program, they will return home to share their experiences. Georgia College has been approved by the Department of State to sponsor Exchange
Visitors and can bring qualified professors, research scholars, short-terms scholars and students to campus for educational and cultural exchange activities.
Exchange Visitor Categories
Georgia College is approved to host professors and scholars under the following Exchange Visitor categories:

Professor: An individual primarily teaching, lecturing, observing, or consulting at post-secondary accredited educational institutions, museums, libraries, or similar types of institutions. A professor may also conduct research, unless disallowed by the sponsor. Has a minimum stay of three weeks and a maximum stay of up to five years.

Research Scholar: An individual primarily conducting research, observing, or consulting in connection with a research project at research institutions, corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited educational institutions, or similar types of institutions. The research scholar may also teach or lecture, unless disallowed by the sponsor. Has a minimum stay of three weeks and a maximum stay of five years.

Short-term Scholar: A professor, research scholar, specialist, or a person with similar education or accomplishments coming to the United States on a short-term visit for the purpose of lecturing, observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills at research institutions, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited educational institutions, or similar types of institutions. No minimum stay; the maximum duration of stay is limited to six months.
Eligibility
Georgia College must certify that the Exchange Visitor meets the following conditions [22 C.F.R. §
62.12(b)]:

Is eligible, qualified, and accepted for the program in which he or she will be participating

Has English language skills necessary to complete the program which may include a period of language study

Possesses adequate financial resources to complete his or her program and to support any accompanying dependents

For Professors and Research Scholars:

Is not a candidate for a tenure track position

Has not been physically present in the United States in J status for 6 months or more during the immediately preceding 12 months before the program start date

Is not subject to repeat participation [Exchange Visitors who participated in a program as a Professor or Research Scholar are not eligible for participation in a new program for a period of two years following the end date of such program participation.]
Procedures to Invite and Host an Exchange Visitor at Georgia College

A department requesting to invite an Exchange Visitor (professor, research scholar or short-term scholar) needs to submit the following documents to the International Education Center: o Visiting Faculty / Researcher “To-Do” Check List o Exchange Visitor DS-2019 Request Form o Invitation Letter from Chair or Dean stating terms of visit o Resume of Exchange Visitor o Photocopy of Exchange Visitor’s Passport (biographical page) o Photocopies of Exchange Visitor’s immigration documents from any previous stay in the US in J-1 visa status (if applicable) o Documentation of Financial Support o Official Transcripts showing degrees earned (if teaching classes)

International Education Center reviews documents and issues the DS-2019 form

International Education Center mails the DS-2019, letter of invitation and other pre-arrival information to
Exchange Visitor

Exchange visitor pays SEVIS fee and applies for J-1 visa at US embassy/consulate

Dean and Chair arrange for salary/stipend and submit all required employment paperwork to HR and
Payroll (if Exchange Visitor will be paid)

Faculty sponsor remains in communication with Exchange Visitor, assists with arranging housing, teaching/research activities, arrival plans

Faculty sponsor notifies International Center of arrival date of Exchange Visitor and assists with scheduling orientation for Exchange Visitor with the International Center

International Center staff meet with Exchange Visitor after arrival to campus and provide orientation
(immigration regulations, campus international programs, etc.); review and photocopy immigration documents (passport, visa, I-94, DS-2019), confirm local address, enroll Exchange Visitor in insurance plan (EV is responsible for paying premium unless department pays); register Exchange Visitor in
SEVIS, issue letter for Social Security Administration (if necessary)

Roles and Responsibilities During Exchange Visitor’s Stay at Georgia College

Exchange Visitor Responsibilities o Notify sponsoring department or International Center of arrival date to the U.S. and campus o Report to the International Education Center upon arrival to campus for a mandatory orientation o Must enroll in a health insurance plan that meets minimum requirements of the Exchange
Visitor program o Report any change of address in the United States to the International Education Center within 10 days o Must follow Exchange Visitor Program regulations o Must not engage in employment off-campus unless authorized by International Center

Sponsoring Department Responsibilities o Arrange for salary and submit all paperwork to Human Resources to hire the Exchange
Visitor (if applicable) o Assist Exchange Visitor with finding appropriate housing and getting settled into life in
Milledgeville o Notify the International Center of EV’s arrival date and make arrangements to pick the EV up from the airport o Ensure EV reports to the International Center upon arrival o Provide an orientation regarding teaching responsibilities and/or research activities o Make arrangements to ensure EV has access to the library and other campus resources o Provide opportunities for EV to meet other colleagues in the department, to participate in academic programs and to share expertise and cultural background with the campus

International Center Role o Issue DS-2019 form o Provide information regarding immigration status, U.S. American culture and cross-cultural programs o Report information to US Department of Homeland Security via SEVIS regarding EV’s program and status as required by law o Sign the EV’s DS-2019 form to facilitate travel outside the U.S. during the program o Assist with enrollment in health insurance plan
Mandatory Health Insurance Coverage
Exchange Visitors are required to have adequate health insurance coverage during the length of the exchange program. Department of State regulations require the following minimum coverage [22 C.F.R. § 62.14(a)]:
(1) Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness;
(2) Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500;
(3) Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $10,000; and
(4) A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
Exchange Visitors may enroll in the University System of Georgia mandatory graduate student health insurance plan to meet this requirement. If the EV will be enrolled in a USG health insurance plan for faculty/staff, the EV must still purchase additional coverage to meet the medical evacuation and repatriation of remains minimum requirement.

Dependents
Exchange Visitors planning to bring their dependants with them to the United States should inform the
International Education Center and document sufficient finances to support their living costs while in the
U.S. Dependents are defined as the spouse and minor children (under 21 years of age) of the J-1 Exchange
Visitor. The International Center will issue dependents their own DS-2019 form, with which they will need to apply for the J-2 dependent visa.
J-2 dependents are required to have health insurance coverage that meets the same guidelines as the J-1
Exchange Visitor for their entire stay in the U.S. as a J-2.
While in the United States, a J-2 dependent can apply to US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) for work permission.
Two-Year Home Country Rule [ 22 CFR 41.62(c)-(d) and 41.63(c)]
Some Exchange Visitors may be subject to the Two-year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement, which means that they cannot change status to that of H, L, K, or immigrant lawful permanent resident
(LPR) until they have returned to their home country for at least two-years or received a waiver of that requirement. An exchange visitor is subject to the two-year home country physical presence requirement if the following conditions exist:

Government funded exchange program - The program in which the exchange visitor was participating was financed in whole or in part directly or indirectly by the U.S. government or the government of the exchange visitor's nationality or last residence;

Graduate medical education or training - The exchange visitor entered the U.S. to receive graduate medical education or training;

Specialized knowledge or skill: Skills List - The exchange visitor is a national or permanent resident of a country which has deemed the field of specialized knowledge or skill necessary to the development of the country, as shown on the Exchange Visitor Skills List. Review the Exchange
Visitor Skills List 2009.
More information about the Two-Year Home Country Rule can be found here: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/types/types_1267.html#15
If the US embassy/consulate officials determine that the EV is subject to 212(e), an annotation will be made on the visa stamp in his/her passport as “212 (e) Two Year Rule Applies” and may also be indicated on the
DS-2019 form. Exchange Visitors subject to 212(e) may apply for a waiver of the requirement based on one of the following grounds:

No Objection Statement;

Exceptional Hardship;

Persecution;

Conrad Program, or

Interested Government Agency
For information about waivers, eligibility and process, visit the following site: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1296.html