Exchange Visitors are individuals coming to the University of Puget Sound for the temporary purpose of studying, teaching, conducting research, consulting or otherwise sharing special skills.

Available Categories

Our U.S. State Department designation allows the University of Puget Sound to host Exchange Visitors in the following categories:

Professor

Exchange visitor’s primary purpose is teaching, lecturing, observing, or consulting at post-secondary accredited academic institutions, museums, libraries, or similar types of institutions (22 C.F.R. 62.4(e)). A professor may also conduct research. This category may not be used for an individual filling a tenure track position.

  • Minimum Program Duration: 3 weeks
  • Maximum Program Duration: 5 years
  • Subject to 12 and 24 month bars

Research Scholar

Exchange visitor’s primary purpose is conducting research, observing, or consulting in connection with a research project at research institutions, corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited academic institutions, or similar types of institutions (22 C.F.R. 62.4(f)). This category may not be used for an individual filling a tenure track position.

  • Minimum Program Duration: 3 weeks
  • Maximum Program Duration: 5 years
  • Subject to 12 and 24 month bars

Short Term Scholar

A professor, research scholar, or person with similar education or accomplishments who enters the United States for a short-term visit for the purpose of lecturing, observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills at research institutions, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited academic institutions, or similar types of institutions (22 C.F.R. 62.4(b)).

  • Minimum Program Duration: None
  • Maximum Program Duration: 6 months (no extensions possible)
  • Not Subject to 12 and 24-month bar

Student

At the University of Puget Sound we sponsor students for J-1 visas who fit this definition: A foreign national who is studying in the United States and engaged full-time in a prescribed course of study of up to 24 months (non-degree) (22 C.F.R. 62.4(a)).

  • Minimum Program Duration: 3 weeks
  • Maximum Program Duration: 24 months (students admitted to pursue a full degree at Puget Sound are sponsored for F-1 visas
  • Not Subject to 12 and 24-month bar

Eligibility

In order to invite an individual to be a J-1 Exchange Visitor at Puget Sound, the university must establish all of the following:

  • The program is suitable to the exchange visitor’s background, needs, and experience (22 CFR 62.4 (a)(1))
  • The Exchange Visitor possesses sufficient proficiency in the English language, as determined by an objective measurement of English language proficiency, successfully to participate in his or her program and to function on a day-to-day basis (22 CFR 62.4 (a)(2))
  • The Exchange Visitor possesses adequate financial resources to participate in and complete his or her exchange visitor program; and (22 C.F.R. 62.12(b)(1)(ii))
  • The Exchange Visitor possesses adequate financial resources to support an accompanying spouse and dependents, if any. (22 C.F.R. 62.12(b)(1)((iii)

For invitations to individuals in the Student category the university must also establish:

  • A sponsor must secure sufficient background information on the students to ensure that they have the academic credentials required for its program. (22 C.F.R. 62.23(c))
  • An individual is eligible to participate in the J-1 student category only "if at any time during his or her educational program in the United States" he or she meets at least one of the following criteria. (22 C.F.R. 62.23(c)):
    1. The student or his or her program is financed directly or indirectly by: the U.S. Government; the government of the student's home country; or an international organization of which the U.S. is a member;
    2. The program is carried out pursuant to an agreement between the United States Government and a foreign government;
    3. The program is carried out pursuant to written agreement between: American and foreign academic institutions; An American academic institution and a foreign government; or A state or local government in the United States and a foreign government;
    4. The student is supported substantially by funding from any source other than personal or family funds
Steps for Sponsoring an Exchange Visitor

Formally inviting an Exchange Visitor involves three parties: the inviting department, the Office of International Programs (OIP) and the prospective Exchange Visitor. Follow the steps below to complete the process.

Inviting departments must also consult with Human Resources, the Provost and/or other relevant departments to ensure that all proper institutional procedures are followed regarding hiring and access to the institution.

The sponsoring department should contact the OIP to discuss the appropriateness of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program for the potential international visitor.

International Programs is the primary contact at the OIP for departments interested in sponsoring J-1 Exchange Visitors.

The OIP will provide the department with the form to formally request permission to invite a J-1 Exchange Visitor. OIP will send the proposed visitor a separate form to complete. The information supplied on these two forms, and requested supplemental documents, will be used to verify eligibility for the Exchange Visitor Program.

The inviting department, in collaboration with the OIP, should request a formal letter of invitation for the visitor from the appropriate University official, usually the Provost. The hard copy letter should be sent to the OIP. The visitor will use this letter during their visa application process.

The Office of International Programs reviews the department and visitor request forms, and, if eligible, generates a form DS-2019 (Certificate of Eligibility for J-1 status) for the visitor and any dependents (defined by statute as spouse and children) who will be accompanying the visitor. The OIP mails the DS-2019, letter of invitation, and related documentation to the prospective Exchange Visitor using an express service like FedEx, so that the documents can be tracked.

The prospective Exchange Visitor pays the I-901 SEVIS fee ($220 as of June 18, 2019 or see current fees: https://www.ice.gov/sevis/i901) and then applies for a J-1 visa and schedules a visa interview at the nearest U.S. consulate. Any dependents apply for a J-2 visa. The current visa application processing fee (check this site for current fees: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/fees/fees-visa-services.html)

Notes:

  • Residents of some countries may also be required to pay a visa issuance/reciprocity fee
  • A U.S. State Department consular officer will decide if the visitor is subject to the 2-year home country residence requirement at the visa interview
  • Canadian citizens are not required to have a visa to enter the US. They instead pay the SEVIS fee and then present the DS-2019 and the SEVIS fee receipt at their point of entry into the U.S. to request J-1 status.

Exchange Visitors may enter the United States up to 30 days prior to the start date listed on the DS-2019. During the first two weeks on campus, the Exchange Visitor reports to the OIP for a compulsory one-hour orientation session.

Each June the OIP will contact all departments that hosted an Exchange Visitor in the last year to solicit information on the cross cultural activities that were part of the visitor’s program. This information is used in the annual report that the OIP submits to the U.S. Department of State on our Exchange Visitor Program.

J-1 Regulations

The university and exchange visitors are required to comply with all pertinent laws related to the Exchange Visitor Program. This section contains information on several regulations that any department hosting an exchange visitor should understand:

Exchange visitors must possess sufficient proficiency in the English language, as determined by an objective measurement of English language proficiency, successfully to participate in his or her program and to function on a day-to-day basis. A sponsor must verify an applicant’s English language proficiency through a recognized English language test, by signed documentation from an academic institution or English language school, or through a documented interview conducted by the sponsor. (22 CFR 62.11(a)(2))

Individuals who have been in the U.S. for more than six months in the previous year (12 months) in any J visa status are not eligible to enter the U.S. as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor for a 12-month period. Time spent in the J-1 Short-term Scholar category does not count towards the 12-month bar. The 12-month bar applies to both the J-1 principal and any J-2 dependents. The 12-month bar does not prevent individuals from returning to the U.S. in any other visa status or in some other J categories such as Short-Term Scholar or Student.

Any individual who participates in an Exchange Visitor program in the Professor or Research Scholar categories on or after 11/18/06 is subject to a 24-month bar on “repeat participation” in those categories. Scholars subject to the bar may not return to the U.S. as a J-1 scholar in the Professor or Research Scholar categories for the 24-month period. This bar also applies to J-2 dependents.

When a scholar either concludes or leaves a Research Scholar or Professor J-1 program, whichever happens earlier, the scholar's record becomes inactive in SEVIS. At that point, the 24-month bar time starts to accrue. The 24-month bar will be in effect regardless of whether status in the program is a few months in duration or the full five years allowed. The 24-month bar does not prevent individuals from returning to the U.S. in any other visa status.

The statutory basis of the two-year home country physical presence requirement is section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended. The INA § 212(e) two-year home country residence requirement is referred to in many ways, e.g. "212(e)"; "two-year rule"; "two-year residence requirement"; "foreign residence requirement", and several others.

An Exchange Visitor may be subject to the two-year home-country residence requirement if either of the following conditions exist (note: this is a partial list as other conditions are unlikely to apply to Exchange Visitors to Puget Sound):

  • Government funded exchange program - The program 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;
  • Specialized knowledge or skill - The exchange visitor is a 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

For all Exchange Visitors, except those in the Short-Term Scholar category, the U.S. State Department requires the University of Puget Sound to:

  1. Offer or make available to exchange visitors and the accompanying spouses and dependents, if any, a variety of appropriate cross-cultural activities. The extent and type of the cross-cultural activities will be determined by the needs and interests of the particular category of exchange visitor. Sponsors will be responsible for determining the appropriate types and numbers of such cross-cultural programs, unless otherwise specified by the Department. The Department of State encourages sponsors to give their exchange visitors the broadest exposure to American society, culture and institutions; and
  2. Encourage exchange visitors to participate voluntarily in activities that are for the purpose of sharing the language, culture, or history of their home country with Americans, provided such activities do not delay the completion of the exchange visitors' program. (22 C.F.R. 62.9(d))

Exchange Visitors and their dependents must have insurance. Minimum coverage must provide:

  1. Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness;
  2. Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000;
  3. Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of exchange visitors to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000; and
  4. Deductibles not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

(c) Insurance policies secured to fulfill the requirements of this section:

  1. May require a waiting period for pre-existing conditions that is reasonable as determined by current industry standards;
  2. May include provisions for co-insurance under the terms of which the exchange visitor may be required to pay up to 25% of the covered benefits per accident or illness; and
  3. Must not unreasonably exclude coverage for perils inherent to the activities of the exchange program in which the exchange visitor participates.

(d) Any policy, plan, or contract secured to fill the above requirements must, at a minimum, be:

  1. Underwritten by an insurance corporation having an A.M. Best rating of “A−” or above; a McGraw Hill Financial/Standard & Poor's Claims-paying Ability rating of “A−” or above; a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B + ” or above; a Fitch Ratings, Inc. rating of “A−” or above; a Moody's Investor Services rating of “A3” or above; or such other rating as the Department of State may from time to time specify; or
  2. Backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country; or
  3. Part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor; or
  4. Offered through or underwritten by a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization or eligible Competitive Medical Plan as determined by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (22 C.F.R. 62.14)

University of Puget Sound can enroll Exchange Visitors and their dependents in the EIIA international student and scholar plan. The Exchange Visitor or their sponsoring department must pay for the insurance coverage unless it is being provided as an employee benefit.

All J-1 categories are limited by government regulations to employment and affiliation at Puget Sound only. Occasional lectures and short-term consultations may be allowed in limited circumstances with advance authorization from the Office of International Programs.