J-1 Research Scholar
This category is for a foreign national who enters the United States for the primary purpose of conducting research, observing or consulting in connection with research projects at research institutions, corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited academic institutions, or similar types of institutions. A research scholar may also teach or lecture, unless disallowed by the sponsor.
The research scholar’s appointment to a position shall be temporary, even if the position itself is permanent.
Incidental lectures or short-term consultations are permitted with the approval of the ISS staff so long as they are directly related to the objectives of the participant’s program, and do not delay the exchange program’s completion date.
Research Scholar Eligibility Requirements (See Limitations on Participation in the Research Scholar or Professor Categories for more details):
- May not be a candidate for a tenure track position at UW;
- May not have been present in the US in the J-1/J-2 Professor or Research Scholar categories within the last 24 months;
- May not have been present in the US in any other J-1/J-2 visa program within the last 12 months unless they meet at least one of three exceptions;
- Undergraduate students are not eligible for the Research Scholar category.
Duration of Participation – Maximum Five (5) Years, Minimum Three (3) Weeks
The maximum period of program participation is continuous and begins with the initial program start date printed on the Form DS-2019 and ends five years from that date.
Return to Sponsoring a J-1 Exchange Visitor to continue
