J-1 Exchange Visitors

J-1 status is not appropriate if the scholar will:

Engage in any position that does not require the minimum of a Bachelor’s degree
Hold tenure-track or tenured faculty appointments
Enter the US to participate in a medical residency program or engage in clinical activities (click here for more info)
Pass through the formal recruitment and hiring process with Temple University’s HR Dept; Nonimmigrant Worker (H-1B) status is appropriate for such cases
Pursue US Permanent Residency (Green Card)

J-1 Exchange Visitors must have one of the following if they wish to change to H-1B status:

Advisory Opinion stating that they are not subject to the 2 Year Home Residency Requirement
A Waiver Recommendation from the US Department of State / Form I-612 Approval Notice from USCIS
Documents proving they fulfilled 24 months residency requirement in country of permanent residence upon completion of most recent J program

Differences Between J-1 and B-1 Tourist for Business

In order for an individual to come to the US as a J-1 Scholar, they must have an official Temple appointment. Please fill out the Bringing Researchers to Temple form so that ISSS and the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs can determine the appointment type to get started.

Having the answers to the following questions will facilitate the immigration process:

Is Foreign National currently in the United States? If yes, is Foreign National already employed by Temple University? If so, what is the foreign national's current job title?
Type of position you wish to offer? If Faculty, is it a Tenure Track position?
Minimum Degree Requirement for position?
Minimum number of years of experience required?
Term of initial Temple appointment?
Expected starting date of appointment?
Foreign national's country of citizenship?
Has the potential employee applied for Permanent Residence (Green card)?
Does the foreign national plan to travel abroad at any time in the near future? (This will affect both visa timing and procedure)

J-1 Categories

Professor
- For teaching, observing, lecturing
- 3-week minimum, 5-year maximum with 24 month bar on repeat participation
Research Scholar
- For conducting research, observing, or consulting.
- PhD, MD, or other terminal degree. Recently retired or currently is employed at, but on sabbatical from, another academic institution.
- 3-week minimum, 5-year maximum with 24 month bar on repeat participation
Student Intern
- For those are currently enrolled in and pursuing studies at a post-secondary academic institution outside the United States and the research at Temple will fulfill graduation requirements for the home university
- 3-week minimum, 12 month maximum - no extensions
- Note that Undergraduate J-1 Student Intern applications are processed directly through ISSS. Graduate Student Intern applications are processed first by ISSS and then the final approve comes from the Office of Postdoctoral Affairs
- Read more here
Short-term Scholar
- Lecturing, conducting research, observing, or consulting
- no minimum, 6-month maximum, no extensions
- 6 month bar on repeat participation
Specialist
- observing, consulting, or demonstrating his/her highly specialized knowledge or skills)
- 3-week minimum, 1 year maximum but not subject to 24-month bar

Department Portals

J-1 Scholar Application Checklist

Controlled Technology Form
UPS Airway Bill in PDF Format From Department
Proof of English Proficiency
Proof of Mandatory Health Insurance
Insurance Compliance Form if Applicant's Insurance Not Listed on our Webpage
Copy of Applicant’s passport
Copies of All US-Issued Immigration Documents
Current CV/Resume/Biosketch
Copies of All Diplomas
Copies of Transcripts of All Diplomas
English Translations of All Diplomas
English Translations of All Transcripts
Incidental Patient Contact Letter (if applicable)
Proof of Sufficient Funding
Job Description
Approved Appointment Letter from the Graduate School (see www.temple.edu/grad/pfo/index.html for list of documents that must be sent by the Hiring Department to the Graduate School)
For J-1 Student Interns only:
- Home Universty Attestation Form (for J-1 Student Interns only)
- DS-7002 (for J-1 Student Interns only)
Items Needed Before ISSS Can Issue a DS-2019 for J-2 Dependents:

Proof of Mandatory Health Insurance Coverage for J-2 Dependents
Copies of Passport Photo Pages for J-2 Applicant(s)
Proof of Sufficient Funding to Cover J-2(s) in the US

Timeline

Completed applications must be submitted at least 2 months prior to the desired start date. Please keep this 2 month requirement in mind when communicating with your incoming scholarlars so ensure that they have reasonable expectations. We require 2 months in advance because it takes time for us to process the application, ship the immigration documents to the scholar in their country, and then for the scholar to apply for the visa and make travel arrangemements.

Staff Contact Information

Contact Nina Campellone regarding Post Doctoral Fellows and Visiting Research Scholars
Contact Faculty Affairs for information on hiring Faculty
Contact Sarah Froberg regarding hiring J-1 Scholars
Contact Sharon Loughran regarding hiring H1-b
Contact Faculty Affairs for information on hiring Faculty
Contact Martyn Miller for assistance with J-1 Scholars coming to the Confucius Institute.
Contact your Department's HR Generalist to invite/appoint/hire anyone not listed above.

International Studentand Scholar Services

International Student
and Scholar Services