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J-1 Exchange Visitor Scholar Categories

The Department of State Exchange Visitor Program allows for the exchange of research scholars and professors and promotes the exchange of ideas, research, mutual enrichment and linkages between research and academic institutions in the United States and foreign countries.  There are multiple categories of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa, and the category is determined by the visitor’s education level, length of stay and activities on campus.

Possible J-1 EV Categories at Notre Dame include the following:

After completing the ISSA Immigration Request Form, the academic unit receives an email that confirms the J-1 Exchange Visitor recommendation and outlines next steps for initiating the J-1 request process.

Short-Term Scholar

Length of Program: Less than six months
Activities on campus: To lecture, observe, consult, train, or demonstrate a special skill.
Education Level: Bachelor's degree or equivalent and experience appropriate to the field of endeavor.
Eligibility: must be a professor or research scholar or someone with similar education and/or experience.
Status Sponsor: University of Notre Dame
Appointment Source: usually Office for Postdoctoral Affairs or Office of the Provost
ND Appointment Titles: Research Visitor
Special Notes:
  • Short-term Scholar programs cannot be extended beyond six months and scholars cannot apply for the Research Scholar/Professor category immediately upon completion.
  • Generally, only one Short-term Scholar program will be authorized in an academic year and the activities in each authorization period should be distinct across programs. 

Research Scholar

Length of Program: three weeks to five years
Activities on campus: primary purpose of the stay is research but may involve some teaching
Education Level: minimum of Bachelor's degree
Eligibility:
  • Can not be a candidate for a tenure track position
  • Can not have participated in and completed a J-1 Research Scholar/Professor program within 24-months preceding the start date of the new appointment.
  • Can not have participated in a J-Visa Program for all or part of 12-months immediately preceding the start date of a research program unless they meet one of the following exceptions:
    • The participant is currently in a research scholar program and is transferring to Notre Dame to continue their current J-1 Program.
    • The participant’s prior physical presence in the United States on a J-1 visa program was less than six months
    • Any prior participation was as a Short-Term Scholar
Status Sponsor: University of Notre Dame
Appointment Source: usually Office for Postdoctoral Affairs or Office of the Provost
ND Appointment Titles: Research Visitor, Research Associate, Postdoctoral Scholar
Special Notes: Participants subject to 24 Month Bar and possibly Two Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement.

Professor

Length of Program: three weeks to five years
Activities on campus: primary purpose of the stay is teaching but may involve some research
Education Level: minimum of Bachelor's degree
Eligibility:
  • Can not be a candidate for a tenure track position
  • Can not have participated in and completed a J-1 Research Scholar/Professor program within 24-months preceding the start date of the new appointment.
  • Can not have participated in a J-Visa Program for all or part of 12-months immediately preceding the start date of a research program unless they meet one of the following exceptions:
    • The participant is currently in a research scholar program and is transferring to Notre Dame to continue their current J-1 Program.
    • The participant’s prior physical presence in the United States on a J-1 visa program was less than six months
    • Any prior participation was as a Short-Term Scholar
Status Sponsor: University of Notre Dame
Appointment Source: Office of the Provost
ND Appointment Titles: Visiting Faculty, Research Faculty
Special Notes: Participants subject to 24 Month Bar and possibly Two Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement.

J-1 Non-Degree Student (Research Only)

Length of Program: three weeks to 24 months
Activities on campus: conduct research on campus, no course enrollment.
Education Level: must be currently enrolled and pursuing an undergraduate program at an accredited post-secondary academic institution outside the United States
Eligibility:
  • Exchange visitor must be an undergraduate at their home institution,
  • 51% or more of the funding for this category must come from an outside source other than personal or financial funds
  • Generally only authorized for research during the academic year
Status Sponsor: University of Notre Dame
Appointment Source: Office for Postdoctoral Affairs
ND Appointment Titles: Research Visitor
Special Notes: Participants subject to 12 Month Bar and possibly Two Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement.

J-1 Student - Academic Training

Length of Program: one day to 36 months
Activities on campus: research, teaching, training, or experience that is directly related to the student's major field of study listed on their Form DS-2019
Education Level: current or recently completed Master’s or Doctorate level at an accredited post-secondary academic institution inside the United States
Eligibility:
  • must be currently enrolled or have completed a degree at an accredited post-secondary academic institution outside the United States
  • position or training must be directly related to student's major field of study
  • approval from international office and academic advisor
Status Sponsor:

student's academic institution which authorized the Academic Training

  • Notre Dame sponsored” means that ISSA issued the immigration documents, and Notre Dame is listed on the DS-2019 as sponsor and as site of activity for Academic Training.
  • “Non-Notre Dame sponsored” means another institution issued the immigration documents and Notre Dame is only listed as a site of activity for Academic Training.
Appointment Source: Office for Postdoctoral Affairs or Office of the Provost
ND Appointment Titles: Varies
Special Notes: Participants subject to 12 Month Bar and possibly Two Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement.

J-1 Intern Category

The J-1 Intern Category is not sponsored by Notre Dame. Contact ISSA with questions about this category.