J-1 Scholars
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The University of Louisville is designated by the U.S. Department of State (DoS) as a J‑1 Exchange Visitor Faculty Sponsor. The program’s primary purpose is to provide foreign nationals with opportunities to participate in educational and cultural exchange programs in the United States. Academic units sponsoring J‑1 visiting scholars or faculty are responsible for completing required documentation and providing opportunities for exchange visitors to interact with the host community.
Short‑Term Scholar
A foreign national who is a professor, research scholar, or individual with similar educational background or professional accomplishments who enters the United States for a short‑term visit. They are permitted to stay in the U.S for the Time necessary to complete the program, not to exceed 6 months. The purpose of the visit may include delivering lectures, observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills at research institutions, museums, libraries, accredited post‑secondary academic institutions, or similar organizations.
Participation is limited to a maximum of six (6) months, and extensions are not permitted. This category is not subject to the 24‑month bar and is an appropriate option for programs lasting six months or less.
Professor
A foreign national whose primary purpose is teaching, lecturing, observing, or consulting at accredited post‑secondary academic institutions, museums, libraries, or similar organizations. A professor may also conduct research when authorized by the Faculty sponsor.
Research Scholar
A foreign national whose primary purpose is conducting research, observing, or consulting in connection with a research project at research institutions, corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, accredited post‑secondary academic institutions, or similar organizations. A research scholar may also teach or lecture when authorized by the Faculty sponsor.
Note that, Professors and Research Scholars are permitted to stay in the U.S. for the Time necessary to complete the program but may not exceed 5 years. All extensions of the five (5) year limit are processed by International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) Office.
Requests for an extension must be submitted by the sponsoring department using the Departmental Request Form for the DS‑2019 and received by the ISSS at least 30 days prior to the program end date listed on the Form DS‑2019.
A visitor may be selected to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program as a Professor or Research Scholar provided the following conditions are met:
The participant must not be a candidate for a tenure‑track position.
The participant must not have been physically present in the United States for any part of the twelve‑month period immediately preceding the program start date listed on Form DS‑2019, unless one of the following exceptions applies:
- The participant is transferring to the sponsor’s program in accordance with applicable regulatory provisions.
- The participant’s prior presence in the United States was less than six months in duration; or
- The participant’s prior presence in the United States was under a Short‑Term Scholar exchange activity.
- The participant must not be subject to the bar on repeat participation as a Professor or Research Scholar.
Please review the mandatory orientation.
- The sponsoring department and the exchange visitor complete the Departmental Request Form for the DS‑2019.
- The sponsoring department administrator must log in to the Global Cardinal Portal using their ULink account. If you do not have a ULink account or need access to the portal, contact isss@louisville.edu. Log into Terra Dotta and select “New Sponsorship Request” in the upper left corner of the page. Use the information from the Departmental Request Form to complete the request and submit. International Services will receive and process the request.
- Submit a copy of the identification page of participant’s passport.
- Submit an official financial affidavit demonstrating sufficient funds to cover the cost of participation (if not funded by UofL).
- Submit proof of English language proficiency.
- List of English Proficiency Requirements by Countries
- Submit the “5‑Point Letter” if the exchange visitor is a medical doctor (alien physician) in their home country.
- Submit identification page of all dependents’ passports (if any).
5 Year Rule - Programs for Professors and Research Scholars may be approved for up to 5 years. All extensions within the 5 year period are processed by the international office. An extension may be requested by submitting the Departmental Request Form for DS2019 to the international office at least 30 days from the program end date of your Form DS-2019.
Participation is limited to a maximum of six (6) months, and extensions are not permitted. This category is not subject to the 24‑month bar and is an appropriate option for programs lasting six months or less.
Exchange Visitor Skills List identifies fields of specialized knowledge and skills deemed necessary for the development of an exchange visitor’s home country. If an exchange visitor’s field appears on their country’s Skills List, participation in the Exchange Visitor Program may subject the visitor to the two‑year foreign residence (home‑country physical presence) requirement. This requirement obligates the exchange visitor to return to their home country for a period of two years upon completion of the program. The requirement is established under Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
If a participant has received a waiver of the two‑year home‑country physical presence requirement (Section 212(e), the participant is ineligible for any extension of the Form DS‑2019. Extension requests must be completed prior to the participant receiving a waiver.
If the request is for a physician in their home country or who holds an MD degree, the “5‑Point Letter” must be completed and submitted with the Departmental Request Form for the DS‑2019. Please note that this letter must be reviewed and signed by the Vice Dean of Clinical Affairs before the Form DS‑2019 can be issued. When requesting the “5‑Point Letter,” you must submit.
- A copy of the Departmental Request Form for the DS‑2019
- The exchange visitor’s résumé or curriculum vitae (CV)
- The completed “5‑Point Letter”
If the exchange visitor is a physician who will have no clinical responsibilities, the sponsoring department must indicate “NO PATIENT CONTACT” in the DUTIES section of the DS‑2019 request form. This certifies that the physician’s activities are limited to observation, consultation, teaching, or research, and that no patient care services are involved.
If any incidental patient contact is proposed, the sponsoring department must:
- Provide a written statement certifying compliance with the requirements outlined in the Alien Physician instructions; and
- Obtain review and approval from the Vice Dean for Clinical Affairs.
The University of Louisville cannot issue a Form DS‑2019 for clinical programs, and requests involving direct patient care will not be approved.
Under the Professor and Research Scholar categories, exchange visitors may engage in incidental study only on a part‑time basis (no more than six hours per semester). Enrollment in a degree or certificate program is not permitted. Research Scholars must maintain full‑time research and/or teaching activities. Extensions for the purpose of completing a degree or certificate are not permitted.
J‑1 exchange visitors may transfer to or from the University of Louisville provided the transfer allows them to continue the original program objective for which they were admitted, and they remain in the same J‑1 category. The exchange visitor must notify their supervisor or sponsor of their intent to transfer and provide a program end date.
- For transfers within the University:
- The exchange visitor must contact their current supervisor or advisor to plan for an intra‑university transfer.
- The receiving department must submit the Departmental Request Form for the DS‑2019 , indicating an Intra‑University Transfer.
- The receiving department must confirm that the original program objective for which the scholar was admitted will remain unchanged.
- International Student and Scholar Services will issue a new Form DS‑2019 reflecting:
- The new site of activity; and
- Any approved changes to program end date or funding.
- For transfers from another university to UofL:
The sponsoring department must submit the Departmental Request Form for the DS‑2019 . The following documents must also be submitted:
- Copy of current Form DS‑2019
- Form I‑94 record
- Identification Page of the Participant’s Passport
- A copy of the participant’s visa or approval notice
- A completed J‑1 Transfer‑In Request Form releasing the scholar from the current institution.
Departmental confirmation that the original program objective will remain unchanged.
- For transfers from UofL to another institution:
- The exchange visitor must submit a completed J‑1 Transfer‑Out Request Form.
- The form must be completed by a J‑1 Research Scholar or Student seeking to transfer Faculty sponsorship from UofL to another Department of State approved Exchange Visitor Faculty sponsor.
- Transfer requests must be submitted:
- At least 30 days prior to the effective transfer date; and
- No later than one week before the program end date listed on the current Form DS‑2019.
The J‑1 Responsible Officer (RO) or an Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) at the transfer-in institution must email the International Student and Scholar Services (isss@louisville.edu) to request the transfer, confirm that the exchange visitor will maintain the original program objective, and provide both the effective date of transfer and the institution’s SEVIS Program Number.
For questions or additional assistance, please contact International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at isss@louisville.edu.
If a J‑1 Exchange Visitor wishes to be accompanied by dependent(s) after arrival, they should email isss@louisville.edu with a copy of the identification page of the dependent’s and financial documentation.