J-1 Exchange Visitors
PURPOSE OF THE EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAMThe J-1exchange visitor program, administered by the U.S. Department of State, is intended to encourage temporary educational, collaborative and cultural exchanges in the hope of increasing mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. Exchange programs provide foreign nationals an opportunity to experience our way of life and encourage Americans to participate in educational and cultural programs in other countries.
The official State Department website for information on the Exchange Visitor Program is located here.
The exchange visitor program is designed for temporary educational and cultural exchanges and collaboration rather than long term employment. At the conclusion of their program, participants are expected to return to their home countries to utilize the experience and skills they have acquired while in the United States.PROGRAM CATEGORIES AND TIME LIMITATIONS
PROFESSOR AND RESEARCH SCHOLAR: Scholars in this category may be invited to collaborate in research projects, to teach courses, or to give lectures or seminars. They may come for visits of up to three years. A six month extension beyond the three years is possible.
SHORT TERM SCHOLAR: The short term scholar category is suitable for scholars coming to lecture, observe, consult, and participate in seminars, workshops, or conferences, and who will definitely leave the United States within six months. It is also suitable for scholars who may come and go to Arizona State University periodically for short visits. Extensions of program beyond six month is not allowed.
SPECIALIST: This category is appropriate for visitors coming for visits of up to one year to consult, observe or demonstrate specialized knowledge or skills in which they are experts.
Note: The Department of State usually does not permit change from one J category to another. However, change from research scholar to professor category, and vice versa, is permitted.
ELIGIBILITY FOR J-1 STATUS
Participants in the J-1 program include visitors coming to teach, to do research, to observe, consult, demonstrate specialized knowledge or skills or participate in a non-degree course of study as part of an exchange agreement between ASU and their home university. An exchange visitor must show the consular officer that they have the intent to return to their home country at the end of the program. The visitor must have sufficient funding for the period of program participation as well as appropriate credentials and experience for the activity s/he will be engaged in. And, the visitor must have adequate English Language proficiency to have a meaningful exchange.
A visitor is not eligible to start a new J-1 program in the Research Scholar or Professor categories if s/he has been in the U.S. in J-1 or J-2 status for all or part of the 12 months immediately preceding the desired start date of the new program.
This rule does not apply if the visitor:
1. Is transferring between programs
2. Was in the U.S. for less than 6 months
3. Was in the U.S. as a short term scholar
Services for Exchange Students (J-1 non-degree students) are provided by the Center for Global Education Services. For Exchange Student information visit the International Students section of this website.
Admission information for degree-seeking students (F-1 international student and J-1 degree-seeking), is available on the International Admissions website.
Services for those degree-seeking students (F-1 and J-1) currently attending ASU are provided by the International Student Office (ISO).