News and Announcements

UAF Students going abroad

Faculty going abroad

International students and scholars

Photo Gallery

Scholarship opportunities

Office of International Programs home

Information for UAF Departments hosting/hiring international visitors

UAF Departments may host or sponsor
Department of State Exchange Visitors (J-1 Visa Category)

• Sponsoring document is a Form DS-2019
• Has 13 categories of which we are authorized four: student, professor, short term scholar and research scholar – there are different rules for each category
• J-1 student may not be self-supporting: must have some type of sponsoring funds that allow the individual to participate in the exchange
• J-1 professor/short term scholar/ research scholar may be self supporting but there must be some reason for the University to be sponsoring them to be here
• Dependent is a J-2 who is eligible to study full time/enter a degree program, and work with USCIS employment authorization. At no time may the funds of the J-2 be used to support the J-1 (separate checking/saving accounts are advised; cannot buy food or pay utilities, etc) It is the responsibility of the J-2 dependent to file immigration form I-765 (Request for Employment Authorization) with the USCIS Service Center.  Employment cannot begin until after the employment authorization card has been received by the J-2 dependent.

J-1 Visa Information

The purpose of the Exchange Visitor program is to promote mutual understanding between the people of the U.S. and other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange. The program provides foreign nationals with opportunities to participate in exchange programs in the U.S. and then return home to share their experiences. University of Alaska Fairbanks is authorized to participate in the U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor program in the Professor, Research Scholar, Short-term Scholar and Student categories.

This is an exchange program under a U.S. non-immigrant visa category. The intent of the individual is to come to the U.S. temporarily and leave the U.S. at the conclusion of the program. As such, participants are not eligible for tenure-track positions. The goals of the sponsoring department should be to encourage and support collaborative research and study through the exchange of ideas and information.

In order for individuals to participate in the Exchange Visitor program at UAF, they must be invited and sponsored by a UAF School, Institute or Department. Before inviting prospective Exchange Visitors, please read the category descriptions at the end of this information to make sure your prospective visitor has the credentials necessary to participate in this program. Once all requirements are met, the UAF Office of International Programs, by authority of the U.S. Department of State, will issue the form DS2019 to prospective Exchange Visitors. On receipt of the DS2019 and payment of the $180 SEVIS fee, individuals may apply for the J-1 visa at the U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country.

NOTE: See the document checklist following the form instructions for everything that must be submitted along with the Authorization Request form. Due to the number of requests received for processing, incomplete submissions will be returned to the sponsoring department, institute, school or college for completion.

UAF J-1 Authorization Request Form Instructions

Select the visa category desired. Definitions of the J categories, follow the document checklist.

Section 1 : Applicant Information

• Complete the name section as the names appear on the passport. The gender is required for document issuance. If the “home country residence address” is the same as the “Present Address,” write “Same.” A home country residence is required by regulation.

• Birth date, City & Country of Birth, Country of Permanent Residence and Country of Citizenship are required fields on the DS-2019; these may be different.

• Description of intended courses and/or activity: The individual needs to explain what they will do and where they will be while in the U.S. under this visa category. For example: Research in geophysics-sea ice, Geophysical Institute, UAF; Attend AGU, San Francisco; Present paper and lecture at MIT from mm/dd-mm/dd/yy. All locations where participation will occur in the U.S. must be included. For example, if the individual will be participating in research at MIT as part of the UAF sponsored program, that name and physical location must be included in the request.

• List major area of study at home university if a current student, and list academic degrees , with the major area of study included. The J-1 subgroups of professor, research scholar and short-term scholar require at least a bachelor’s degree or the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree. Field of study is a required field on the DS-2019.

• Applicant’s Present Occupation: If the individual is not currently employed (e.g., a student who has graduated but has not yet been employed) please have the individual enter “Not applicable” and if the individual is still a student, enter “student.” You must also specify the equivalent educational level, BA/BS, MA/MS, PhD, etc.

• Transferring from other U.S. Institution: If this is marked “yes”, it means that the person is already in the U.S. on a visa. The International Advisor needs copies of all U.S. immigration documents to process the transfer. The UAF International Student/Scholar Transfer Form will need to be completed by the prospective visitor and the international advisor at the current program location.

• Has the applicant previously been in the U.S.: If the individual has been in the U.S. previously, please provide information on when, where and the visa status. This can be done on a separate sheet if the individual has been in the U.S. multiple times. Canadians should be as specific as possible for the preceding seven (7) years.

• Dependent information: Required if the dependents will need documents to accompany the primary visa holder or an extension of the current documents.

Section 2 : Program Information to be completed by the UAF sponsoring department and signed by the Department Head and appropriate Dean or Director.

• SEVIS fee payment: mark if the department is or is not paying the $180 SEVIS fee on behalf of the individual. The fee must be paid at least 3 days before the individual attends their consular visa appointment. If the department is paying the fee, the receipt must accompany the DS2019. The fee can be paid over the web using a credit card (Visa, Master Card, American Express). Instructions and information needed to make the payment will be included with the DS2019.

• Insurance: Verify who will be paying for the insurance. Health insurance is a requirement of the U.S. Department of State for all individuals (both primary and dependents) in the J status. The health insurance must be effective from the date of arrival in the U.S. By U.S. Department of State regulation, proof of that insurance must be on file in the Office of International Programs. Insurance information must be in English. See Department of State regulations for specific policy requirements.

• Requested Dates of Stay: What date do you (the requesting department) want the individual to begin and when do you (the department) expect the individual to complete their stay. Short-term Scholars are limited to a maximum of 6 months, minimum.
• University Title: If UAF is providing funding, indicate the UAF position title. Otherwise, J-1 category title may be used.
• Department or Division: Department sponsoring the visitor and requesting the documents.
• Total UAF Salary/Support for Requested Dates: If the requesting department will be paying a salary, please circle “Salary” and place the amount on the line. If the department will not be paying a salary, but will be providing office space, computer, etc., please list these items in the “Comments” section at the bottom of the page. An estimated value of the non-salary items must be provided. Housing expense and per diem amounts are considered “Support”.

Financial Information:

If the request is for an Exchange Visitor (J visa) professor, research scholar or short-term scholar, the University is not required to provide funding. However, the individual must show at least $1,500/month of financial support and $6,000/year for each dependent. Therefore, a scholar coming for 12 months must have a minimum amount of financial support of $18,000. If a spouse will accompany, the minimum amount is $24,000; spouse and one child, the minimum amount is $30,000.

If the UAF is not providing any support for the Exchange Visitor (J visa) enter the financial information the lines “Financial support other than UAF.” If the individual is self-funded, enter “self” under the “Name of supporting agency or organization.”

ALL FUNDING MUST HAVE SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION: A UAF contract letter for salary; a letter of funding from the home government, agency or institution if the individual will be supported by an agency of the home country; or bank statements/letter(s) from U.S. or home country banks that the individual has sufficient funds to meet the financial requirements.

Processing Charge:   Departments are charged $300 by journal voucher for original, $150 for extension requests. This fee is the responsibility of the hosting department.

Contact information and signatures: Please use a contact person who will be available through the majority of the processing time. Include name, phone, fax, email address, and campus physical location. Department Chair and Dean or Directors’ signatures are required.

Certification of U.S. Government Funding: The dean or director must certify that U.S. government funds ( )have or ( )have not been received to specifically support this exchange visitor.

Please note : If a federal grant is being used to support the individual, it is specific support onlyIF the grant proposal itemized support for the specific individualor support for an unnamed individual from a country other than the U.S. The dean or director would mark “( ) have been received.” If the federal grant does not include a request for the specific individual, or a request to bring an unnamed individual from a country other than the U.S. to participate, the dean or director would then mark “( ) have not been received.”

Comments are optional, except in the case of UAF non-salary support. Be aware that non-monetary support, e.g., room and board, may constitute taxable income to the exchange visitor.

UAF departments are not required to provide financial support for the professor/research scholar and short-term J-1 categories. However, they must provide some detail about usage of office space in the department, use of UAF computer facilities, department sponsorship to use the library for research (which would include sponsorship of a Polar Express Card), etc. in the comments section, and whether teaching or collaborative research may take place by the visitor.

Documentation needed:

With visa request form:

• Copy of the applicant’s passport identification page so that the internationally recognized English spelling of the visitor’s name will be used. Any discrepancies between the DS2019 and passport can be cause for denial or delay in the visa being issued by the U.S. Department of State.
• Individual’s resume/curriculum vitae.
• UAF letter of invitation.
• UAF contract letter if the department is providing full or partial support, OR bank statements, financial documents, letters of support from home organization showing support if the UAF department is NOT providing full funding.
• Proof of insurance in English before or at time of arrival. The individual must have insurance coverage for the entire duration of their stay by U.S. Department of State regulation. Specific insurance coverage amounts and terms are required. If the individual does not provide proof of adequate insurance in English, they will be required to purchase the policy available through UA Risk Management or return home immediately.

J-1 Exchange Visitor Category Descriptions:

Professor : an individual primarily teaching, lecturing, observing, or consulting at post-secondary accredited educational institutions, museums, libraries, or similar types of institutions. A professor may also conduct research, unless disallowed by the sponsor. (22 CFR 64.2(e)

Research scholar : an individual primarily conducting research, observing, or consulting in connection with a research project at research institutions, corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited educational institutions, or similar types of institutions. The research scholar may also teach or lecture, unless disallowed by the sponsor. (22 CFR 62.4(f)

 The individual is eligible for J-1 status per 22 CFR 62.20(d) as follows:

 Visitor eligibility: An individual may be selected for participation in the Exchange Visitor Program as a professor or research scholar subject to the following conditions:

• (i) The participant shall not be a candidate for tenure track position; and
• (ii) The participant has not been physically present in the United States as a nonimmigrant pursuant to the provisions of 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(J) (in J status) for all or part of the twelve month period immediately preceding the date of program commencement set forth on his or her Form DS-2019, unless:

(A) The participant is transferring to the sponsor's program as provided in Sec. 514.42; or

(B) The participant's presence in the United States was of less than six months duration; or

(C) The participant's presence in the United States was pursuant to a Short-term scholar exchange activity as authorized by Sec. 514.21.

Short term scholar : a professor, research scholar, specialist, or a person with similar education or accomplishments coming to the United States on a short-term visit for the purpose of lecturing, observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills at the research institutions, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited educational institutions, or similar types of institutions. (Regulation 22 CFR 62.4(b).) Short-term scholars may also participate in collaborative research. Note: for definition purposes only, as UAF is not authorized the Specialist category, a Specialist is an individual who is an expert in a field of specialized knowledge or skill coming to the United States for observing, consulting, or demonstrating special skills. (22 CFR 62.4(g))

Academic Credentials for Professor, Research Scholar and Short term Scholar categories:

Professors and Scholars are expected to have appropriate academic or similar credentials. Generally a prospective exchange visitor in these categories should have at least a bachelor’s degree with appropriate experience in the specific field.

Student : An individual who is studying in the U.S. enrolled in a full course of study at a secondary accredited educational institution and admitted into in a degree program culminating in a degree or non-degree program with a predetermined educational objective. College and university students are eligible for the Exchange Visitor Program only if at any time during their studies in the U.S. , they meet one of the following four criteria:

• They or their program are financed directly or indirectly by the U.S. Government, the participant’s home government or an international organization of which the U.S. is a member by treaty or statute;
• The exchange program is carried out pursuant to an agreement between the U.S. Government and a foreign government;
• The exchange program is carried out pursuant to a written agreement between:
• An American and foreign educational institution
• An American educational institution and a foreign government
• A U.S. state or local government and a foreign government;

Or

4. The exchange visitor student is supported substantially by funding from any source other than personal or family funds.

Restrictions:

A student is required to be enrolled as a full-time student, either 12 undergraduate or 9 graduate credits. Non-degree students attending UAF are limited to 24 months of participation.

A professor or research scholar has a maximum period of five (5) years with no possibility of extension. The program must be at least 3 weeks in duration. The authorization is issued on a per-year basis, to ensure that the health insurance requirement is maintained. This category requires the minimum of a bachelor’s degree and extensive experience.

A short-term scholar has a maximum of six (6) months or less with no minimum duration of stay. There is no extension beyond the 6-month limit. This category requires the minimum of a bachelor’s degree and extensive experience.

Additionally:

The individual must reside at UAF, unless another or multiple site(s) is listed on the DS-2019.

All categories are subject to the two-year home residence regulation if 1) they receive funding specifically for the exchange from their home government or the U.S. government, or 2) their field or study or specialty is on the home country skills list.

Following participation in the professor and research scholar categories, visitors must wait 24 months before returning in either of these categories.

UAF does not have DOS intern category authorization.  Generally, students wishing to participate as an intern in a UAF research program or activity must meet the requirements of the short term scholar or non-degree student category depending on their academic level. Students who have obtained the equivalent of a U.S. Bachelor’s degree may qualify in the short term scholar category.

The UAF J-1 Visa Request form must be received by the Office of International Programs with original signatures and all supporting documentation before the DS-2019 can be prepared.

Contact the International Advisor if you have
questions or need additional information.

ABOUT US
PHONE: (907) 474-5327
FAX: (907) 474-5979
E-MAIL: OIP Staff