J-1 Scholar Categories

Following are immigration categories for J-1 scholars. The category that best meets the needs of the sponsoring department and most accurately reflects the J-1 scholar’s primary activity at the medical center will be stated in item 4 of Form DS-2019.  

Research Scholar and Professor 

Qualifications: Academic credentials (generally at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and experience appropriate to the field of endeavor.

Activity: The activity must be full-time and temporary. Cannot be a tenure track position. Emphasis on research, observation or consultation, but may also teach and lecture.

Length of Stay: The minimum stay in the US is three weeks, and the maximum stay is five years. No extension beyond five years is possible. Research Scholars/Professors have a 30-day grace period after their program ends to leave the US.

Eligibility for Repeat Participation: Exchange visitors who complete a J-1 program in the Research Scholar/Professor category, regardless of the program’s duration, incur a two-year window of ineligibility before a new program in the Research Scholar/Professor category can begin.

Exchange Visitors (including J-2 dependents) in any category except Short-Term Scholar incur a one-year window of ineligibility before beginning a program in the Research Scholar/Professor category if they were in the US at any time during the 12-month period immediately prior to the start of the new program unless the total stay was less than six months.

Neither the two-year nor the one-year bar to eligibility for the Research Scholar/Professor category apply to exchange visitors who transfer to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center from another institution within the US to continue their current J-1 program.

Short-Term Scholar 

Qualifications: Academic credentials (generally at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and experience appropriate to the field of endeavor.

Activity: The activity must be full-time and temporary. Short-Term Scholars may teach, lecture, observe, consult or perform research, and participate in seminars, workshops, conferences and other types of educational or professional activities.

Length of Stay: Short-Term Scholars may participate in the exchange visitor program for the length of time necessary to complete the program, not to exceed six months. Extensions beyond six months are not permitted. Short-Term Scholars have a 30-day grace period after their program ends to leave the US.

Eligibility for Repeat Participation: Individuals who have previously participated in an exchange visitor program in the Short-Term Scholar category may begin a new program in any category without delay. Departments that invite exchange visitors for 6 months or less but anticipate extending their stay beyond 6 months should request the Research Scholar/Professor category instead of the Short-Term Scholar category. Departments that invite exchange visitors for 6 months or less and do not plan to extend them beyond six months should request the Short-Term Scholar category, especially if future visits to the US in the J-1 Professor or Research Scholar categories are anticipated within the next two years.     

Specialist

Qualifications: Academic credentials and experience appropriate to the field of endeavor.

Activity: Specialists are experts in a field of specialized knowledge or skill coming to the US to demonstrate their special knowledge/skills, or to observe or consult with colleagues.

Length of Stay: Specialists may participate in the exchange visitor program for the length of time necessary to complete the program, not to exceed 12 months. A minimum stay of three weeks is required.

Eligibility for Repeat Participation: Individuals who have previously participated in any exchange visitor program may begin a new program in the Specialist category without delay. Individuals who completed an exchange visitor program in the Specialist category may be delayed in beginning a new program in the Research Scholar or Professor categories because of the 12-month bar.