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.