J-1 Exchange Visitor Scholars

During your J-1 Exchange Visitor Scholar Program, you are required to notify OIS of any changes to your U.S. residential address, phone number, or e-mail address within ten days of the change.

• Learn how to update your contact information

All J-1 Exchange Visitors are required to demonstrate adequate funding for the duration of their J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. If your program funding source or amount changes during your program, you must notify OIS in advance.

• Learn how to update your funding information

J-1 Exchange Visitor Scholars must maintain full-time program activity at the site listed on their Form DS-2019.

• Understand the definition of full-time program activity

J-1 Exchange Visitor Scholars should only engage in activity at sites listed on their Form DS-2019.

• Learn when to update your sites of activity

If you intend to travel internationally and re-enter the U.S. in J-1 status, you will need to request and obtain a travel authorization, or “travel signature,” on your DS-2019 form from OIS.

• Learn how to obtain a travel signature on your DS-2019

The U.S.Department of State requires medical insurance for all J-1 Exchange Visitors and their dependents. If your medical insurance coverage changes, you must notify OIS.

• Learn how to update your medical insurance information with OIS

If you find that your UIC DS-2019 will expire before you complete the objectives of your J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, you will need to work with your host department to request an extension with OIS.

• Learn how to extend your program

If you are in the Research Scholar/Professor or Short-term Scholar category, you may be eligible to transfer your J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.

• Learn about transferring a J-1 EV Scholar Program

J-1 EV Scholars must notify OIS when they permanently depart the U.S. or no longer need the benefits associated with their nonimmigrant status sponsored by UIC.

• Learn how to close our your J-1 EV Scholar record

Category basics

The Research Scholar and Professor categories are intended for J-1 Exchange Visitors (EVs) to conduct research, teach, lecture, observe, or consult at UIC. Research Scholars and Professors must have a minimum of a bachelor’s degree and demonstrated experience in their field.

Program maintenance

There are several ongoing requirements to maintain your program status as a J-1 EV, such items include: maintaining health insurance, updating your residential address, updating sites of activity, adding dependents, among others.

Restrictions

• Duration – Maximum program duration of up to five years total. Program extensions may be possible with ongoing department support, adequate funding, and program adherence.
• Intent – J-1 status does not allow immigrant intent; you may not accept a tenure or tenure-track position and remain in J-1 status. Certain position titles are also restricted at UIC for those in J-1 status.
• Patient care – You may not engage in any direct patient care at any time. If you obtain a medical residency placement, you will need to work with the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) to facilitate that change of category. Questions regarding the Alien Physician category can be directed to ECFMG or UIC’s Graduate Medical Education (GME).
• 24-month bar –  You are subject to the “24-month bar” upon completion of your program. This prohibits you from beginning another program as a Research Scholar or Professor for a period of two years from your DS-2019 program end date. See the 12 and 24 Month Bars page on the OIS website for further guidance.
• Two-Year Home Residency Requirement – In addition, you may be subject to the Two-Year Home Residency Requirement (212[e]) This is largely dependent on your home country, field of study, and/or funding source. Once you receive a waiver you are no longer eligible to extend your EV program further.

Incidental program activity

• You may only engage in the specific activities as described on the DS-2019 Request Form submitted to OIS.
• If you are interested in taking classes or enrolling in a degree program, even part-time, you must contact OIS in advance.
• You may not accept payment from any source not listed on your Form DS-2019. Accepting funds from another institution before approval is cause for termination of your EV program.
• If you are offered a program-related opportunity, such as a paid lecture at another institution or to attend a short training course off-site, you must first request approval for this activity from your supervisor, then contact OISJ1@uic.edu for more guidance. Several regulatory restrictions apply, a few of these include: 1) Activity must be approved in advance by both your sponsoring department and OIS; 2) Activity must be temporary and incidental to your primary program objectives at UIC; 3) Activity cannot delay completion of the J-1 EV program; and 4) If paid, the employer must hire the scholar as an ‘independent contractor;’ dual employment is not permitted.

Out of country authorizations

If you need to travel outside the U.S. and will be absent for 60 days or more, this must be approved by your department and OIS in advance. Please see the J-1 Travel Authorization page for further guidance.

If approved, OIS will put an “Out of Country Authorization” on your SEVIS record until you return to the U.S. If you are paid by UIC and will not be paid while you are outside the U.S., you will need to submit alternate proof of funding to OIS for the duration you will be unpaid in order to maintain your J-1 EV status. You must also continue to maintain valid health insurance for yourself and any J-2 dependents through the duration of the absence.

Category basics

The Short-Term Scholar category is intended for J-1 Exchange Visitors conducting research at UIC that will be completed in six months or less. This category is often used for lectures, observations, consultations, or to participate in seminars, workshops, conferences, or other academic and professional meetings.

Program maintenance

There are several ongoing requirements to maintain your program status as a J-1 EV, such items include: maintaining health insurance, updating your residential address, updating sites of activity, adding dependents, among others.

Restrictions

• Duration – Maximum program duration of up to 6 months total. Extensions through 6 months may be possible with ongoing department support, adequate funding and program adherence. There is no possibility to extend beyond 6 months. You may not change to another EV category to extend your stay.
• Return – You may be able to return to the U.S. to participate in another Short-Term Scholar program provided that there is a substantial break between visits and that each visit has a distinct program objective.

Category basics

As a UIC J-1 EV in the Student Intern category, you are essentially considered a “scholar,” and not “(UIC-enrolled) student.” You are here at UIC to complete a guided, monitored internship with your UIC host department, which is related to your studies in your home institution abroad.

Because you are not considered a “UIC student,” most student services such as the CTA U-Pass or free access to Campus Recreation facilities are not available to you. Those programs are supported by annual student fees paid by enrolled UIC students. However, some UIC employee or affiliate discounts may be available to you for Campus Recreation, Divvy bikes, or cell phone providers.

Also, be sure to partake in various OIS programming activities to enrich your internship experience.

Restrictions

• Duration – Maximum program duration of up to one year total. Program extensions may be possible with ongoing department support, adequate funding, and program adherence.
• 12-month bar – You are subject to the “12-month bar” upon completion of your program. This prohibits you from beginning a new J-1 EV program as a Research Scholar or Professor for a period of one year from your DS-2019 program end date as a Student Intern. See the 12 and 24 Month Bars page on the OIS website for further guidance.

DS-7002 Training/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP) and Required Evaluations

Remember that the DS-7002 Training/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP) is integral to your program. The required student evaluation is related to this training plan. If your program length is six months or longer, a mid-point and final evaluation are required. See this sample of a J-1 Student Intern Evaluation Form. The form itself will need to be uploaded to myOIS by your department administrator.