J-1 Exchange Visitor Categories for Faculty and Scholars at the University of Washington

The Department of State requires that J-1 Exchange Visitors coming to perform research or teaching at the University of Washington be assigned a "category" which reflects their academic activities on campus. Federal regulations give us three categories to choose from:

• Research Scholar
• Professor
• Short-Term Scholar

These categories are not UW academic appointment titles, but all UW academic appointments that qualify for J-1 visas will be assigned one of these three categories. When selecting the category, the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS) considers the Exchange Visitor's academic background, UW appointment title, position responsibilities, immigration history, possibility of repeat visits to the United States, and anticipated length of stay. The category that best meets the needs of the sponsoring department and most accurately reflects the Exchange Visitor's primary activity at the University of Washington is stated in item 4 of the Exchange Visitor's DS-2019 form. The Exchange Visitor's UW appointment title is not listed on the form. The categories are described below:

Qualifications: Department of State requires Exchange Visitors in the Research Scholar category to have academic credentials (generally at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent) and experience appropriate to the field of endeavor. Exchange Visitors must additionally qualify for the UW appointment title offered to them.

Activity: The activity must be full-time and temporary. Emphasis on research, observation or consultation, but may also teach and lecture if the UW appointment title permits this. If the Exchange Visitor will be here primarily to conduct research, the Research Scholar category is appropriate even if the individual is a professor in the home country.

Length of Stay: Minimum stay in the U.S. is three weeks, maximum is five years. No extension beyond five years is possible. Research Scholars have a 30 day grace period after their program ends to leave the U.S.

Eligibility for Repeat Participation: Exchange Visitors who complete a J-1 program in the Professor or Research Scholar categories on or after November 17, 2006, regardless of the program's duration, incur a two-year window of ineligibility before a new program in the Research Scholar category can begin. Exchange Visitors in any category except Short-Term Scholar (including J-2 dependents) incur a one-year window of ineligibility before beginning a program in the Research Scholar category if they were in the U.S. 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. The one-year bar does not apply to those who are subject to the two-year bar - in other words, individuals who are subject to the two-year bar are not additionally subject to the one-year bar. Neither the two-year nor the one-year bar to eligibility for the Research Scholar category apply to exchange visitors who transfer to the UW from another institution within the U.S. to continue their current J-1 program. Also, no time spent in the U.S. in the Short-Term Scholar category triggers the bars.

Qualifications: Department of State requires Exchange Visitors in the Professor category to have academic credentials (generally at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent) and experience appropriate to their field of endeavor. Exchange Visitors must additionally qualify for the UW appointment title offered to them.

Activity: The activity must be full-time and temporary. Emphasis on teaching or lecturing, but may also observe, consult and engage in research.

Length of Stay: Minimum stay in the U.S. is three weeks, maximum is five years. No extension beyond five years is possible. Professors have a 30 day grace period after their program ends to leave the U.S.

Eligibility for Repeat Participation: Exchange Visitors who complete a J-1 program in the Professor or Research Scholar categories on or after November 17, 2006, regardless of the program's duration, incur a two-year window of ineligibility before a new program in the Professor category can begin. Exchange Visitors in any category except "Short-Term Scholar" (including J-2 dependents) incur a one-year window of ineligibility before beginning a program in the Professor category if they were in the U.S. 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. The one-year bar does not apply to those who are subject to the two-year bar - in other words, individuals who are subject to the two-year bar are not additionally subject to the one-year bar. Neither the two-year nor the one-year bar to eligibility for the Professor category apply to Exchange Visitors who transfer to the UW from another institution within the U.S. to continue their current J-1 program. Also, no time spent in the U.S. in the Short-Term Scholar category triggers the bars.

Qualifications: Department of State requires Exchange Visitors in the Short-Term Scholar category to have academic credentials (generally at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent) and experience appropriate to the field of endeavor. Exchange Visitors must additionally qualify for the UW appointment title offered to them.

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 U.S.

Eligibility for Repeat Participation: Repeat participation in the Short-Term Scholar category to engage in a new program or activity is permitted at any time. Departments which invite Exchange Visitors for 6 months or less but anticipate extending their stay beyond 6 months should request either the Professor or Research Scholar category. Departments which 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 U.S. in J-1 visa status are anticipated within the next two years.