J1 Scholars
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J1 Short-Term Scholar
A short-term scholar is a professor, research scholar, or person with similar education or accomplishments who visits the United States to lecture, observe, consult, train, or demonstrate special skills at research institutions, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited educational institutions, or similar types of institutions.
The duration of the program is the time needed to complete the objective, up to a maximum of six months. Extensions are not permitted.
Short-term scholars may participate in the Exchange Visitor Program at conferences, workshops, seminars, or other events listed their Forms DS-2019. Participants may also lecture or consult at institutions not listed on the Form DS-2019 if the responsible officer issues a written authorization for such activity.
J1 Professor and Research Scholar
As participants in these program categories, foreign professors and research scholars engage in research, teaching, and lecturing with their American colleagues.
The eligible participant shall not be a candidate for a tenure track position. Also, professor and research scholar participants may not be in the United States in J-visa status for any part of the 12-month period preceding the start date of their programs, indicated on their Form DS-2019. The 12-month bar is waived if the participant is participating in the Short-Term Scholar category.
At the discretion of the responsible officer, professors may engage in research and research scholars may engage in teaching and lecturing; this will not be considered a change of category.
Incidental lectures or short-term consultations are permitted with the written approval of the responsible officer so long as they are directly related to the objectives of the participant's program, and do not delay its completion date. Please consult the regulations for details.
The maximum duration for both categories is five years.
Program Extension
The responsible officer has the discretion to extend a participant's program to its maximum regulatory duration, that is, to the limit imposed by the regulations specific to a program category or to a program sponsor's designation. A new Form DS-2019 reflecting the extension is issued to the participant.
