J-1 Scholars Application Procedures

Requesting a J-1 Exchange Visitor

Please complete the following 5 steps for requesting a J-1 Exchange Visitor (EV):

1. Formal Request

The department chair will need to make a formal request to International Scholar Services. The letter should bear UND letterhead and a signature from the chair. If you have any questions, please email Amy Vein at amy.vein@und.edu.

2. J-1 Processing Fee

Your department must submit a UND journal entry to International Scholar Services to pay the $100 processing fee. This is a one-time (non-refundable) fee for initial and transfer exchange visitors. Payment must be received before International Scholar Services processes the Exchange Visitor request.

Departments should work with their finance manager or the Shared Service Center to process the Journal Entry in PeopleSoft. 

Please send a confirmation email to amy.vein@und.edu once the J-1 Processing fee has been completed.

3. Exchange Visitor Worksheet

You must thoroughly complete and submit an Exchange Visitor Worksheet for each EV to International Scholar Services. Please provide a copy of the EV's passport photo page with this worksheet. For any dependents accompanying the scholar, please also provide copies of the passport photo page.

Once completed, send the Exchange Visitor Worksheet to the Office of International Programs and also to the Export Control Officer (Michael Sadler).

4. English Proficiency Requirement

All J-1 Research Scholars, Professors, and Short-Term Scholars are required to demonstrate adequate English language proficiency before form DS-2019 will be issued. The J-1 Scholar English Proficiency Requirement form includes five options through which English language proficiency may be demonstrated. Select one option and provide the required documentation identified for that option.

5. Export Control Approval

You must contact and work with the UND Export Control Officer (Michael Sadler, 701.777.4152, UND Tech Accelerator Room 2050, michael.p.sadler@UND.edu) concerning federal Export Administration Regulations (EAR) and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). The Office of International Programs will not release any Forms DS-2019 without the UND Export Control Officer's approval.

SEVIS Form DS-2019

International Scholar Services (ISS) will then review the submitted documents. Once everything is correct, ISS will create a Form DS-2019 through the US Department of State's Student and Exchange Visitor system (SEVIS).

ISS will provide your Department with the following:

1. A welcome letter from the UND International Center to the J-1 Exchange Visitor (EV).
2. A copy of the Department of State’s The Exchange Visitor Program welcome brochure.
3. SEVIS Form(s) DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, which is required for the application of a J-1 (and J-2 dependent) visas at an U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.
4. Instructions for paying the mandatory $200.00 SEVIS fee to the Department of Homeland Security.
5. An instruction sheet outlining the procedures the EV must follow to obtain a J-1 (and J-2 dependent) visas from an U.S. Embassy or Consulate abroad.
   Note: Canadian citizens does not need a visa stamp in their passport. They are only required to show their Form DS-2019 at the Port of Entry to obtain status as a J-1 Exchange Visitor.

Your department will be responsible for mailing the above documents to the individual abroad. The sending of electronic copies of Form DS-2019 are not permitted.

U.S. Embassy/Consulate Appointment

Once the Exchange Visitor (EV) receives the above documents from your Department, they must pay the SEVIS fee, and then make an appointment with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in their country. The Embassy/Consulate will process the J-1 visa request. Therefore, the EV should ask the Embassy/Consulate about the procedures involved in obtaining the J-1 (and J-2 dependent) visas.

The following are some of the documents the EV will need to take to his or her appointment at the Embassy/Consulate:

• Current passport (Must be valid for at least 6 months into the future)
• Proof of SEVIS fee payment to the Department of Homeland Security SEVIS Form(s)
• DS-2019
• Evidence of financial ability to meet expenses at UND
• Evidence of English ability sufficient for the exchange program. The consular officer will determine whether the applicant has sufficient knowledge of the English language to permit him or her to undertake the particular program.
• Evidence of residence abroad and intent to depart the United States after the completion of the exchange program. The applicant for a J-1 visa must establish to the satisfaction of the consular officer that he or she has a residence abroad which he or she has no intention of abandoning.
• Photographs

If the application for a J-1 visa is approved, the Consular Officer will stamp the visa in the EV’s passport. The consular officer will also note the period of validity and the number of entries for which the visa is valid. Moreover, the consular officer will note whether or not the EV is subject to the Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement. The consular officer will then return the Form(s) DS-2019 to the Exchange Visitor.