Departments need to contact their HR specialist for the college/school unit regarding the specific policies for hosting exchange visitors. For information about immigration requirements, departments may contact an International Scholar Specialist (Janet or Pei-Chin).

No. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has made it clear that the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is intended strictly for temporary educational and cultural exchange activities and not for regular employment. It is therefore not an option for APT and most faculty (BU 07) positions. UH units must request E-3, H-1B, O-1, or TN classification for tenure-track positions, and APT positions and non-tenure track faculty positions that are renewable annually on an indefinite basis. J-1 sponsorship cannot be used as an initial screening mechanism to determine whether to hire an individual into an indefinite regular employment position at a later date.

It depends. If a complete DS-2019 Initial Request packet is submitted and all requirements are met, we should be able to issue a Form DS-2019 within 5-7 business days. Significant delays are commonly attributed to incomplete requests.

The individual needs to schedule the appointment as soon as possible after receiving the Form DS-2019 from the International Scholar Specialist and paying the SEVIS I-901 fee.

The individual must contact their faculty sponsor, college/school HR specialist, and FSIS. Please provide a copy of the denial letter and any information shared with you by the embassy officer.

U.S. Department of State regulations requires UH as a program sponsor to provide orientation for our exchange visitors. Orientation/registration appointments are necessary for FSIS to effectively convey important information to exchange visitors and their dependents. After the appointment is finished, we validate the exchange visitor’s program in SEVIS. Program validation cannot be done unless we have met with the exchange visitor. If the person’s program is not validated on time, their status will automatically change to “No Show” and they may lose their legal immigration status in the U.S.

Extremely important. The Form I-94 record serves as the official evidence of your legal status and sets the duration of your authorized stay in the U.S.

• For entries prior to September 15, 2026: Most J-1 exchange visitors were admitted for “Duration of Status,” so the Form I-94 will show “J-1” under immigration status and “D/S” under the Admit Until Date. Individuals currently holding D/S will retain it through their current Form DS-2019 end date (up to a maximum of 4 years), provided they do not travel internationally.
• For entries on or after September 15, 2026: DHS has eliminated “Duration of Status.” J-1 EVs entering or re-entering the U.S. will receive a fixed expiration date (Admit Until Date) on their Form I-94. This date is tied to the program end date on the Form DS-2019 (not to exceed 4 years) plus a 30-day grace period.

Why checking matters: Every time you enter the U.S., you must inspect your Form I-94 on the CBP I-94 website immediately to ensure your status is listed correctly as J-1 and that your Admit Until Date matches your authorized stay. Remaining in the U.S. past the fixed date listed on your I-94 without filing a timely extension with USCIS can result in the accrual of unlawful presence.

See the travel abroad and reentry procedures.

See the “travel emergencies” section of the travel abroad and reentry procedures.

No. If the exchange visitor has not yet arrived in J-1 status, the dependent may not enter the U.S. in J-2 status. J-2 status is contingent upon the exchange visitor being in J-1 status.

Yes, as long as the J-2 dependent is authorized to work and their income will not support the exchange visitor.

Yes.