J-1 Exchange Visitor Categories

EV category Eligibility criteria Duration
Non-degree student**
  • Activities in the U.S. will include a full-time non-degree “prescribed course of study” conducted by a post-secondary accredited academic institution. The non-degree academic program must have a specific educational objective, such as intensive English language training, classroom instruction, research projects, and/or academic training to the extent allowed by U.S. Department of State (DOS) regulations.
  • Sufficient proficiency in English to participate fully in the program and to engage with the local community.
  • During the program, the student must meet at least one of these criteria:
    • Student/program is financed directly or indirectly by: (i) U.S. government, (ii) home country’s government, or (iii) an international organization of which the U.S. is a member by treaty or statute;
    • Program is under an agreement between the U.S. government and a foreign government;
    • Program is under a written agreement between: (i) U.S. and foreign academic institutions, (ii) U.S. academic institution and a foreign government, or (iii) U.S. state or local government and a foreign government; or
    • Student is supported substantially by funding from any source other than personal or family funds.

**FSIS processes Non-Degree Student requests for all campuses except UHM.

Two years maximum. May not change between the non-degree student category and the degree student category.
Professor
  • Activities in the U.S. will include primarily teaching, lecturing, observing, or consulting at post-secondary accredited educational institutions, museums, libraries, and similar types of institutions. May also conduct research.
  • Sufficient proficiency in English to participate fully in the program and to engage with the local community.
  • Holds at least a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the program activities.
  • Will hold a temporary UH appointment with a pre-determined, fixed end date. Will not be considered for regular employment at the end of the program; is not being “tried out” for a regular employment position.
  • Not allowed to enroll/audit UH courses as a student participant.
  • Was not a J-1 professor or research scholar or a J-2 dependent of a J-1 professor/research scholar during the 24 months before the intended start date of the new program.
  • Was not a J-1 EV or J-2 dependent during the 12 months before the intended start date of the new program unless they:
    • Are transferring a J-1 program to UH;
    • Were in the U.S. less than six months in an EV category other than a professor or research scholar; or
    • Were in the short-term scholar category.
Three weeks minimum; five years maximum.
Research scholar
  • Activities in the U.S. will include primarily conducting research, observing, or consulting in connection with a research project at research institutions, corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited educational institutions, or similar types of institutions. May also teach.
  • Sufficient proficiency in English to participate fully in the program and to engage with the local community.
  • Holds at least a bachelor’s degree in a field related to the program activities.
  • Will hold a temporary UH appointment with a pre-determined, fixed end date. Will not be considered for regular employment at the end of the program; is not being “tried out” for a regular employment position.
  • Not allowed to enroll/audit UH courses as a student participant.
  • Was not a J-1 professor or research scholar or a J-2 dependent of a J-1 professor/research scholar during the 24 months before the intended start date of the new program.
    • Are transferring a J-1 program to UH;
    • Were in the U.S. less than six months in an EV category other than a professor or research scholar; or
    • Were in the short-term scholar category.
Three weeks minimum; five years maximum.
Short-term scholar
  • Activities in the U.S. will include lecturing, observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills at research institutions, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited educational institutions, or similar types of institutions. Will participate in seminars, workshops, conferences, study tours, professional meetings, and/or similar types of educational and professional activities.
  • Sufficient proficiency in English to participate fully in the program and to engage with the local community.
  • Person is a professor or researcher or has similar education or accomplishments and holds at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
  • Not allowed to enroll/audit UH courses as a student participant.
  • Programs cannot be back-to-back. Must be a six-month break between programs and each visit constitutes a new objective.
No minimum duration; six months maximum. No extensions beyond six months.
Specialist
  • Activities in the U.S. will include observing, consulting, or demonstrating special knowledge or skills.
  • Sufficient proficiency in English to participate fully in the program and to engage with the local community.
  • Person is an expert in a field of specialized knowledge or skill, such as mass media communications, environmental science, youth leadership, international educational exchange, museum exhibitions, labor law, public administration, library science, or other non-academic activity.
  • Not allowed to enroll/audit UH courses as a student participant.
Three weeks minimum; one year maximum. Extensions beyond one year are possible only in very limited cases and require DOS approval.