J-1 Scholar Pre-Arrival Guide
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NC STATE UNIVERSITY Office of International Services J-1 Scholar Pre-Arrival Guide Reviewed November, 2018 Welcome to NC STATE OIS Staff We are looking forward to having YOU Director Ms. Elizabeth James, J.D. join the NC State community! Associate Director Mr. Thomas Greene, Ph.D. NC State is a pre-eminent research enterprise that faces Assistant Director, Advising Ms. Mollie LoJacono and overcomes global challenges. We work with leading Assistant Director, Programs Ms. Lauren Ball partners and use cutting-edge technologies to develop world-changing solutions. The staff and volunteers at the Assistant Director, SEVIS Compliance Mr. Mike Shurer Office of International Services (OIS) are committed to NC Senior International Student & Ms. Hillary Patton State University's global mission and vision and we invite Scholar Advisor you to join us as we help prepare world citizens and Senior International Undergraduate Ms. Jennifer Glass develop global leaders here in North Carolina. Advisor Please read this guide carefully. It gives important International Student & Mr. Alex Wesner information on the J-1 Exchange Program, your visa Scholar Advisor application process, your rights and responsibilities as a International Student & Ms. Hayley Hardenbrook J-1 Scholar, and practical resources to help you get settled Scholar Advisor at NC State. International Student & Ms. Kelsey Stolzenbach Scholar Advisor Programs Coordinator Mr. Nehemiah Chung Contact OIS International Services Coordinator Asst. Ms. Sheila O'Rear Office of International Services International Services Coordinator Mr. Eric Syty 320 Daniels Hall, 111 Lampe Drive Campus Box 7222 Raleigh, NC 27695-7222 PROGRAM OVERVIEW ........................ p.3 PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION ........... p.4 http://internationalservices.ncsu.edu ARRIVAL IN THE U.S. .......................... p.6 [email protected] LIVING IN RALEIGH ............................ p.8 OIS PROGRAMS .................................. p.10 https://www.facebook.com/NCSUOIS CAMPUS RESOURCES ........................ p.12 #wolfpackworld TERM OF RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES .................... p.14 REQUEST DS-2019 FORM .................. p.15 2 J-1 Exchange Visitor Program Overview The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is a federal program administered by the Department of State, which implements the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961. This Act promotes mutual understanding between the peoples of the United States and other countries by means of educational and cultural exchange. The Exchange Visitor Program provides eligible foreign nationals with opportunities to participate in exchange programs in the United States and then return home to share their experiences. The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is organized into a number of different categories. The Office of International Services (OIS) at NC State has been designated to sponsor the following categories: student, student intern, professor, research scholar, and short-term scholar. OIS staff are trained immigration advisors who can help you understand the applicable federal, state, and university regulations. It is important to remember that the Exchange Visitor Program at NC State University is not an expedient means of employing foreign nationals (or, from the scholar’s point of view, for working in the U.S.), but is intended to further the educational, cultural, and research interests of the international student or scholar as much as the needs of the faculty sponsor, grant program, or University. AS A J-1 SCHOLAR YOU MUST UNDERSTAND ... In accepting a J-1 visa and entering the U.S., you obligate yourself The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is “category” specific. You are not to comply with the terms and conditions pursuant to this status and eligible to change the purpose of your visit or your category once you as stated on page 2 of your DS-2019 form. Please read your have entered the U.S. DS-2019 carefully. If you enter the U.S. in the J-1 Short Term Scholar category, you Attached to this guide you will find the statement with your Rights will have a maximum time limit of 6 months of participation with no & Responsibilities. Please read each statement, sign and date at possibility of extension. the bottom of the form, and bring this form with you to your Check- In appointment at the Office of International Services upon your If you enter the U.S. in the J-1 Research Scholar or Professor arrival (your host department will schedule this Check-In category, you will have a maximum time limit of 5 years of appointment for you). participation. Research Scholars and Professors are subject to a 24- month bar on repeat participation. This means that after you have You are required to maintain health insurance for the entire been in the U.S. as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor, you are duration of your DS-2019. This also applies to dependents in J-2 ineligible to begin a new program as a J-1 Research Scholar or status. The health insurance you purchase must meet certain Professor until you have been physically absent from the U.S. for 24 standards. Please note that failure to maintain adequate health months. insurance for yourself and all dependents is considered a violation of the Exchange Visitor Program regulations, which will result in Any of the J-1 categories may be subject to the 2-year home termination of your J-1 program and the visa status for the residency requirement. Whether or not you are subject is determined principal and dependents. Please visit the OIS website for detailed at the U.S. Consulate/Embassy. For more information about the 2-year information. residency requirement, please visit the OIS website. English proficiency is required to participate in the J-1 Exchange Keep in mind that any family members who accompany you in J-2 Visitor Program. Your sponsor department will be required to status are automatically subject to any rule you, the J-1 principal, are evaluate and certify your English language proficiency. subject to. Family members can apply for J-2 status if they are your lawful spouse or children (under the age of 21). 3 Pre-Arrival Information MANDATORY Applying for the J-1 Visa at the HEALTH INSURANCE U.S. Consulate/Embassy: The Department of State (DOS) requires all participants of Step 1: Check your documents; make sure you check the the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program to have and maintain DS-2019 form carefully to ensure the information is correct. If health insurance which covers the exchange visitor and all you believe there is an error, please contact OIS directly accompanying family members for the entire duration of ([email protected]). Your passport needs to be valid at least 6 their DS-2019 - even if the dependents (J-2) are arriving in months into the future at all times (during the visa application the U.S. at a later date of the principal (J-1). Please note process and your stay in the U.S.). that this requirement holds even if you or your family members are temporarily abroad. Proof of health insurance Step 2: Pay the SEVIS fee ($180) with Form I-901. Make sure for J-1 and J-2s must be provided at the OIS Check-In to print the confirmation of payment of this fee; you will need it appointment. The health insurance plan must cover all for your visa application. For more information and how to pay, participants for accidents, sickness, medical evacuation and please visit: https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/ repatriation: the regulations currently require at least $100,000 per accident or illness, US$50,000 provision for Step 3: Apply for the J-1 visa with the nearest medical evacuation, US$25,000 minimum repatriation U.S. Consulate/Embassy. Please refer to the Embassy's coverage, and US$500 maximum deductible per illness. website for detailed information on which documents to bring and when to visit them for your visa interview. For a list of all The minimum coverage amounts are US$100,000 per Embassies, please visit: http://www.usembassy.gov/ accident or illness; US$50,000 provision for medical **Family members (J-2 status) will have to apply for their own evacuation; US$25,000 minimum repatriation visa and pay applicable visa fees. They do not have to pay the coverage, and US$500 maximum deductible per SEVIS fee as your fee covers dependents on J-2 visas. accident or illness. Step 4: Review the health insurance requirements for you and Visit the OIS website to find a list of health insurance dependents that are traveling to the U.S. All J-1 Scholars and providers which offer the above coverage that meet the dependents MUST have valid health insurance throughout the requirements above. Health insurance costs vary based duration of their DS-2019. on age, healthcare needs, and number of persons covered. Please Note: Failure to maintain adequate NC State University has contracted with GeoBlue, an health insurance for the principal (J-1) and international health insurance provider, to offer our J-1 dependents (J-2) throughout the duration scholars a vetted option for quality coverage. GeoBlue of your DS-2019 is considered to be a is open to international scholars and their dependents under the age of 64 years old. Scholars can self-enroll in violation of the Exchange Visitor Program this plan without the assistance of the university. regulations, which will result in Read more about GeoBlue on our website: termination from the program. https://internationalservices.ncsu.edu/health-insurance- j1/ 4 WHAT TO BRING Do not bring too many items from home that can easily be bought in the U.S. Be sure to bring enough toiletries with you to last several days upon arrival. You do not know how soon you may be able to go to a store to buy the basic necessities.