Departments interested in inviting an international scholar must complete a Request for a DS-2019 (and a Request for a Dependent DS-2019, if applicable) and submit it to the International Student Center(ISC) at least 3 months prior to the program start date. Note that this form must be completed by the responsible person in the Department and NOT by the Exchange Visitor. Please submit verification of funding with the request for the DS-2019. For more information, contact Maria Beebe at 785-532-6448 or email pappy@ksu.edu.
If the Exchange Visitor is already in the U.S. as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor then he/she must compete the Transfer In Form and submit it to the International Student Center.
All J-1 Scholars, Short-Term Scholars and Professors are required to have a least a Bachelor's degree. It will be the responsibility of the department to be sure that all applicants meet this requirement. In some instances it is possible to bring an undergraduate as a Scholar. Contact Maria Beebe at the International Student Center at 532-6448 or at pappy@ksu.edu for more details.
J-1 status is granted to an individual having a residence in a foreign country which he/she has no intention of abandoning. Kansas State University J-1 Exchange Visitor Program currently sponsors J-1 exchange visitors in the Student, Professor, Research Scholar and Short Term Scholar categories.
The amount of time given on the DS-2019 depends on the exchange visitor’s category in which the visitor was admitted:
Short Term Scholars: 1 day to 6 months with no extensions.
Professors: Minimum 3 weeks with maximum duration of 5 years*
Research Scholars: Minimum 3 weeks with maximum duration of 5 years*
*The five-year period is not an aggregate of 5 years. It is a continuous 5-year period given to a scholar on a “use it or lose it” basis. In order to take advantage of the full 5-year period, J-1 Research Scholars and/or Professors must have a continuous academic appointment, at K-State or another J-1 Program Sponsor in the U.S. They must maintain J-1 immigration status and they must have a continuous J-1 immigration record in SEVIS.
All J-1 Scholars (except for Canadian citizens) must apply for and obtain a J-1 entry visa from the closest U.S. embassy or consulate in their home country. This process can only be completed upon receipt of the DS-2019 for the J-1 scholar and all J-2 dependent family members and the payment of the $100 SEVIS fee. (For more information on the SEVIS fee, go to https://www.fmjfee.com/i901fee/). Processing times for the DS-2019, the availability of appointments, and background checks at the consulate may vary greatly, therefore, it is highly recommended that scholars do not make or finalize any travel plans until they secure their entry visas.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security regulations state that prospective J-1 exchange visitors will not be admitted to the U.S. any earlier than 30 days prior to the program begin date shown on the DS-2019. Please consider this when making travel plans.
1. Report address changes to the International Student Center (ISC). U.S. federal regulations require that all J-1 scholars report a change of address within 10 days directly to the ISC. The ISC is required to provide this information electronically to USCIS through SEVIS.
2. Report departure date and reason for departure to the ISC. There are times when a scholar will leave the university prior to the Program End Date lsited on the DS 2019. The scholar must notify the ISC of the date of departure and the reason for ending their program at Kansas State University.
J-1 Professors or Research Scholars in the U.S. on November 18, 2006, or arriving in the U.S. after this date, will be unable to re-enter the U.S. as a Professor or Scholar for 24 months after the completion of their program at Kansas State University. If the scholar is not maintaining a continuous and collaborative relationship with Kansas State University and is not transferring to another J-1 program, the 24-month bar to re-enter the U.S. in the J-1 Professor or Research Scholar category will be triggered. Therefore, it is very important the for scholars to keep the ISC informed of future plans and intentions.
3. Report changes in Program to ISC. Scholars must notify the ISC whenever there is a change in their program. These changes include new locations, new funding sources, new laboratory or department.
4. Abide by employment regulations. J-1 scholars may only conduct research or teach only at Kansas State University unless specifically authorized ahead of time in writing by the ISC to give a lecture or consult at another institution. Scholars must contact the ISC if invited to speak at another institution.
5. Maintain adequate health insurance. J-1 scholars must maintain adequate health insurance for themselves as well as their dependents throughout their entire stay in the U.S. Failrue to do so renders the scholars and their dependents "out of status" and the scholars may be removed from the J-1 program. Minimum insurance requirements are show in the table below.
Medical Benefits |
$50,000 per illness or accident. |
Deductible |
Cannot exceed $500 |
Repatriation |
$7,500 |
Medical Evacuation |
$10,000 |
6. Obtain travel signature prior to traveling outside of the U.S. Scholars and their dependents must obtain the signature on their DS-2019 from a staff member at the ISC prior to traveling outside the U.S.
7.Apply for a program extension prior to the DS-2019 expiration date. Extensions are granted if the scholar is eligible for the additional time requested and the funding is adequate.
8. Receive transfer authorization prior to leaving. Scholars must notify the ISC of plans to transfer in advance. In order to process the transfer, the scholar must notify the ISC and provide the name of the new program sponsor and an offer letter from the new institution. The ISC must correspond with the new sponsor to complete the transfer electronically through SEVIS.
9. Depart the U.S. within the 30-day grace period. J-1 Scholars and all their dependents must depart the U.S. within 30 days of the Program End Date listed on the DS-2019.
The Exchange Visitor must report to the International Student Center upon arrival. He/she must bring the DS2019, passport and I-94.
The International Student Center(ISC) offers an Orientation for visiting scholars and professors. Normally, the session is held the first Tuesday of every month at 10:00 a.m. Sometimes, this schedule changes. Please check the ISC calendar at http://www.k-state.edu/intlstucenter/calendar/ or call the ISC at 785-532-6448 for any changes in the schedule. The purpose of the orientation is to provide information on immigration, the responsibilities of the Exchange Visitor and living in the Manhattan
area.
Only the spouse and unmarried minor children (under 21 years of age) of the exchange visitor are eligible for J-2 status. J-2 dependents can apply for an Employment Authorization Document (EAD) from USCIS in order to be employed in the United States. The J-2 may begin employment only after receiving the EAD from USCIS.
J-2 dependents are eligible to apply to USCIS for employment authorization so long as the employment is not for the purpose of supporting the J-1:
For information on applying for J-2 work authorization, click here.