J-1 Exchange Visitor Categories
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’s J-1 Exchange Visitor program currently sponsors J-1 Exchange Visitors (EV) in the following categories:
The J-1 Student Intern Program is a "structured and guided work-based learning program that reinforces a student's academic study, recognizes the needs for work-based experience, provides on-the-job exposure to American techniques, methodologies, and expertise, and enhances the Intern's knowledge of American culture and society." Students who are in Master’s or PhD programs should apply for the J-1 Research Scholar category.
What are the criteria for a college student intern?
- The student intern is a foreign national enrolled in and pursuing a degree at an accredited post-secondary academic institution outside the U.S.
- The student intern has verifiable English language skills to function in the internship environment.
- The student intern must be engaged full-time (32 hours/week) in the internship at K-State which will lead to fulfulling the educational objectives for student's current degree program at his/her home institution.
- The student intern is maintaining satisfactory advancement toward completion of his/her internship program.
- The student intern is primarily in the U.S. to engage in the intern program rather than to engage in employment or provide services to K-State.
- The student intern must be in good academic standing with his/her post-secondary institution overseas where s/he is enrolled and pursuing a degree.
- The student intern has adequate finances to support himself/herself and dependents for their duration of stay in the U.S.
- The internship cannot duplicate the student intern's prior experience.
- The student intern must have sufficient health insurance coverage for the entire duration of their internship program.
- The student intern may participate in an internship program for up to 12 months for each degree/major. Extensions beyond 12 months are not possible.
- The student intern will return to his/her academic program and obtain a degree from their overseas academic institution after completion of the student intern program.
Limitations/Exceptions for Intern work environment:
Interns cannot work in unskilled or casual labor positions, in positions that require or involve childcare or elder care or in any kind of position that involves medical patient care or contact. Nor can interns work in positions that require more than 20 percent clerical or office support work.
The professor category is for a foreign national who enters the U.S. for the primary purpose of teaching, lecturing, observing or consulting.
Professor must:
- Not be a candidate for a tenure track position;
- Not have participated in and completed a professor program within the last 24 months preceding the beginning date of their new program’s commencement;
- Not have participated in a J-Visa program for all or part of the 12-month period immediately preceding the start date of a professor program unless he or she meet one of the following exceptions:
- The participant is currently in a professor program and is transferring to another institution in the US to continue his or her current J-1 program;
- The participant’s prior physical presence in the U.S. on a J-visa program was less than six months in duration; and
- The prior participation was as a short-term scholar.
Extension
A professor may extend his or her stay up to the 5 year maximum or transfer to another program within that period, but extensions beyond 5 years are not permitted.
This category is for a foreign national who enters the United States for the primary purpose of conducting research, observing or consulting with faculty at Kansas State University. A research scholar may also teach or lecture although research must be the primary activity. The scholar must either be pursuing an advanced degree at an institution outside the U.S. or have earned an advanced degree. Those who are in a bachelor's degree program cannot participate in the J program as a research scholar. (However, it may be possible to bring that person as a Student Intern.)
Research Scholars must:
- Not be a candidate for a tenure track position;
- Not have participated in and completed a research scholar program within the last 24 months preceding the beginning date of their new program’s commencement;
- Not have participated in a J-Visa program for all or part of the 12-month period immediately preceding the start date of a research scholar program unless they meet one of the following exceptions:
- The participant is currently in a research scholar program and is transferring to another institution in the U.S. to continue their current J-1 program;
- The participant’s prior physical presence in the U.S. on a J-visa program was less than six months in duration; and
- Any prior participation was as a short-term scholar.
Extension
A research scholar may extend his or her stay up to the 5 year maximum or transfer to another program within that period, but extensions beyond 5 years are not permitted.
This category issimilar to the Professor or Research Scholar. However, the maximum duration is 6 months with no possibility of extension.
Extension
A short-term scholar may extend his or her stay up to the six-month maximum or transfer to another program within that period, but extensions beyond 6 months are not permitted.
Visit the J-1 Student page to learn more about the student category.
Length of Stay
The amount of time given on the DS-2019 depends on the Exchange Visitor’s category in which the visitor was admitted.
| Category | Minimum Duration | Maxiumum Duration | Repeat Participation |
| Student Intern | 3 weeks | Up to 12 months | Yes |
| Professor | 3 weeks | 5 years* | Yes (after 24-month bar) |
| Research Scholar | 3 weeks | 5 years* | Yes (after 24-month bar) |
| Short-Term Scholar | 1 day | 6 months | Yes (no waiting period) |
*The 5-year period is not an aggregate of 5 years. It is a continuous 5-year period given to a EV on a “use it or lose it” basis. In order to take advantage of the full 5-year period, J-1 Research Scholars and 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.
Repeat Participation Restrictions
Twelve-Month Bar – If the Exchange Visitor has spent more than 6 months in any J category, except Short Term Scholar, he or she will not be eligible to return to the U.S. as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor for 12 months after his or her departure.
24-Month Bar – If a visiting scholar has been in the U.S. as a Professor or Research Scholar, he or she cannot begin a new J program in those categories for 24 months after the previous program end date. An understanding of the regulation helps explain why it is necessary to know an incoming scholar’s previous visa statuses. (He or she could still come as a “Short Term Scholar” for up to 6 months.)
Two-Year Home Residency Requirement
Those who are subject to this requirement may not change their status to another nonimmigrant classification within the U.S. (except to an A or G status), are not eligible to become permanent residents, and cannot obtain an H-1B or L visa until they have lived in the country of last legal permanent residence for two years after completing their J-1 program. Exchange visitors who are subject to this requirement are either:
- Financed in whole or in part by the U.S. or home country’s government; or
- From countries where their specific skills are needed, as determined by the Exchange Visitor Skills List; or
- Medical doctors who come to the U.S. for advanced medical education or training.
Please note that the Federal Skills List has been updated as of December 9, 2024. The public notice can be found here. You can check the Federal Skills list for more information.