J-1 Exchange Visitor

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program was created by the U.S. Department of State to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through educational and cultural exchanges.  Participants approved to participate in the program will enter the U.S. as an Exchange Visitor on a J-1 visa.   For more information about the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program go to the links below.

J-1 Visa Basics

Exchange Visitor Program Welcome Brochure

J-1 Categories: Texas A&M University-Commerce sponsors four categories under the J-1 Exchange Visitor program:

• Student Intern: Objectives are for foreign college and university students to come to the United States to gain exposure to U.S. culture and to receive hands-on experience. Student interns may participate in an internship program for a minimum of 3 weeks and up to 12 months for each foreign degree/major.
• Short-Term Scholar: Objectives can be to lecture, observe, consult, train, or demonstrate special skills. Short-term scholars will come to the U.S. for a short visit and have no plans to continue beyond the 6-month limit. Visiting Short-term scholars may stay in the U.S. anywhere from 1 day to 6 months.
• Professor: The primary purpose is to teach, lecture, observe, or consult. The professor may also engage in research and participate in occasional lectures if authorized by the program sponsor. Visiting Professors may participate in the program for a minimum of 3 weeks and up to a total of 5 years, which includes transfers between exchange visitor programs.
• Research Scholar: This category is for an individual whose primary purpose is to perform research, observe, or consult in connection with a research project. Visiting Research Scholars may participate in the program for a minimum of 3 weeks and up to a total of 5 years, which includes transfers between exchange visitor programs. They may not change their objective in the U.S.

A&M-Commerce academic departments interested in hosting an individual as a J-1 Exchange Visitor will need to complete the Visiting Scholar Request Form below. Please note this form is submitted the to Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.

The ISSS can only issue the necessary documents for a J-1 Exchange Visitor once the individual has been approved by the Office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs.  Upon approval the ISSS will initiate the process for the J-1 Exchange Visitor documents (DS-2019).  Please see the next section for the ISSS process to issue the Form DS-2019.

Visiting Scholar Request Form

Host Professor/Department Information Handout for J-1

Best Practices when Hosting a J-1

The Form DS-2019 or "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status" is the basic document used in the administration of the exchange visitor program. The Office of International Programs (OIP) will issue the Form DS-2019 for J-1 Exchange Visitors and their J-2 dependents once the J-1 has been approved by the Office of Sponsored Programs and OIP has received all forms and documents listed below:

• ABOUT FORM DS-2019
• CHECKLIST FOR NEW EXCHANGE VISITORS (PLEASE REVIEW)
• J-1 INFORMATION FORM
• J-1 FUNDING INFORMATION FORM (FOR YOUR INFORMATION)
  (YOU WILL SUBMIT EVIDENCE OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT WHILE IN THE U.S.)
• J-1 TRANSFER OUT REQUEST FORM
• J-1 TRANSFER IN REQUEST FORM
• J-1 ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY FORM (see section below)

To mail the DS-2019 the host professor/department may provide the ISSS with a billing account to express mail the Ds-2019.  Otherwise, the J-1 Exchange Visitor may set-up express mail at their expense at Mailing Documents.

The J-1 Exchange Visitor must report to the ISSS for check-in and orientation no later than 30 days from the start date for their DS-2019.  It is very important that the J-1 Exchange Visitor report any possible delay in reporting to the ISSS immediately.  

Under 22 CFR 62.10(a)(2) the U.S. Department of State requires all J-1 Exchange Visitors to:

"possesses sufficient proficiency in the English language, as determined by an objective measurement of English language proficiency, successfully to participate in his or her program and to function on a day-to-day basis. A sponsor must verify an applicant’s English language proficiency through a recognized English language test, by signed documentation from an academic institution or English language school, or through a documented interview conducted by the sponsor either in-person or by videoconferencing, or by telephone if videoconferencing is not a viable option."

To ensure compliance with the U.S. Department of State regulations all host professors/academic departments must complete the English Language Proficiency Form below and submit this form to the ISSS. This form is required before we can initiate the process for the J-1 documents. Email this form to Intl.Stu@tamuc.edu   or you may bring the completed form to the ISSS in Halladay 104.

English Language Proficiency Form

All J-1 Exchange Visitors and any J-2 dependents are required by the US Department of State to carry medical insurance and evacuation/repatriation for the duration of the J-1's program at Texas A&M University. 

Minimum insurance coverage requirements include:

• Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per person, per accident/illness
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
• Expenses associated with medical evacuation of you to your home country in the amount of $50,000
• Deductible not to exceed $500 per accident/illness
• Co-insurance not to exceed 25% of the covered benefits per accident/illness

The policy must be backed by either the full faith and credit of your home country government OR the company providing the insurance must meet minimum rating requirements established by the U.S. Department of State (an A.M. Best rating of “A-“ or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-1” or above, a Standard & Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A-“ or above, or a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above).

Health insurance may be available to you in the following ways:

• Home country insurance coverage with the policy satisfying all minimum requirements listed above
• Home country insurance coverage with supplementary U.S. coverage
• Full insurance coverage from a U.S. insurance company

It is the responsibility of the J-1 Exchange Visitor to ensure that they will be properly insured while in the U.S. by contacting the health insurance company and making sure that the policy/plan meets the federal guidelines. Read the policy information carefully and don't be afraid to ask questions before you buy.

Willful failure to carry insurance is considered to be a violation of the Exchange Visitor Program and will result in immediate termination of the J-1's participation in the program. Texas A&M University-Commerce will report any violation  to the Department of Homeland Security and the J-1 Exchange Visitor and any J-2 dependents will be required to leave the U.S.

The ISSS has created a guidebook below for all J-1 Exchange Visitors. The guidebook provides comprehensive information about the DS-2019, visa application process, navigating through U.S. customs, as well as important pre-arrival and arrival information and additional information about the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.  

• All J-1 Exchange Visitors are required to report to the ISSS up to 30 days prior up to 30 days after the start date of the DS-2019 for check-in and orientation

At the check-in the J-1 will be required to provide the following:

• Copy of DS-2019, passport, visa, and the I-94 Arrival/Departure record
• Proof of health insurance (see health insurance section)
• Copy of Ds-2019, passport, visa, and the I-94 Arrival/Departure record for all J-2 dependents
• Completed J-1 Information Form

J-1 Exchange Visitor Guidebook

I-94 Arrival/Departure Record

J-1 EXCHANGE VISITOR INFORMATION SHEET