J-1 Exchange Visitors

J-1 Request Checklist

Requesting or renewing a J-1 visa? Ensure the following documents are ready:

For all titles:  

• The offer, invitation, or reappointment letter describing the terms of the appointment, including start and end dates, and any applicable funding information.

For postdoctoral titles:

• Postdoctoral data sheet
• Most recent CV (+ documentation that the degree requirements have been met if in the Scholar-Fellow or Conditional titles)

J-1 Visitor Exchange Visa Estimated Processing Times and Workflow

The turnaround time for processing the hiring/hosting foreign nationals on a J-1 exchange visitor/ Scholar visa is approximately 3 months. The timeline is critically dependent on responses and information from the sponsoring unit and the prospective J-1 scholar. Where applicable, the overall timeline will also be affected by processing times at the US Consulate/Embassy abroad issuing the visa. Ample lead time is crucial to securing a visa in time for the desired start date.

The image below links to a PDF where you can scale to your liking. This workflow is also available in a Word document.

J-1 Visitor Exchange Visa in the VISIT/ VISER Program Estimated Processing Times and Workflow

The turnaround time for processing the hiring/hosting foreign nationals on a J-1 visa in the VISIT/VISER program is approximately 5 months. The timeline is critically dependent on responses and information from the sponsoring unit and the prospective student intern. The overall timeline will also be affected by processing times at the US Consulate/Embassy abroad issuing the visa. Ample lead time is crucial to securing a visa in time for the desired start date.

The image below links to a PDF where you can scale to your liking. This workflow is also available in a Word document.

J-1

What is the difference between the J-1 Scholar and J-1 VISIT programs?

J-1 Scholars generally have a terminal degree and appointment at a higher education institution. J-1 VISIT recipients are students at their home institutions; they may not be registered students at the UW.

Must a J-1 Scholar have an academic appointment at UW?

Yes. The J-1 scholar must at least have a courtesy appointment.

May a J-1 Scholar be an instructor of record?

It depends; please contact our FNS team at teamcas@uw.edu to discuss.

May a J-1 VISIT student enroll in classes?

No. J-1 VISIT recipients are considered interns; they do not pay tuition hence they may not enroll or audit classes.

DS-2019

What happens if there is a mistake on a DS-2019?

DS-2019’s with incorrect information must be amended and reissued.

Who on campus receives the DS-2019? Who mails it to the visa recipient? 

If the person will be a J-1 Scholar, the final DS-2019 comes to our FNS team.  We then send it via email to the scholar. If the person is coming through the VISIT program, the VISIT program will send out the DS-2019 via email.

F-1

Does AST's FNS team process F-1 visas?

Please note that our team does not process F-1 visa applications, so students should review all information provided by International Student Services (ISS) under On-Campus Employment for F-1 Students and consult ISS if there are any concerns or questions. General information, including contact details visit ISS.

Can an F-1 visa holder work more than 20 hours/week?

Only during class breaks and only in one quarter out of four, during the annual vacation quarter. This is usually—but not always—over the summer quarter. Students should review all information provided by International Student Services (ISS) under On-Campus Employment for F-1 Students and consult ISS if you have any concerns or questions.

Other Visa Questions

Does the FNS team process other visa types?

The AST’s FNS processes J-1 Scholar, J-2 Dependents, J-1 VISIT/VISER, E-3 (Australian nationals), TN (Canadian and Mexican nationals), and H-1B visas, as well as permanent residency applications.

May a J-2 visa holder work at the UW?

No.

Where do I find more information regarding UW’s visa policies and procedures? 

Visit the Visa page of ISO, there you can find hiring policies and procedures and Visa Guidance for Unit Administrators. 

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