Prospective J-1 Scholars

The information below is intended for prospective J-1 Exchange Visitors (EVs) who wish to come to the U.S. and WashU as research scholars, professors, short-term scholars, or student interns. This information is only applicable to prospective visitors who have already connected with a specific department at WashU.

Prospective J-1 exchange visitors should follow the steps below AFTER communication with a WashU department. The department must first agree to invite and sponsor you, and only then can you begin the process of determining eligibility for J-1 Exchange Visitor status. 

Process overview

To determine eligibility for J-1 Exchange Visitor (EV) status in the Research Scholar or Professor, Short-Term Scholar, Specialist, or Student Intern or Non-Degree Student categories, follow the steps below. More details and all links to forms can be found on the Sponsoring J-1 Exchange Visitors page.

Step 1: Connect with the host department at WashU and inform them of your foreign national status.  

• If you are currently in the U.S., inform your department of this right away. 
• If you have previously been in the U.S. in J-1 or J-2 status, be sure to review the 12-month and the 24-month J status bar rules as well as the 212(e) 2-year home residence requirement.  

Step 2: Complete all required forms and collect all required supporting documentation for your situation. 

A detailed outline of the required documents appears below.  

Step 3: Submit ALL documents to your WashU department contact from your host department.  

If any information or documents are missing, the department contact will reach out to you for clarification or additional information. The department contact will submit all documentation to the Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS).  

Step 4: OISS will review your eligibility for J-1 status based on the documentation.  

If OISS determines that you are eligible for J-1 status in the requested category, an OISS adviser (also known as the Alternate Responsible Officer or ARO) will issue a Form DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status for you or any applicable J-2 dependents. For the Student Intern category, OISS will also issue Form DS-7002, Training/Internship Placement Plan (T/IPP). 

An OISS adviser will endorse the DS-2019(s) (and DS-7002, if applicable) and send it to the department contact from the host department. The department contact will send you the DS-2019(s) (and DS-7002, if applicable). You must review the form(s) and sign them in ink.  

Step 5: Find information about scheduling your J-1 visa appointment on our Apply for a Visa Stamp page.

Required documents

Please review this list carefully. Some forms and documents are required for all prospective exchange visitor (EVs), while others are applicable in specific situations. All supporting documents (except diplomas) must be in English.  

Complete forms below required for ALL prospective EVs: 

• Exchange Visitor DS-2019 Request Form 
• J-1 Health Insurance Acknowledgement Form 

Submit documents below required for ALL prospective EVs: 

• A copy of your passport biographical page 
• Curriculum vitae (CV) or resume 
• Diploma 
• English proficiency documentation 

Complete forms below ONLY if applicable to your specific situation: 

• J-1 Health Insurance Verification Form – if you will not be eligible for WashU-sponsored health insurance (Note: This form must be completed by a representative from the health insurance company)
• J-1 Patient Contact Form – if you have a medical degree from outside the U.S. (Note: This form must first be completed by your WashU department)
• J-2 Dependent DS-2019 Request Form – if you intend to bring dependents in J-2 status 
• J-1 Transfer-In Form – if you are currently in the U.S. in J-1 status and you intend to transfer your SEVIS record to WashU (Note: Part II of this form must be completed by the RO/ARO at the transfer-out (current) institution)

The following documents are only required in specific situations. If the situation outlined below does not apply to you, you do not have to provide these supporting documents to your WashU department contact. 

• Proof of Funding – If you are not fully funded by WashU, you must submit proof of funding documentation. See the Funding Information section below for details about required funding amounts and acceptable financial documents. If you intend to bring dependents, you must demonstrate sufficient funding to cover yourself and dependents. If you are funded by WashU, and if the amount of WashU funding does not cover the total minimum required for you and dependents, you must provide additional proof of funding. 
• GeoBlue Printout – If you will be covered by WashU insurance, you must provide proof of coverage through GeoBlue.
• Current or Previous J Status Documents – If you (or any applicable dependents) are currently or have previously been in the U.S. in J-1 or J-2 status, you must provide copies of current or prior immigration documents. Documents include previous DS-2019(s) and previous J-1/J-2 visa(s). 
• Passport Biographical Page(s) for Dependents – If you intend to bring dependents in J-2 status. 
• Evidence of health insurance coverage for dependents – If you will be covered by WashU insurance and the dependent(s) enroll in a WashU plan, GeoBlue printout for the dependents is required. If you will not be covered by WashU insurance and/or your dependent(s) will not enroll in a WashU plan, the J Health Insurance Verification Form for your dependent(s) is required. 

Student Intern Category:
Speak to your department contact if you will be sponsored in the Student Intern category. You will need to complete additional forms and provide additional supporting documents. Your sponsoring department will provide you more information.  

You must submit all forms and documents that apply to you to the WashU department contact for your host department. Do not submit any documents directly to OISS as this will delay OISS processing. Find more details about the submission process, including links to forms, on the Sponsoring J-1 Exchange Visitors page.

Funding information

J-1 Exchange Visitors (and any applicable J-2 dependents) must have a minimum amount of funding available to them during their stay in the U.S. while in J-1/J-2 status. Your funding must cover living expenses. You must show proof of funding for the entire duration of your program before OISS can issue your Form DS-2019.

If you will be paid by WashU and if the monthly or annual payment amount is equal to or exceeds the required amount for you and any applicable dependents, you are not required to submit additional supporting documentation.

U.S. Government Restrictions on acceptable funding evidence for an I-20 or DS-2019: U.S. OFAC financial sanctions prohibit OISS from accepting financial statements from financial institutions of countries subject to applicable sanctions, including countries subject to comprehensive OFAC sanctions (currently Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Syria, and certain regions of Ukraine).

If you will not be paid by WashU, provide proof of funding from the sources listed below. Proof of funding documentation must show that you will have liquid funds available to you during your J-1 program. For that reason, WashU cannot accept certain financial documents. The Proof of funding requirement section lists required minimum amounts and unacceptable financial documents.

Sponsoring organization or institution

A letter on official letterhead stating the sponsoring organization’s intent to provide financial support for the EV (and dependents, if applicable) while the EV is at WashU. The letter must be in English and include the following:

• Type and the amount of support 
• Dates the support will be provided

Provide additional proof of funding if the total amount listed in the letter does not equal to or exceed the minimum living expenses amount.

Personal funding

An official bank letter (on company letterhead or including an official logo) or bank statement. The letter/statement must include the following:

• Date of issue – must have been issued within 6 months of the date of submission to WashU 
• The account holder’s full name in English  

Provide additional proof of funding if the total amount listed in the letter/statement does not equal to or exceed the minimum living expenses amount.

Next steps

Once you have determined your eligibility to come to WashU as a J-1 exchange visitor/scholar, connect with your new host department. They will work with you to start the sponsorship submission process in order to apply for your J-1 immigration status.

If you receive a DS-2019 from WashU, you can get started with your immigration status by visiting the J-1 Scholar page.