J-1 Scholar Visa

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program allows academic institutions and other educational exchange programs to sponsor international researchers to participate in educational and cultural programs in the United States. Harvard University has been approved by the U.S. Department of State (DOS) to serve as the visa sponsor for international visitors to participate in research, teaching and degree programs at Harvard and its affiliates. The J-1 visa program is managed by a shared database called SEVIS.

To be eligible for the J-1 visa an individual must meet the following criteria:

• must have a temporary academic appointment at Harvard University such as a postdoctoral/research fellow, or a faculty member.
• must have adequate financial support for all living expenses, including additional financial support for any accompanying family members either from Harvard or any other sources.
• must maintain health insurance which covers for sicknesses or accidents during the period of time when they are in J status. Failure to maintain health insurance coverage may jeopardize a J visa holder's status.

Harvard sponsored J-1 scholars should comply with the U.S. federal regulations governing their specific J-1 categories such as Short-Term Scholar, Research Scholar/Professor, and Specialist. A scholar's J-1 category is indicated in section 4 of their Form DS-2019. The following is a summary of the responsibilities that Harvard sponsored J-1 scholars should have in order to maintain lawful status in the United States. Scholars sponsored by another institution (Fulbright, for example) should contact their scholar advisors for additional information. J-1 Trainees sponsored by an alternate J-1 sponsor should abide by terms and conditions of their training programs.

Initial Registration Requirements

All new J-1 scholars must register their arrival with the HIO as soon as possible after their arrival in the U.S. so that the HIO may activate their SEVIS record. The J-1 SEVIS record will become invalid if not activated within 30 days of the start date on the DS-2019 visa document. A returning scholar with a new Form DS-2019 must also re-register with the HIO.

Restrictions on Employment

J-1 scholars should not engage in any employment that is unrelated to their original program objectives. They are permitted to work only at the location(s) listed on the Form DS-2019. They should obtain prior written authorization from their J sponsors for additional employment that is in accordance with the regulations. See the Employment section below for more information. 

Maintaining Required Health Insurance

J-1 scholars and their J-2 dependents must maintain required health insurance including basic Medical Health Insurance, Medical Evacuation and Repatriation insurance throughout their stay in the United States.

Change of Residential Address

Immigration regulations require that all non-citizens report their residential addresses within 10 days of their entries to the United States and subsequently report any changes of addresses within 10 days to the Immigration authorities. Harvard sponsored J-1 scholars may report their address changes online. Scholars and trainees sponsored by other institutions should contact their program sponsors directly regarding change of address.

Program Extension

J-1 scholars must apply for a program extension within the overall time limit for a specific category before their current Forms DS-2019 expire. The dates on the Form DS-2019 reflect the dates given to the HIO by a host academic department at Harvard. If scholars wish to have their J-1 visa status extended within the permitted time limit, please have their department administrators notify the HIO. See the Extensions page for more information. 

Leave of Absence

Scholars may travel abroad throughout their stay at Harvard. An extended leave of absence must be in accordance with their Harvard academic appointment agreement and their original exchange program objectives. Scholars should contact their departments regarding more detailed information on leave of absence.

Required Travel Documents

Please review the travel information page on the HIO website before making plans to travel abroad. 

Program Completion

J-1 scholars and their J-2 dependents must depart the United States within 30 days of their Form DS-2019 expiration date or program completion date, whichever is earlier. Scholars completing their programs at Harvard and leaving the United States earlier than the expiration dates on their Forms DS-2019 should have their department administrators notify the HIO.

Restrictions on Public Assistance

Under certain U.S. federal, state, county, and local laws, J-1 visa holders and their dependents may qualify for “public assistance,” such as health insurance, subsidized housing, food assistance, or unemployment benefits. Accepting such benefits as a J-1 or J-2 visa holder can lead to inadmissibility to the United States due to reliance on “public assistance” under the Immigration and Nationality Act, this could ultimately result in denial of re-entry into the United States in the future. The J-1 visa holder is responsible for understanding that certain types of benefits could qualify for “public assistance” and knowing the risks associated with enrolling and/or receiving such benefits.

Employment at the Location(s) listed on Form DS-2019

J-1 scholars (Short-Term Scholar, Research Scholar/Professor, and Specialist) are required to be employed and conduct their exchange activities at the location(s) listed on their Forms DS-2019. Paid employment for J-1 scholars is permitted only if it is an integral part of the exchange program. In most cases, it is not possible for a J-1 visa holder to accept paid employment outside of Harvard without prior authorization. However, there are some exceptions.

Residency Requirement

U.S. Department of State regulations require international scholars on the J-1 visa to have either a fully in person or hybrid schedule (in person 3 days out of a 5-day work week). Scholars cannot be fully remote on the J-1 visa. If a scholar will be conducting field research outside of the U.S., or away from campus, for a significant period of time (in most cases more than 30 days), you must reach out to your HIO Advisor in advance of the travel. 

Occasional Lectures or Consultations

As a J-1 professor or research scholar, you are permitted to participate in occasional lectures and short-term consultations, with permission from the HIO and your Harvard faculty sponsor. The permission must be obtained prior to undertaking the activity.

The lectures or short-term consultations must be directly related to the objectives of your program, must be incidental to your primary program activities, and must not delay the completion date of your program at Harvard.

If the activity is an occasional lecture or consultation, you will be granted authorization in the form of a letter. You must present the letter to the outside entity as proof of your authorization to be paid or to receive reimbursement. You must be paid as an "independent contractor" which means that you do not have a sustained employer-employee relationship with the entity for which you are working. You do not complete an I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Form, with that entity.

If the activity is of a more sustained nature such as teaching one course at another institution that will last a whole semester, HIO will provide you with an amended DS-2019 that will include the funding from the additional entity and update your site of activity.  The amended DS-2019, I-94 printout, and proof of identity could be used to complete an I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification Form, with that entity.

In order to receive the authorization letter from the HIO, you must work with your Harvard faculty sponsor and the entity in which you will participate in occasional or short term employment to complete the authorization application form. Please email the completed application form to the HIO at internationaloffice@harvard.edu. If the work is deemed to be in accordance with the J-1 regulations and meet the criteria above, an authorization letter will be provided to you.

See the Travel & Re-entry page for information on travel while on a J-1 scholar visa. 

Transferring Out

J-1 scholars may request to transfer from one employer to another. In SEVIS, the transfer is processed through updates to the J-1 scholar's SEVIS record performed by both the current employer and future employer. A J-1 scholar who intends to move from one employer to another should discuss their plans with the Responsible Officer (RO)/Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) of both employers, provide official evidence of academic appointment at the new program, and decide on a specific date of transfer. Since J-1 scholars are admitted for "duration of status" (D/S), which is defined as the period indicated in item #3 of Form DS-2019, plus a 30-day grace period following the program end date, all transfer requests should be made no later than the end of the 30 day grace period.

Leaving Harvard

Grace Period

J-1 scholars who have completed their research or teaching at Harvard are given an additional 30-day grace period for departing the United States, applying to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to change from J-1 status to another status (if they are not subject to the two-year home country residence requirement), or transferring to another J program sponsor if their J-1 category allows them more time to stay in the United States. Scholars completing their programs at Harvard and leaving the United States earlier than the expiration dates on their Forms DS-2019 should have their department administrators notify the HIO.

Transfer out of Harvard

Harvard sponsored J-1 scholars who plan to go to another employer should contact their HIO advisors immediately after being offered an academic appointment at another educational institution in the United States.

Updating Contact Information

Scholars who are leaving Harvard need to make sure that their affiliated Harvard departments have been informed of their departure. They should also update their contact information with the appropriate payroll office so their Forms W-2 (Wage and Tax Statement) will be mailed to their new addresses.

If you are currently in the U.S. on a J-1 visa, you may be eligible to transfer your J-1 record from your current institution to Harvard University for an academic appointment. You must initiate the transfer process with an international advisor from your current institution. Please follow the steps below:

Step 1: Harvard Academic Appointment

Before the HIO can consider visa sponsorship, there must be an offer of an academic appointment from Harvard University. The sponsoring department at Harvard (or affiliated hospital) submits the required information to the HIO via ISD. This information includes confirmation that there is a Harvard academic appointment and that there are adequate funds for the appointment period if Harvard is not funding the position.

Step 2: Transfer to Harvard Form

To initiate the transfer of your J-1 immigration record, you must complete the Transfer In to Harvard form with your international scholar advisor at your current institution. You must request that your SEVIS record be electronically released from your current institution to Harvard. You will submit the completed and signed Transfer In to Harvard form in the ISD record, or directly via email to your HIO advisor.

Step 3: Issuing Form DS-2019

The HIO is not able to issue a Form DS-2019 until the ISD record is complete and submitted, AND the SEVIS release date passes. Once the SEVIS record is released and all other ISD materials have been submitted, the new Form DS-2019 from Harvard will be issued. The HIO will email you and your department administrator once the Form DS-2019 is available.

Step 4: Visa Renewals and Travel

If your J record is being transferred to Harvard you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again, if you have already paid it. If you are transferring from a U.S.-government sponsored Exchange Visitor program (indicated by a program code starting with "G," such as G-1-0001) to Harvard University, you are required to pay the SEVIS fee upon completion of the transfer process and before applying for a new J-1 visa.

If you are traveling internationally after your transfer to Harvard has taken place, you must plan to apply for a new J-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your home country. Please note that it is not possible to apply for a J-1 visa in the U.S.

Step 5: Arrival at Harvard

You must register your arrival with the HIO as soon as possible after your arrival at Harvard.

After arriving at Harvard, you must complete the HIO Registration Form to fulfill your required immigration registration. Please note, in order to complete this form, you will need to access your I-94 record online. If you have difficulty locating your I-94 record, or your I-94 record has incorrect information, please contact your HIO advisor.

You will receive an email from the HIO confirming when your registration has been processed.

After arriving, please review our Welcome to Harvard Guide for more information about your immigration status and your time in the U.S.

The J visa carries several bars and requirements that J visa holders and their departments should be aware of. These are referred to as the two-year home residency requirement and the 12- and 24-month bars. Make sure you fully review and follow these requirements.