PROCESS FOR REQUESTING
J-1 IMMIGRATION STATUS
J-1 - Exchange Visitor Status
This is a temporary employment status mainly used for research and visiting positions.
Visitors entering the U.S. from abroad on a new J-1 visa:
Step 1. Complete appointment paperwork for postdoctoral research associates, visiting scholars, or research visitors through the Office of Research, or
Complete appointment paperwork for visiting faculty, visiting fellows, or guest faculty through the Provost’s Office.
Step 2. Have the visitor complete the Office of the General Counsel’s J-1 Visa Information for New Visitors & Reappointments which can be located on the office website.
Submit this completed form, along with copies of photo/biographical pages from the passport of the visitor as well as any accompanying family members to the Office of Research or the Provost’s Office along with the appointment paperwork.
Step 3. Once the appointment paperwork is complete, the Office of Research or the Provost’s Office will forward relevant paperwork to the Office of the General Counsel to request that a Form DS-2019 be prepared through the online SEVIS system.
Step 4. When the Form DS-2019 is complete, the Office of the General Counsel (for Provost appointments) or the Office of Research (for other appointments) will contact the employing department to pick up the form and express mail it to the visitor. Each accompanying family member will receive their own form.
Step 5. Once the visitor receives the Form DS-2019, he/she will need to pay the SEVIS fee online prior to attending the visa appointment at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate abroad. A receipt evidencing payment of the fee will be required at the appointment. Instructions for paying this fee will be provided with the Form DS-2019.
Step 6. The individual (and any accompanying family members) will attend the visa application appointment at the U.S. Embassy/Consulate abroad and apply for J-1 status (the visitor) or J-2 status (accompanying family members). Each U.S. Embassy/Consulate will have its own requirements for visa applications so the visitor should check directly with that office in advance to determine the required process and documentary requirements at that specific office.
Step 7. Once the visitor (and accompanying family members) have received the J-1 (or J-2) visa in his/her passport, they can then enter the U.S. using that visa. Upon entry to the U.S., they will receive an I-94 card in their passport which indicates J-1 (or J-2) status. The I-94 card should also include the notation “D/S” which means that the person’s J-1 (J-2) status will remain valid in the U.S. for the duration of the J-1 program so long as they have a valid Form DS-2019 for the duration of their stay.
Visitors already in the U.S. in J-1 status with another university:
Step 1. Process the appointment paperwork as indicated above.
Step 2. You will also need to provide a copy of the visitor’s existing Form DS-2019 issued by his/her existing J-1 sponsor along with the other required appointment paperwork.
Step 3. Once the General Counsel’s Office receives the required paperwork from the Office of Research or the Provost’s Office, it will contact the office that issued the existing Form DS-2019 to request a transfer of the visitor’s SEVIS record to the University of Notre Dame be completed in the SEVIS system.
Step 4. The Office of the General Counsel will not be able to access the visitor’s SEVIS record and print the new Form DS-2019 for Notre Dame until the actual start date at Notre Dame. On that date, the Office of the General Counsel will complete the transfer-in process of the visitor in SEVIS and print a new Form DS-2019 for the Notre Dame appointment.
Step 5. The employing department will then be contacted by the General Counsel’s Office (for Provost appointments) or the Office of Research (for other appointments) to pick up the new Form DS-2019 and deliver it to the visitor. New Forms DS-2019 will also be prepared for any accompanying family members in J-2 status.
Visitors already in the U.S. in some status other than J-1:
Step 1. Process the appointment paperwork as indicated above.
Step 2. You will also need to provide copies of all documents evidencing the visitor’s existing immigration status.
Step 3. When the appointment paperwork is delivered to the General Counsel’s Office, the visitor’s immigration history and existing immigration status will be assessed to determine if an application for change of status to J-1 immigration status needs to be filed with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS). Contact will be made with the visitor to discuss the requirements of such an application.
* Please note that such applications for change of status routinely take 3-4 months, on average, to be processed by USCIS. The visitor will not be able to begin work with Notre Dame until the University receives an approval notice from USCIS.