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J-1 Eligibility Requirements

The DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status documents eligibility for J-1 status. ISO issues the DS-2019 using the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), a government database administered by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Sponsorship Duration

For all academic appointments, units may request visa sponsorship for:

  1. The length of the current appointment, OR
  2. Up to the maximum period allowed by both (a) UW appointment eligibility limitations and (b) U.S. immigration law. 

Option 2 above allows units to sponsor scholars for visas through (a) the end of their eligibility for the title, and (b) the end of their eligibility for the visa type, whichever is earlier. This analysis is highly case-specific; please contact ISO if you have questions about these options.

For all appointments, units/exchange visitors must demonstrate sufficient funding for the requested sponsorship period. For UW-paid appointments, ISO will presume that the salary listed in the offer/reappointment letter will continue for the requested sponsorship period. If there is a change in salary during the requested visa sponsorship period, the unit should inform ISO of the change and the amount.

Ending Employment Early

If the scholar’s employment is terminated before the end of the visa sponsorship period for any reason, please notify ISO so that ISO can take action to either (1) shorten the DS-2019 or (2) transfer the DS-2019 to another U.S. institution, depending on the scholar’s future plans.