The University of Washington is deeply committed to supporting international scholars in building successful, fulfilling experiences while at the UW. As part of that commitment, International Scholars Operations (ISO) is updating the minimum funding requirement for J-1 exchange visitors to better reflect the cost of living in Seattle.This update reflects a long-term effort to align funding expectations with actual living expenses and help international scholars plan for a successful start at the UW.
Effective July 1, 2025, ISO will raise the minimum required funding for J-1 exchange visitors from $2100 to $2500 per month. ISO last changed this requirement in 2017; since then, federal data shows a 35% increase in consumer good prices and other significant cost-of-living changes for the greater Seattle area. ISO believes that this new funding floor better reflects the current costs of living in Seattle, and will support incoming J-1 scholars who do not receive UW salary in communicating to their funding sources how much money they actually need to live and thrive in the United States. ISO does not expect to revisit this funding floor for several years.
ISO will apply this new minimum to any J visa request submitted on or after July 1st, 2025. The minimum monthly funding required for J-2 dependents will not change. See our J-1 funding page for more information, and contact us at acadvisa@uw.edu with any questions.