The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is a public diplomacy program established to promote international educational and cultural exchange and to provide a window on American culture and values. Through special designation by the U.S. Department of State, the University of South Carolina is allowed to host foreign scholars on the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program to engage in teaching, training, observation, consultation, collaborative research, student research internships, university conferences or colloquia.

USC is authorized to host scholars in the following J-1 categories: Professor, Research Scholar, Short-term Scholar, Student Intern, Specialist and Student. Prospective J-1 Exchange Visitors must occupy a position in the home country similar to the one into which they hope to come to the U.S. as an Exchange Visitor. The maximum program length depends on the appropriate exchange visitor category: up to six months for Short-Term Scholars, up to one year for Specialists and Student Interns, and up to five years for Professors and Research Scholars. This exchange program should be arranged to ensure completion of your activities within this timeframe. It is understood that upon completion of your authorized exchange program you will return immediately to your last country of legal permanent residence.

Individuals must hold the minimum of a master’s degree to come to USC in the J-1 Research Scholar, Professor, or Short-Term Scholar categories. 

USC’s International Student and Scholar Support office issues Forms DS-2019 that enable international scholars (and any accompanying dependents) to apply for J-1 (and J-2) visas at a U.S. Consulate overseas.

NOTE: Internationals seeking to earn a degree at USC are administered by different University offices.

You must provide USC evidence of adequate financial support for your stay in the U.S. Excluding health insurance for you and your family members, USC estimates the minimum cost of living to be $2,267 USD per month for the J-1 scholar, plus $555 per month for the first accompanying J-2 dependent and $444 for each additional J-2 dependent.

Examples: A scholar traveling alone would need to provide certification for $27,204, or equivalent, for a yearlong program: J-1 principal 12 months @ $2,267/mo = $27,204 

A scholar traveling with a family of three (J-1 principal, J-2 spouse and child) would need to provide certification for $38,400, or equivalent, for a yearlong program:
J-1 principal 12 months @ $2,267/mo = $27,204 
J-2 dependents 12 months @ $555/mo+$444/mo = $11,988 
Total: = $39,192

Certification may come from a scholarship or fellowship, personal savings, a salary from USC, other verified funding, or a combination thereof. If you will be paid by USC, the salary will count towards the total certification amount. Scholars supported by an organization other than USC must submit a signed letter of financial award on official stationary from their home institution or sponsoring agency; the award letter must include the name of the recipient, the funding time period and the amount of support in U.S. Dollars that will be provided. Scholars supported by personal funds must submit an official bank letter verifying funds available in U.S. dollars. Documents not in English must be accompanied by a translation. Scholars should keep a copy of financial documents to submit to the U.S. consulate during the visa application process. 

NOTE: You may need additional funding to pay out-of-pocket health care and/or health insurance expenses for yourself/your family members.

The U. S. Department of State requires all participants of the Exchange Visitor Program to have insurance that covers the scholar and all accompanying family members for the entire period of stay in the U.S.

The U.S. Department of State mandates English language proficiency for all international scholars invited to the U.S. under the Exchange Visitor Program [22 CFR Sec. 62.10(a)]. Specifically, EV program sponsors such as USC are required by DOS regulations to establish, prior to their participation in the Exchange Visitor Program, that all international scholars have “sufficient proficiency in the English language, as determined by an objective measurement of English language proficiency, successfully to participate in his or her program and to function on a day-to-day basis” [22 CFR 62.10(a)(2)].

J-1 scholars must have sufficient English ability to be able to perform their jobs or otherwise benefit from their program; read and comprehend program materials; navigate daily life in the United States; understand fully their responsibilities, rights, and protections; and be able to obtain assistance in an emergency.

All J-1 Exchange Visitors and J-2 dependents are to report to the international office within 30 days or less of the date they first enter U.S. territory. You must also report to our office any change of address in the U.S. within 10 days of moving.

Professors, Research Scholars, Short-Term Scholars and Specialists can work only in their academic unit at the institution listed on the DS-2019 used to enter the U.S. Short-term consultations or occasional lectures elsewhere may be possible, but must be approved in advance by the J-1 Responsible Officer; the work must relate to academic discipline of the scholar and must NOT delay the completion of the original purpose in coming to USC.

NOTE: J-2 Dependents may apply for work permission through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services after arrival in the U.S. Contact ISSS for details.

Section 212(e) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act was promulgated to ensure an opportunity for the Exchange Visitor to share what was learned in the U.S. with others in their home country. Please be advised that entering the United States on the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa will require people - under certain circumstances - to return to their home country for two years upon completing their original objective for entering the U.S.

For those who are subject to 212(e), the requirement also applies to all family members who accompany the J-1 principal as J-2 dependents.

12- and 24-month bars on repeat participation:

If you have been in the U.S. on a J-1 program in the Professor or Research Scholar category, you are not allowed to return to the U.S. again in the J-1 Professor or Research Scholar category until you have remained out of the U.S. for a minimum of 24 consecutive months.

If you have been in the U.S. in any Exchange Program for more than 6 months, you are subject to a 12-month bar on returning to the U.S. as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor category. People in the Short-Term Scholar category are exempt from this bar.

These are important considerations if you are collaborating on long-term research at several different institutions in the U.S. In such cases, you should plan your trips carefully and consult with the university’s international office and make use of the Short-term Scholar category when possible.