The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program operates under the auspices of the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. The purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program is to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and citizens of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges. Each Exchange Visitor Program has a program description under which that program must operate and designates an individual(s) as the staff responsible for the administration of the particular J-1 program. The Responsible Officer (RO) and Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center are the staff members of the Visa & International Services Administration (VISA) office.  

J-1 Visa Categories at Cedars-Sinai

J-1 Research Scholar
J-1 visa holders in the Research Scholar or Professor category may remain in the United States for up to five years on the J-1 visa. There are some restrictions to this category. Individuals who have been in the United States as J-1 visa holders in any category for more than 6 months are not eligible for the Research Scholar category unless they have been outside the United States for the previous 12 months. Research scholars who complete their J-1 programs and leave the United States are not eligible to return as J-1 visa holders in the Research Scholar Category for 24 months.

Paid employment for J-1 research scholars is permitted only if it is described on the Form DS-2019 issued to the J-1 visa holder. In most cases, it is not possible for a J-1 visa holder to accept paid employment outside of CSMC. However, there are occasional exceptions. Please consult with the Visa & International Services Administration (VISA) office  for more information regarding the possibility of employment outside of Cedars-Sinai.

J-1 Short Term Scholar
A research scholar, specialist, or a person with similar education or accomplishments coming to the United States on a short-term visit for the purpose of observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills may remain in the United States for up to six months. No extensions are permitted beyond six months. Paid employment for J-1 short-term scholars is permitted only if it is described on the Form DS-2019 issued to the J-1 visa holder.

J-1 Specialist
A J-1 specialist is an individual who is an expert in a field of specialized knowledge or skill coming to the United States for observing, consulting, or demonstrating special skills. J-1 visa holders in the Specialists category may stay for the length of time necessary to complete their program, not to exceed one year. Extensions beyond the 1-year program are not permitted.

Paid employment for J-1 Specialists is permitted only if it is described on the Form DS-2019 issued to the J-1 visa holder. In most cases, it is not possible for a J-1 visa holder to accept paid employment outside of Cedars-Sinai. However, there are occasional exceptions. Please consult with the VISA office for more information regarding the possibility of employment outside of CSMC.

Welcome to Cedars-Sinai

We understand that you will have many questions about coming to Cedars-Sinai and Los Angeles. The Visa and Immigration Services Administration (VISA) office is here to provide answers so please don't hesitate to contact our office.

The information on this page provides an overview of the immigration steps you can begin today.

• Follow the steps outlined in the Pre-arrival checklist in order to prepare for your arrival to Los Angeles
• Immediately contact the U.S. Consulate/Embassy to start the visa application process
• Notify the VISA office and HR Recruitment of your intended arrival date or delays in order to coordinate your on-boarding appointments and adjust your immigration status accordingly

NOTE: You must enter the U.S. no later than 30 beyond the start date on your DS-2019. Notify the VISA office immediately if you will be delayed.

Click on the following links for additional information on:

• Applying for J-1 Visa Stamp
• Health Insurance Requirements & SEVIS Fee Payment Information

Additional Resources

• Directions to Cedars-Sinai and Parking
• Cedars-Sinai Visitors Guide on Housing
• Cedars-Sinai Visitor's Guide on Dining
• Los Angeles Area Resources
• Cedars-Sinai Work & Life Matters Services
• CSMC Historical Perspective
• International Postdoc Survival Guide from National Postdoc Association

Pack as lightly as possible.  You will have to carry everything yourself once you arrive, and you will have a better sense of what you actually need once you settle in.  There are many places to go shopping in Los Angeles and near CSMC that are within walking distance.  There are also public buses that you can take to go shopping, if necessary.

Go to the One Bag web site where you will find packing lists, advice and important links, including a link to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration web site to find out which items are prohibited for air travel.

You can expect warm and sunny days year round in Los Angeles.  Typical high temperatures are 85 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer, 60-75 degrees during fall, winter and spring.  So whenever you come, bring sunglasses, comfortable summer clothes, and a light jacket and you’ll be ready to enjoy the great weather that has helped to make this such a popular city.

Be sure to check out the Los Angeles Visitor Bureau’s website  for additional helpful information about living in Los Angeles.

Here are some items that you should carry with you or put in your carry-on luggage.  Do NOT pack these items in a suitcase you plan on checking in.

Documents
Your DS-2019 document, valid passport and many other important documents (marriage license or school transcripts for example).  If your spouse and/or children will be coming to the U.S. with you, be sure to have their DS-2019s and passports readily available.  You may also want to consider bringing records with the English translations of any foreign documents.

Financial Statements
Your original supporting financial documents such as a personal bank statements, a financial aid award and/or the offer letter

Your new U.S. Address
The street address of where you will be staying when you arrive in Los Angeles.  You will need it to give to the taxi driver.

Medications you use regularly
Including extra prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses.  Make sure that you use the original container with the doctor’s information on any prescriptions you bring.  If you have a health problem that requires medication, bring enough to last as long as possible.

International Driver’s Permit (IDP)
You must inquire at a travel agency in your home country on how to obtain an international driver’s permit.  It is usually valid up to a year after your entry in the U.S. and is only obtainable in person in your home country.  This will help if you’re planning on driving in the U.S. immediately upon your arrival prior to applying for a California driver license.

A credit card that you can use in the U.S.
You can use it to pay for things while you are getting settled and you won’t have to carry so much cash with you.  You can also use it at the airport to pay for the cart to carry your luggage, and your transportation to LA.  It is safer to carry small amounts of cash.

An ATM card (bank card)
Make sure it is a card that can be used at an automatic teller machine (ATM) to withdraw cash in USD form your local bank account.  You will normally pay a small fee to the U.S. bank, and possibly your bank too, but you will get the most up-to-date exchange rate.

Money Matters
You should have between $200 to $300 USD so that you will have cash to pay for immediate expenses like meals, transportation, or a telephone card.  You might want to bring more in traveler’s checks, which can be replaced if lost or stolen, if you know you will be waiting for a wire transfer of funds to your bank in the U.S.

There are several airports convenient to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for your consideration.  Visit our Visitor’s information website for more information. 

• LA City Transportation information
• Los Angeles Department of Transportation

General Guidelines

As a J-1 Exchange Visitor at Cedars-Sinai, you have been admitted for a specific period of time to engage in a particular research activity, as described on your DS-2019 form. You must take care during your stay to maintain lawful J-1 status, as failure to do so can have serious long-term consequences for you. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to ensure that your stay in the U.S. remains valid:

• Be aware of the expiration date of your status. This is not your visa stamp expiration date; it is the ending date in section 3 of your DS-2019 form. If your appointment at CSMC is extended, the hiring department must contact the Visa & International Services Administration (VISA) office at least 30 days before the current expiration date to have the DS-2019 form extended as well.
  
  
• Do not accept unauthorized employment. The only activity you are permitted is the one described in section 4 of the DS-2019 form. You must consult an Immigration Partner in the VISA office  in advance if you wish to take up any other work during your stay
  
  
• If offered a comparable position at another institution or university, discuss your plans with an Immigration Partner in the VISA office to make sure that the required transfer procedure can be accomplished.
  
  
• J-1 visitors are allowed a 30-day grace period beyond the end date on their DS-2019. This additional 30-day period is NOT for employment, extensions, or transfers. If you travel outside the U.S. during your 30-day grace period, you forfeit the remaining grace period and may not re-enter the U.S. under J-1 status.
  
  
  

Health insurance requirement

All J-1 Exchange Visitors and their J-2 dependents are required by federal regulations to have medical insurance for the entire period of their stay in the U.S. You may select the medical insurance that is best for you and any family; however, here is the minimum coverage that must be met:

• $50,000 per accident or illness
• Medical evacuation in the amount of $10,000
• Repatriation coverage for up to $7500
• A deductible of no more than $500 per illness

Any insurance policy that fulfills these requirements must be underwritten by an insurance corporation having an A.M. Best rating of “A” or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-i” or above, a Standard and Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A” or above, a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above, or such other rating service that the Exchange Visitor Program may specify. Insurance coverage backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the Exchange Visitor’s home country meets the requirements. Health benefits programs offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor or underwritten by a federally qualified health maintenance organization (HMO) or an eligible competitive medical plan as determined by the Health Care Financing Administration shall also qualify. The medical and hospitalization coverage provided by Cedars-Sinai’s employee health benefits meets and exceeds these requirements.

If you willfully fail to maintain the insurance coverage as set forth or make a material misrepresentation to your J-1 sponsor regarding the coverage, you will be considered to be in violation of the Exchange Visitor Program regulations and will be subject to termination as an Exchange Visitor participant. It is your responsibility to obtain and maintain insurance coverage.

Program transfer

A J-1 Exchange Visitor may transfer from one designated Exchange Visitor program to another designated program. Program transfers for professors or research scholars must be effected from within the U.S. and within the five years allowed to Exchange Visitors in these categories. The transfer procedures must be completed prior to the end date as noted on the form DS-2019.

• Transferring to Cedars-Sinai
  Scholars who have a CSMC appointment and who are currently in the U.S. in J-1 status must complete the J-1 Transfer IN Notification Form and submit it to the VISA office. We will issue your DS-2019 when this form is received and your "transfer release date" has been reached. All new scholars must report to the  VISA office within 15 days of your transfer release date in order to complete the transfer.
  
  
• Transferring from Cedars-Sinai
  Scholars leaving CSMC and transferring to another J-1 program must inform the VISA office of their intention to transfer to another J-1 program and complete the J-1 Transfer OUT Notification Form . Your new J-1 institution will likely give you a form for the VISA office to complete which will ask for a date on which CSMC will release your J-1 record.
  
  

Change of Address

Immigration regulations require that you report any changes in address after arrival in the United States within ten days of moving.  Details can be found in the above link.

Replacement Documents

Contact the VISA office immediately should you lose any of your immigration documents, i.e. passport, I-94 card, DS-2019, EAD card, I-797 Approval Notice, etc.

Should your passport is stolen or lost; you should contact the local police office to complete an official police report.  Often, your embassy/consulate may request for a copy of the police report prior to issuing you a replacement passport.  Contact your Embassy/Consulate locally. Keep in mind that only your original documents will prove your legal status in the U.S.  A copy is not sufficient evidence.  

The J-1 Exchange Visitor’s spouse and dependent children under the age of 21 are eligible for J-2 status and may use this status to accompany the J-1 individual to the U.S. To be eligible for J-2, a child must not be over 21. No other family members are eligible for J-2 status.

Please fill out the J-2 Separate Entry Request t which can be obtained from the Visa & International Services (VISA) office for a new dependent DS-2019 document.

Applying for J-2 Status

Each person in J-2 status must have his or her own DS-2019. If the spouse and/or dependent child will accompany the J-1 scholar at a later time,  this information must be conveyed by the host department at the time of requesting the initial DS-2019 form. If the spouse and/or dependent child will join the scholar in the U.S,, the scholar will request the DS-2019 from the VISA office.  With the DS-2019,  the J-2 dependent may apply for a J-2 visa at the U.S. Consulate.

Financial Support Minimums

Scholar: $20,000/year  ($1700/month)
Spouse: $7,000/year ($584/month)
Each Child: $4,000/year ($333/month)

J-1/J-2 Health Insurance Requirements

All J-1 Exchange Visitors and their J-2 dependents are required by federal regulations to have medical insurance for the entire period of their stay in the U.S. You may select the medical insurance that is best for you and any family; however, here is the minimum coverage that must be met:

• $50,000 per accident or illness
• Medical evacuation in the amount of $10,000
• Repatriation coverage for up to $7500
• A deductible of no more than $500 per illness

Any insurance policy that fulfills these requirements must be underwritten by an insurance corporation having an A.M. Best rating of “A” or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-i” or above, a Standard and Poor’s Claims-paying Ability rating of “A” or above, a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of “B+” or above, or such other rating service that the Exchange Visitor Program may specify. Insurance coverage backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the Exchange Visitor’s home country meets the requirements. Health benefits programs offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor or underwritten by a federally qualified health maintenance organization (HMO) or an eligible competitive medical plan as determined by the Health Care Financing Administration shall also qualify. The medical and hospitalization coverage provided by the CSMC Health Plan meets and exceeds these requirements. Be sure to enroll for the medical evacuation and repatriation of remains coverage as well.

If you willfully fail to maintain the insurance coverage as set forth or make a material misrepresentation to your J-1 sponsor regarding the coverage, you will be considered to be in violation of the Exchange Visitor Program regulations and will be subject to termination as an Exchange Visitor participant. It is your responsibility, not CSMC, to obtain and maintain insurance coverage.

Working in the U.S. for J-2 Dependents

J-2 visa holders (the spouses and dependent children of J-1's) may apply to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for permission to work in the United States. Title 8, Code of Federal Regulations, part 214.2(j)(1(v) states that, "income from the spouse's or dependent's employment may be used to support the family's customary recreational and cultural activities and related travel, among other things. Employment will not be authorized if this income is needed to support the J-1 principal alien.”

The J-2 Employment Request provides detailed instructions on how to apply for J-2 employment authorization.

Your EAD application and all of the required documentation must be sent to the USCIS Service Center Lockbox facility:

USCIS
Attn: AOS
1820 E. Skyharbor Circle S. Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ  85034

Make sure to send your application via USPS certified mail with a return receipt or by courier (FedEx, DHL, UPS) with a tracking number.

Optional: If you would like to get an email notification that your application has been received at the Lockbox facility, complete the form G-1145 and submit with the rest of your application materials.

Make sure your keep a copy of all the documents you submit.  After mailing in the documents, you will receive a notice (Form I-797) stating you need to wait for about 80 days to receive your EAD. This is your receipt, so take care not to lose it.  Remember, you cannot begin your employment until you have received the Employment Authorization Document (EAD card) from USCIS. If you are applying for a renewal of your J-2 work permission you cannot work beyond the previously authorized date until you receive a new EAD.

Anyone who earns money in the United States must have a social security number for taxpayer identification purposes. VISA can provide you with instructions on Social Security Card Information Sheet .  J-2 visa holders are subject to social security taxes, federal income taxes and, where applicable, state and local income taxes.

Two-Year Home-Residency Requirement

The Two-Year Home-Residency requirement is different from the 24 month bar. The 12 and 24 month bars affect individuals seeking to start new Research Scholar or Professor J visa sponsorship. The Two-Year Home-Residency requirement only affects certain J visa holders, and prevents them from changing to the L, H-1B or immigrant (Permanent Resident) visas according to their nationality, their funding source or if they were sponsored by the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

Some J-1 Exchange Visitors are subject to what is called the two-year home country physical presence requirement. The "two-year residence" requirement applies to J-1 Exchange Visitors if:

• Your country of permanent residency and field of work are identified by your home government as being in short supply and consequently listed on the U.S. State Department’s Exchange Visitor’s "Skills List."
• You receive any direct funding (including nominal travel grants) from your home government or a U.S. government agency at any point during your J-1 visa stay in the U.S. Grants awarded to Cedars-Sinai do not apply in this case.
• You are receiving graduate medical education or training on J-1 visa sponsored by the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG.)

NOTE: If you are subject to the home-residency rule, then any family members who entered the U.S. as J-2 dependents are also subject.

The return-home requirement is enforced only at the time that the J-1 Exchange Visitor or J-2 dependent requests an H-1B or L visa or U.S. Permanent Resident status. J-1 Exchange Visitors who are subject to this requirement must first return to their country of legal permanent residence for an aggregate of two years (24 months) or receive a waiver of the condition (see below) before they can change to H-1B or L status or become a U.S. Permanent Resident. Exchange Visitors who are subject to the return requirement may return to the U.S. as F-1 students, B Visitors the O-1 Extraordinary Ability visa and many other non-immigrant statuses.

Determining if you are subject to the two year home country requirement

In some instances you will find the notation - "bearer is (is not) subject to 212.e home residency rule" – on your J-1 visa stamp and a second notation on your DS-2019 form. This notation is not a final determination and in some cases is issued in error (none of the three criteria above apply in your case.) If you think the notation is in error, contact an VISA Immigration Partner. You can use the link above to research whether your country appears on the Skills List and then identify whether or not your specific field of work is listed. If it is unclear whether you would be subject according to the Skills List please speak to a VISA Immigration Partner. The VISA Immigration Partner may suggest that you apply for an official Advisory Opinion from the U.S. Department of State.

Waiver of residence requirement

Most Exchange Visitors on the J visa who are subject to the return requirement according to the Skills List are able to apply for, and often be granted a waiver of the two-year home-residency requirement. As the first step in the waiver process it is critical that Cedars-Sinai affiliates inform an advisor in the VISA office of their intent to apply for a waiver before taking action. If you receive a waiver you will not be able to extend your J-1 status and this may jeopardize your ability to remain at Cedars-Sinai.

There are several different eligibility categories for a waiver. If you are subject because of the Skills List you will most likely seek a waiver by applying for a "no objection" statement from your home country. The U.S. Department of State Waiver Application Web site will guide you step by step through the No Objection waiver process. This waiver application is your personal application and the VISA Immigration Partners are not able to advise on application details.

The following are the basic steps of a No Objection waiver based on being subject according to the Skills List:

• Speak to an VISA Immigration Partner to create action plan to transition from the J-1 visa to your next visa using the waiver. The first step is normally to extend the J-1 DS-2019 form so that you are able to remain and work in the US during the waiver process, and until your employer is able to secure the next visa for you.
• Create your application account by logging on here.
• Submit all DS-2019 forms and other documentation into your Department of State application account.
• Contact your home government representative in Washington (or in some cases New York) to request that they begin to review your request for a "No Objection" statement.
• The home country issues the No Objection statement to the U.S. Department of State, and normally sends a copy to VISA.
• The Department of State approves your request by issuing a recommendation letter to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office in Vermont.
• The final waiver, Form I-612 is mailed to you from USCIS Vermont and is required for any change of immigration status application such as moving to H-1B or U.S. Permanent Resident.

NOTE: Scholars should never apply for the waiver without first consulting the VISA office and establishing an action plan of how to move from the J visa to the next visa after the waiver. It is often a problem if you apply for the waiver too early in the J-1 Exchange Visitor program, since the waiver cancels your ability to extend J Exchange Visitor status. Failure to inform the VISA office of your intent to apply for a waiver could also jeopardize your ability to change status inside the U.S. from J-1 to H-1B.

12 and 24 Month Bars

The U.S. State Department has implemented regulations that prevent repeat usage of some J Exchange Visitor categories. The regulations are called the 12 and 24 month "bars" or prohibitions. The bars focus only on use of the Research Scholar or Professor category of the J visa. The bars do not prevent access to other visas or other categories of the J Exchange Visitor Program. Finally these bars are entirely separate from the “Two-Year Home-Residency” requirement wherein some J visa holders must return to their home country before being able to move to other U.S. visa types. Below is a discussion of the 12 and 24 month bars.

• 12 Month Bar
  Individuals who have been in the U.S. for more than six months in the previous year with J-1 or J-2 visa status are not eligible to enter the United States again as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor for a 12-month period. The only exception is if the first visit was using the J-1 Short Term Scholar category, which does not count towards the 12-month bar. The 12-month bar does not prevent individuals from returning to the U.S. in other visa status (F-1, B-1, H-1B, O-1, etc…)
• 24 Month Bar
  Any individual who participates in a J-1 Exchange Visitor program in the Professor or Researcher Scholar categories is subject to a 24-month bar on "repeat participation" in that same category. Scholars subject to the bar may not return to the U.S. as a J-1 visa holder in the Professor or Research Scholar categories for the 24-month period. The 24-month bar occurs regardless of whether the program in the US is a few months or a few years. Whenever an Exchange Visitor ends his/her academic appointment and returns home the bar becomes effective. For example, a researcher who comes to CSMC for 3 years and the researcher who visits for 8 months, would after returning home be prevented from returning again to the US with a new J Researcher Scholar or Professor visa for 24 months. This bar also applies to family members who held J-2 Research Scholar or Professor dependent status. The 24-month bar does not prevent individuals from returning to the United States in any visa status (F-1, B-1, H-1B, O-1, etc)

All exchange visitor scholars should have "D/S" (Duration of Status) noted on their Form I-94 (arrival/departure card). "D/S" means that your stay is valid for the duration of the J-1 status, which is the actual end date on the DS-2019 form, plus an additional 30-day grace period. This grace period is NOT intended for employment, extensions or transfers.

To request an extension of your J-1 status, you must contact your sponsoring department to complete and submit the J-1 application to the Visa and Immigration Services Administration (VISA) office at least 30 days prior to the end date of your current status.

Please note that a new DS-2019 will be issued to reflect the new period of stay. That document legally extends your J-1 visit as long as you remain in the U.S. If you have a spouse or children in J-2 status, their stays also will be extended. You do not need to visit a U.S. consulate or embassy to extend your status.

Should you travel outside the U.S. during this new period of valid J-1 status (other than visits of less than 30 days to Canada or Mexico and adjacent territories), you must have a valid J-1 visa in your passport. If your J-1 visa has expired, you will use the new DS-2019 to apply for a new J-1 visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate outside the U.S. Contact the VISA office should you need assistance.

When you apply for a J-1 extension, you do not need to pay the SEVIS fee again.

In extending your J-1 stay, you also must extend your health insurance coverage. Failure to do so will result in the termination of your J-1 status.

The J-1 extension application can be found at the Application Information Web page.

The Visa and International Services Administration (VISA) office has prepared the following information related to sponsorship of J-1 visa for international scholars and their family members. The information is intended for administrators responsible for processing visa document requests to the VISA office. Please note that this information is not intended to be legal advice. For questions or concerns about the information on this website, please contact us.

Applicant Eligibility

Cedars-Sinai has been approved by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor J-1 exchange visitors participating in academic research, teaching and observation at Cedars-Sinai. Scholars use the J-1 program for official paid and unpaid appointments such as visiting scientist, visiting scientist-supplemental, postdoctoral scientist, as well as other temporary academic appointments.

The J-1 visa cannot be used for permanent, tenured appointments or for professional support staff positions.

In most cases, foreign medical doctors are prohibited from engaging in any clinical activities during Cedars-Sinai's J-1 visa sponsorship. International medical graduates often use the J-1 clinical visa sponsorship of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates for clinical residency and fellowships.

Department Responsibilities

• The host department must work with Human Resources Recruitment to determine that the individual has the appropriate academic credentials, as well as English language proficiency, for the temporary academic appointment.
• The host department and/or scholar must provide evidence of financial support (either Cedars-Sinai funds or outside funding) for all expenses, including additional financial support for any accompanying family members.
• Submit required information and application to the VISA office for J-1 sponsorship. Please allow at least a three-month lead time before a scholar arrives. In some cases, it may take longer, depending on the country of origin or the visa action required.
• Monitor the scholar's arrival dates and inform VISA of possible delays or cancellation. Scholars must enter the U.S. within 30 days of start date on Form DS-2019, the Certificate of Eligibility for the J-1 visa.
• Notify VISA of any significant changes to the scholar's program at Cedars-Sinai, such as change in funding support, site of activity, clinical duties, early program completion, termination or withdrawal.
• Provide support and resources for scholars regarding departmental and Cedars-Sinai access, such as housing, office space, administrative support, computer/email access, etc.

J-1 Application Forms

The sponsoring department should complete the J-1 Department Request Form to request J-1 visa sponsorship.

• Certification of English Language Proficiency Form: Required for all "Begin New Program" and "Transfer In" requests.
• Clinical Activity Certification Form: Required for applicants who hold a medical degree (MD, DO, MBBS, etc.)
• 5-Point Statement Letter: Required for physicians participating in programs with incidental patient contact components.
• Fee Agreement: A $300 administrative fee is charged to the department for each initial and extension application.

The J-1 visa applicant should complete the J-1 Applicant Data Form . Forward the completed form to the sponsoring Cedars-Sinai department. Do not forward directly to the VISA office.

The department should gather all documents from the applicant and forward the completed application packet to the department’s immigration partner. Applications may be submitted by email to your designated immigration partner or through interdepartment mail to PACT 600. The VISA office will review and process the DS-2019 form within 15 calendar days and notify the department for pickup of J-1 approval packet.

The department will need to forward the J-1 approval packet to the applicant.

The Visa and Immigration Services Administration office charges an administrative service fee on behalf of the Medical Center for the processing of applications in connection with requests for issuance of J-1 Visa Status (Form DS-2019). This fee must be paid by the sponsoring department by completing the Fee Agreement form and forward along with the DS-2019 Application.

Administrative Fee Schedule

• New or Extension Request: $300
• Amendment: $100

SEVIS Fee

All new J-1 applicants must pay this mandatory one-time SEVIS fee to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to cover the costs of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This $180 fee must be paid by the J-1 scholar prior to applying for the visa or file for change of status with USCIS. This fee is different from the visa application or change of status fees.

Visit the SEVIS fee website for additional information on payment methods and any questions or concerns.

Change of Status Fee

Scholars who are currently inside the U.S. on a different visa category and wish to change their immigration status through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is required to pay an additional application processing fee. The sponsoring department is responsible for requesting the check payment through CSMC’s Accounts Payable and forward to VISA office along with the J-1 visa application.

Current I-539 fee: $290 payable to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.