Categories

These categories are not Vanderbilt appointment titles, but rather J-1 visa categories.  The category that best meets the needs of the sponsoring department and most accurately reflects the exchange visitor’s primary activity at Vanderbilt will be stated in item 4 of the DS-2019 form. The department appointment title is not listed on the DS-2019 form.

Research Scholar and Professor

Qualifications: The Department of State requires Exchange Visitors in the Research Scholar/Professor category to have academic credentials (generally at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and experience appropriate to the field of endeavor.

Activity: The activity must be full-time and temporary, and cannot be a tenure track position. The activity can include research, observation, consultation, and teaching. If the primary activity is research, the scholar will come in the research scholar category. If the primary activity is teaching, the scholar will come in the professor category.  A professor may also engage in research and a research scholar may also engage in teaching. The position cannot be fully remote; the exchange visitor can participate remotely up to 40% of the time (e.g.: in a 5 day, 40 hour workweek, the exchange visitor may work up to 2 days remotely).

Length of Stay: The minimum stay in the US is three weeks, and the maximum stay is five years. No extension beyond five years is possible. Research Scholars/Professors have a 30 day grace period after their program ends to leave the US.

Eligibility for Repeat Participation: Exchange Visitors who complete a J-1 program in the Research Scholar/Professor category, regardless of the program’s duration, incur a two-year window of ineligibility before a new program in the J-1 Research Scholar/Professor category can begin.

Exchange Visitors (including J-2 dependents) in any category except Short-Term Scholar incur a one-year window of ineligibility before beginning a program in the J-1 Research Scholar/Professor category if they were in the US at any time during the 12-month period immediately prior to the start of the new program unless the total stay was less than six months.

Neither the two-year nor the one-year bar to eligibility for the Research Scholar/Professor category apply to exchange visitors who transfer to Vanderbilt from another institution within the US to continue their current J-1 program.

Short-Term Scholar

Qualifications: The Department of State requires Exchange Visitors in the Short-Term Scholar category to have academic credentials (generally at least a bachelor’s degree or equivalent) and experience appropriate to the field of endeavor.

Activity: The activity must be full-time and temporary. Short-Term Scholars may teach, lecture, observe, consult or perform research, and participate in seminars, workshops, conferences and other types of educational or professional activities. The position cannot be fully remote; the exchange visitor can participate remotely up to 40% of the time (e.g.: in a 5 day, 40 hour workweek, the exchange visitor may work up to 2 days remotely).

Length of Stay: Short-Term Scholars may participate in the exchange visitor program for the length of time necessary to complete the program, not to exceed six months. Extensions beyond six months are not permitted. Short-Term Scholars have a 30-day grace period after their program ends to leave the US.

Eligibility for Repeat Participation: Regulations permit individuals who have previously participated in an exchange visitor program in the Short-Term Scholar category to begin a new program in any category without delay. Departments which invite exchange visitors for 6 months or less but anticipate extending their stay beyond 6 months should request the Research Scholar/Professor category instead of the Short-Term Scholar category. Departments which invite exchange visitors for 6 months or less and do not plan to extend them beyond six months should request the Short-Term Scholar category, especially if future visits to the US in the J-1 Professor or Research Scholar categories are anticipated within the next two years.

Specialist

Qualifications: Exchange Visitors in the Specialist category must have academic credentials and experience appropriate to the field of endeavor.

Activity: Specialists are experts in a field of specialized knowledge or skill coming to the US to demonstrate their special knowledge/skills, or to observe or consult with colleagues.

Length of Stay: Specialists may participate in the exchange visitor program for the length of time necessary to complete the program, not to exceed twelve months. A minimum stay of three weeks is required.

Eligibility for Repeat Participation: Regulations permit individuals who have previously participated in any exchange visitor program to begin a new program in the Specialist category without delay. Individuals who completed an exchange visitor program in the Specialist category may be delayed in beginning a new program in the Research Scholar or Professor categories because of the 12-month bar.