University of Arkansas

• Immigration: Regulations & Applications
  • Work Authorization
  • Health Insurance
  • Immigration Forms
  • Workshops
  • Resources
  • Travel
• Programs: Get Involved!
• Resources
• About ISS

J Scholars

Purpose and Structure of the J Exchange Visitor Program

Parties involved in the Exchange Visitor Program

Exchange Visitor Categories

University of Arkansas Procedures

Insurance Requirements

Exchange Visitor Welcome Brochure

The J Exchange Visitor category was developed to implement the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (Fulbright-Hayes Act) of 1961.   The overall purpose of that Act, and the objective of the Exchange Visitor category, is "to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges."

The J Exchange Visitor Program consists of six principal parties:

1.  The Department of State (DOS), which issues J visas to exchange visitors and their dependents, designates exchange visitor program sponsors, and creates and administers federal regulations and policies governing the Exchange Visitor Program. 
2.  The University of Arkansas or other exchange visitor program sponsor, which are legal entities that have applied for and received designation from the Department of State to conduct an exchange visitor program and have been enrolled in SEVIS (the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System). The exchange visitor program sponsor either directly offers the "program" in which the exchange visitor will participate or places the exchange visitor in an appropriate program.
3.  Michael Freeman and Audra Johnston are the individuals who have been appointed by the University of Arkansas to perform the duties of the Responsible Officer and Alternate Responsible Officer set forth in regulations and to represent the University of Arkansas in the administration of the University's exchange visitor program.
4.  Exchange visitors that have been selected by the University of Arkansas or another exchange visitor program sponsor to participate in a particular exchange visitor program.
5.  The immigration bureaus of the Department of Homeland Security, which manage SEVIS, admit an alien to the United States in J exchange visitor status, and adjudicate certain immigration benefits for J exchange visitors and their dependents.
6.  The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a division of the Department of Homeland Security, which administers the SEVIS database and SEVIS Help Desk.

Depending on the category of exchange visitor program, there may also be other essential parties involved (such as the exchange visitor's government, contracting agencies, funding sponsors, etc.).

back to top

Exchange Visitor categories
Exchange Visitors participate in the Exchange Visitor Program within a particular Exchange Visitor category. The University of Arkansas has obtained specific authorization from the Department of State to invite people to participate in any of these activity categories, through the designation process.  Each activity category has specific, detailed requirements.  The exchange visitor categories authorized for the University of Arkansas in the SEVIS system are:

1.  STUDENT NON-DEGREE - A student not pursuing a degree.  A student in this categeory cannot change to a degree seeking student.
2.  STUDENT BACHELORS - A student pursuing a bachelor's degree
3.  STUDENT MASTERS - A student pursuing a master's degree
4.  STUDENT DOCTORATE - A student pursuing a doctoral degree
5.  STUDENT INTERN - An undergraduate student currently enrolled in and pursuing a degree at a postsecondary academic institution outside the United States, whose internship at the University of Arkansas will fulfill the educational objectives for his or her current degree program at his or her home institution.  Student interns MUST return to the home institution and complete the undergraduate degree program following the internship with the University of Arkansas.
6.  RESEARCH SCHOLAR - An individual primarily conducting research, observing, or consulting in connection with a research project 
7.  SHORT-TERM SCHOLAR - A professor, research scholar, specialist, or a person with similar education or accomplishments coming to the University of Arkansas on a short-term visit for the purpose of lecturing, observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills
8.  PROFESSOR - An individual primarily teaching, lecturing, observing, or consulting
9.  SPECIALIST - An expert in a field of specialized knowledge or skill coming to the United States for observing, consulting, or demonstrating special skills. 
 

back to top

University of Arkansas handling of Exchange Visitor applications

1.  Non-degree and degree-seeking student categories:  These applications must be processed through the Office of Graduate and International Admissions.  Please adhere to the deadlines published by this office.
2.  Student Intern:  Complete the Request for Student Intern packet.  Return packet and all required supporting documents to the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS).  ISS will complete the Internship Placement Plan and forward to the department for authorizing signatures.  Once ISS has received the signed Internship Placement Plan, ISS will create a visa packet and forward the completed packet to the department.  Please plan for the process to take at least 30 days.
3.  Scholar, Professor, and Specialist categories:  Complete the Exchange Visitor request form and forward the form with the required supporting documents to the Office of International Students and Scholars (ISS).  Once all the documents have been received and the visa packet prepared, ISS will foward the DS-2019 packet to the department.  Please allow 7 days for the creation of the visa packet.

back to top

Insurance Requirement

Exchange Visitors are REQUIRED to maintain medical insurance for the duration of their program at the University of Arkansas.
The medical insurance must meet the following requirements:

Minimum coverage shall provide:
1  medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness;
2  repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500;
3  expenses associated with medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $10,000; and
4  a deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
 
An insurance policy secured to fulfill the requirements of this section:
1  may require a waiting period for pre-existing conditions which is reasonable as determined by current industry standards;
2  may include provision for co-insurance under the terms of which the exchange visitor may be required to pay up to 25 percent of the covered benefits per accident or illness; and
3  shall not unreasonably exclude coverage for perils inherent to the activities of the exchange program in which the exchange visitor participates.
 
Any policy plan or contract secured to fulfill the above requirements must, at minimum, be:
1  Underwritten by an insurance corporation having an A.M. Best rating of "A-" or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of "A-" 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 as the Agency may from time to time specify; or
2  Backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country; or
3  Part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor; or
4  Offered through or underwritten by a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or eligible Competitive Medical Plan (CMP) as determined by the Health Care Financing Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Exchange Visitor Welcome Brochure

Click on the link above to view the welcome brochure published by the Department of State for exchange visitors.

Updated 12 November 2009