You have been invited to The Ohio State University (OSU) as a visiting scholar.

1. Coming to OSU

Upon receiving your visa and arriving in the U.S., you will be participating in The Ohio State University’s Exchange Visitor program. When you arrive on campus, you will be joining over 1,000 international visiting scholars who are conducting research, teaching, or observing at OSU.  Visiting scholars have come to OSU in recent years from 57 countries and participated in 97 departments.  We welcome you as you join our university!

In order to make the process as smooth and easy as possible, we want to explain a few things:  

You will be a J-1 Exchange Visitor.  This is the official government designation, but at OSU you will be called a Visiting Scholar (both terms mean the same thing).  

DS-2019 is the certificate of eligibility that will be used to obtain a visa, enter the U.S., change your status if you are already in the U.S. in another status, and/or maintain your J-1 status.

The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is the U.S. government database for all students and exchange visitors in the U.S. Your arrival at OSU must be validated in SEVIS within 20 days of the start date on your DS-2019. You MUST attend the New Scholar Check-In and Orientation at the Office of International Affairs (OIA) as soon as you arrive on the OSU campus. If your program is located at OARDC in Wooster, Ohio, you will check in with Human Resources in Wooster.  If you are unsure where you will be located, check the fourth line of your DS-2019 (U.S. Address).

While you may enter the U.S. up to 30 days before the start date of your DS-2019, you may begin your program only on the start date (or after the start date if you have not arrived by the start date). You must complete your program by the end date of your most recent DS-2019; however, you may remain in the U.S. up to 30 days after the end date to enjoy your time after working on your program, travel within the U.S., or visit friends and relatives. You must be outside the U.S. by the 30th day.  Please plan to leave before the 30th day so that you can avoid possible delays out of your control (flight delays or cancellations, inclement weather etc.).

2. Funding

Sufficient funding for the length of the stay is required by the U.S. Department of State, which is in charge of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.  Minimum annual funding to cover living expenses and health insurance at OSU:

To be able to produce the DS-2019, our office must receive from you proof of financial support, which can be one or a combination of the following:
a. personal bank statement that must show the following information:

1. bank
2. date
3. name on the account
4. amount of money in the account(s)

b. letter from the employer showing:

1. you will continue to be paid your salary
2. amount of funding
3. dates of funding

c. scholarship, award, etc. letter (in English) showing the following information:

1. name of the sponsor
2. your name
3. amount of funding
4. dates of funding

d.   if parents or relatives will be supporting you:

1. signed letter from that person stating that they will be supporting you during your stay
2. bank statement (as above) showing they have the necessary amount of money to support you

The amounts listed in the chart above represent expenses necessary for one year.  If you will be here for more than one year, multiply the total annual amount by the number of years you will be at OSU. If you will be at OSU less than one year, divide the total amount by 12 and then multiply by the total number of months you will be at OSU. This is the amount of funding you must show in financial documents both to OSU as well as to the U.S. consular office when applying for the visa.

3. Required Health Insurance

The U.S. Department of State requires all scholars and their dependents who accompany them to the U.S. to have health insurance during their entire stay in the U.S. All OSU Visiting Scholars and accompanying dependents must purchase one of the OSU health insurance plans below:

• OSU Faculty and Staff Health Insurance plans
  
  • Medical Plans Summary & Comparison Chart
  • Medical Plans Contribution Rates

• OSU International Student and Scholar Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan

Please see your Department Human Resources Professional to see for which plan(s) you are eligible. If you are eligible for both plans, compare them to see which is best for you. If you have any questions, please contact your OSU department.

1. OSU Faculty and Staff Health Insurance, regular, strongly recommended if eligible
   OR
2. OSU Faculty and Staff Health Insurance, Special A Appointments
   OR
3. OSU Faculty and Staff Health Insurance, Special B Appointments
   OR
4. OSU International Student and Scholar Accident and Sickness Insurance Plan

You may also maintain current coverage in your home country or purchase travel insurance in addition to one of the health plans above, if you choose to. Individuals with preexisting health conditions are particularly encouraged to maintain their current coverage in their home country as most U.S. health insurance plans have restrictions on coverage of preexisting health problems.

ONE OF THESE OSU HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS IS REQUIRED!

There will be absolutely no exceptions, waivers, substitutions, or opting out.

4. Obtaining J-1 Status

OUTSIDE the U.S.

If you are outside the U.S., you will receive a DS-2019. This document allows you to apply for a J-1 Exchange Visitor visa at the U.S. consulate and enter the U.S. as a J-1 Exchange Visitor. The DS-2019 will come in a packet containing other important information. Please read everything carefully.  After you have obtained your visa and airline tickets so you know your arrival date at OSU, schedule an orientation appointment.

INSIDE the U.S.

• Already in J-1 STATUS at another institution:
  • Download the Transfer Form, fill out the top portion, and give it to the International Office at your current institution. They will send it directly to OSU.
  • Submit your eScholar record, with copies of all your DS-2019s attached, to the OSU department.
  • Please coordinate the details between your current institution and OSU to be sure there is no break between the end date at your current institution and the start date at OSU.
  • Schedule an orientation appointment
  • You will receive your DS-2019 at the orientation.

• In ANOTHER STATUS in the U.S. you have two choices for obtaining J-1 status:
  
  • Travel outside the U.S., obtain a J-1 visa, and enter the U.S. in J-1 status or
  • Change your status to J-1 while remaining in the U.S. by sending to USCIS:
    • Form DS-2019
    • Form I-539 (www.uscis.gov)
    • The fee
    • All the required documents (check I-539 instructions)
    • Check I-539 instructions for the address of the appropriate USCIS Service Center.
    • This process usually takes two to four months.
  • For either, schedule an orientation appointment

5.  J-1 Research Scholar and Professor Program Participation Restrictions

There are two bars that apply to everyone acquiring J-1 status in the Research Scholar or Professor categories:

• The 24-Month Repeat Participation Bar
• The 12-Month Bar

If EITHER bar applies, the person is prohibited by the U.S. Department of State from:

1. Entering the U.S. in a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor program
2. Changing their status to J-1 Research Scholar or Professor (if inside the U.S.)

To determine if a bar applies:

1. 24-month repeat participation bar:
   A person who was in J-1 status, in the Research Scholar or Professor categories, cannot begin a new program as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor in the next 24 months.
   
   • Note:  The bar does NOT apply to Short-Term Scholar
     
     
2. 12-month bar:
   A person in any J status in the last 12 months (except Short-Term Scholar) cannot begin a new program as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor. This would include J-1 student, J-2 dependent, Physician, Specialist, Trainee, Au Pair, Summer Work Study, Camp Counselor

• Note: The bar does NOT apply to Short-Term Scholar
• Note: The bar does NOT apply if present in the U.S. in J status less than six months
  
  NOTE: Neither of these bars has any impact on the two-year home residency requirement that applies to many J-1 scholars. The home residency requirement is completely separate from the two bars. The consulate should tell you if the two-year home residency requirement applies to you.

You are now ready to go back to eScholar, fill out the form, and submit it.

Once again, we welcome you to The Ohio State University.  We look forward to your arrival!