Research Scholars, Short-Term Scholars, or Professors

Period of Stay

Minimum period of stay is three weeks. Maximum period of stay is five years. The period of stay authorized on the Form DS-2019 will be for the duration of the Dartmouth appointment.

Purpose of Stay

The primary purpose of the stay for a Research Scholar is research, usually at the postdoctoral level. The primary purpose of the stay for a Professor is teaching, usually as a visiting faculty member.

Employment

J-1 Research Scholars and faculty may be paid employees of Dartmouth. If the appointment is unpaid, the Exchange Visitor must demonstrate sufficient funding for the duration of the J-1 program when the program begins.

You may not accept paid employment during the J-1 program. There is an exception for an occasional lecture or consultation, if your OVIS advisor and sponsoring faculty member grant permission in writing before the event.

As a research scholar you are allowed to teach at Dartmouth, and as a professor you are allowed to conduct research at Dartmouth. You are not allowed any employment opportunities not directly related to your program of research or teaching.

12- and 24-Month Bars

U.S. Department of State imposes bars on certain J-1 Exchange Visitors from using the Research Scholar/Professor category. (These bars are different from the two-year foreign residence requirement.) The bars apply to certain J-1 Exchange Visitors who were previously in the U.S. in J-1 status, and who wish to return to the U.S. in J-1 status in the Research Scholar/Professor category.

• 12-Month Bar: Any individual who was in the U.S. in any J-1 status for more than six months must wait 12 months following their departure from the U.S. before they can return as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor.
   
• 24-Month Bar: Any individual who was in the U.S. as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor, for any period of time, must wait 24 months following their departure from the U.S. before they can return as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor.

An individual may not enter in the J-1 category of Professor or Research Scholar if he or she has been physically present in the United States in J-1 status for all or part of the twelve-month period immediately before the start date of a Professor or Research Scholar program as stated on his or her Form DS-2019, unless:

• The participant is currently in a professor or research scholar program and is transferring to another institution in the United States to continue their current J-1 program, or:
   
• The participant’s prior physical presence in the U.S. on a J-visa program was less than six months in duration, or:
   
• The prior participation was as a short-term scholar.

Short-term scholars may come to the United States for up to six months to lecture, observe, consult, and to participate in seminars, workshops, conferences, study tours, professional meetings, or similar types of educational and professional activities.

There is no minimum period of stay. The maximum period of stay is six months; no extensions are available.