Bringing a Visiting (J-1) Scholar to Campus

In an effort to facilitate your request to bring international scholars to our campus, we have provided a request form for you to complete. You will also need to pay the MU International Scholar Fee. Once these forms have been properly completed and all information has been provided, we will issue the Form DS-2019. The DS-2019 will be sent to the prospective scholar so that he/she may apply to an American Consulate/Embassy abroad and obtain a J-1 visa for entry into the U.S. or, if the scholar is in the US in J-1 status already, a transfer the MU. If you have any questions regarding this form or other matters, please contact the International Center (882-6007).

Information REQUIRED for Form DS-2019

To complete the Form DS-2019 properly and to insure that the exchange visitor is able to apply for and receive a J-1 visa to enter the U.S. in legal status or remain in valid J-1 Status, ISSS must receive the additional information listed below along with the request form:

• Proof of funding, if the source is other than MU
• Copy of the scholar's resume
• Letter of offer/invitation from hosting department
• International Scholar Services Fee Form

Note: Biographical information (birth date, city and country of birth and relationship to the scholar) about the scholar's spouse and children is required if the family intends to travel to MU with the scholar.

Medical Insurance

All exchange visitors (J-1) are required to have and maintain medical insurance, which includes coverage for repatriation and medical evacuation, for themselves and any accompanying family members (J-2) as a condition of their legal status in the U.S. To comply with this federal regulation, MU now requires that all persons in J status (including dependents) document their insurance coverage. An UM insurance policy is available to exchange visitors on all four campuses. As part of MU's compliance, the Exchange Visitor Request Form requires the host department to designate the source of insurance for J-1 exchange visitors. We appreciate your cooperation with this policy.

Classification of Exchange Visitor

Proper classification of the exchange visitor on the Form DS-2019 is very important because U.S. law governing the program does not permit exchange visitors to change categories (i.e., changing from research scholar to a student) or activities after arriving in the U.S. Thus the primary purpose of the visit of a research scholar or professor must always be some combination of research, teaching or observation, although they may also audit and/or enroll in course work part-time as part of their MU activities. Since their stay in the U.S. is limited to a maximum of five years, they should not be encouraged to begin any combination of activities lasting more than five years in duration. If any question exists as to whether the primary purpose of the exchange visitor's activities at MU is research/teaching/training or formal degree studies, please contact ISSS before the issuance of the official form DS-2019. Persons whose primary purpose is study must follow the normal MU procedures for admission as a student. They may not be brought to MU as research scholars. Furthermore, Department of State regulations prohibit exchange visitors previously in this country in any J-1 research/professor category from reentering the U.S. as J-1 researchers or professors for 12 months.

Short-Term Scholars

There is also a category for short-term scholars. This category is used for those who come to lecture, conduct research, observe, consult and/or to participate in seminars, workshops, conferences, study tours, professional meetings or similar types of education and professional activities under the auspices of MU. Short-term scholars may be brought in for one day to a maximum of six months, but their stay as an exchange visitor cannot be extended beyond the initial six months for any reason. Because exchange visitors are permitted to be employed, to receive honoraria and/or be reimbursed for expenses, this category is convenient for use by speakers and other participants at MU sponsored conferences, short courses, seminars and colloquia. If you have any questions about potential liabilities related to the short-term scholars category, please contact ISSS.

The Goals of the Exchange Visitor Program

Under the terms of its Exchange Visitor Program, the University of Missouri-Columbia is authorized to invite international students, faculty and visitors to campus for the purpose of teaching, instructing or lecturing, studying, observing, conducting research, consulting, demonstrating special skills or receiving training in the general interest of international academic exchange. Participants use the Form DS-2019 to apply, at an American Consulate, for a J-1 visa to enter the United States. International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) in the International Center has been designated as the office responsible for MU's Exchange Visitor Program by the university and the Department of State (DOS) to issue form DS-2019. A DOS brochure is available in the international center that outlines some of the J-1 program policies and regulations. Although the brochure was designed to be sent to incoming exchange visitors, it is also useful in helping MU host departments and faculty understand the background, intent and operations of this important international educational activity. Information can also be accessed by logging on to the DOS J-1 exchange visitor web site.

What happens next?

After you complete the request form and send it to the ISSS, our offices issue the documents. By that we mean, the State Department document Form DS-2019 is prepared and signed by a Responsible Officer (designated by the University and approved by the State Department). The documents will either be mailed directly from our office to the scholar or sent to your office to be forwarded to the scholar by an express currier. The scholar then makes an appointment at a US consulate or embassy. He/she will be required to show financial proof, citizenship (his passport) and give a statement of his purpose for the visa. If dependents are accompanying the scholar, they too will need to attend this appointment and have proof of marriage and show birth certificates. The scholar will either be given a visa, be asked for more information or denied a visa. The denial of a visa is difficult to overcome. This is why we ask that you help our office in making sure all of his/her documents are correct. When the scholar reaches the US he/she will again be "inspected" , this time by USCIS. They will be issued more immigration documents and then sent on their way to UMC.

Once the scholar arrives at UMC they much check in at the international center. During the check in the scholars nonimmigrant documents will be copies and they will be scheduled for a required orientation. This check-in is a legal USCIS requirement and we ask the department to assist us by reminding the scholar of this obligation. This office has a limited amount of time during which we must notify USCIS that the scholar has arrived. If this notification does not occur, the scholar will become illegally present in the US and may be subject to arrest or deportation.

We hope that this information is helpful. Feel free to contact our office if you have any questions or requests.

Thank you for all of your help in this process.
ISSS Staff