USC hosts foreign nationals in many different J-1 Exchange Visitor categories. Depending on your department’s needs, the Exchange Visitor’s academic background, and both past and future immigration concerns of the visitor, one category may be more appropriate than another. The following information explains who is eligible for each category and the various lengths of stay. Please feel free to contact OIS (j1exchg@usc.edu) if you need further assistance to determine the appropriate category for your department’s Exchange Visitor.
Research Scholar
The Research Scholar is the most common category of Exchange Visitor at USC. Research Scholars are individuals concerned primarily with conducting research, observing, or consulting in connection with a research project (even if such individuals are professors at their home institutions). Research Scholars are allowed to teach or lecture. We can issue a Research Scholar DS-2019 for any length from 3 weeks up to 5 years.
Foreign nationals who have been in any category of J-1 visa (except the Short-Term Scholar category) in the previous 24 months are NOT allowed to begin a new Research Scholar visit. This rule is known as the “24-month Bar.”
Professor
J-1 Professors are concerned primarily with teaching, lecturing, observing, or consulting. J-1 Professors may also participate in departmental research. If the Exchange Visitor will be here primarily to conduct research the Research Scholar category is more appropriate, even if the individual is a professor in the home country. We can issue a Professor DS-2019 for any length from 3 weeks up to 5 years.
Foreign nationals who have been in any category of J-1 visa (except the Short-Term Scholar category) in the previous 24 months are NOT allowed to begin a new Professor visit. This rule is known as the “24-month Bar.”
Short-Term Scholar
Short-Term Scholars may be a professor, researcher, specialist, or a person with similar education or accomplishments coming to the United States on a short-term visit for the purpose of lecturing, observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills. We can issue a Short-Term Scholar DS-2019 for any length from 1 day up to a maximum of 6 months. Short-Term Scholar DS-2019s cannot be extended beyond the 6-month maximum.
The Short-Term Scholar category is very flexible and can be used to accommodate many types of short visits. It is NOT subject to the “24-month Bar” which otherwise requires a gap of 24-months between multiple J-1 visits. For this reason we recommend the Short-Term Scholar category for visits of less than 6 months. If your J-1 scholar is expected to extend her or his stay beyond 6 months, we advise you to choose the Research Scholar category when requesting the initial DS-2019.
Non-Degree Student
Non-Degree Students are individuals engaged in a prescribed non-degree academic program with a specific educational objective. Such a course of study may include classroom instruction, research projects, and/or academic training. We can issue a Non-Degree Student DS-2019 for up to a maximum stay of 24 months.
Non Degree Students may be given Academic Training for a period no longer than the time spent in the academic program. The periods of academic program and Academic Training may not exceed the 24 month maximum.