Sponsoring or extending a J-1 research scholar and professor

Determining the eligibility of a potential J-1

In determining the eligibility of a potential J-1 Research Scholar or Professor, the department must establish that:

The intended program is suitable to the scholar’s background, needs and experience
The scholar possesses sufficient proficiency in the English language to participate meaningfully in the program
There is an adequate source of funding for the duration of the intended program
The scholar has at least a bachelor’s degree
- If the prospective scholar has not earned their bachelor’s degree yet, you may bring them in the Student Non-Degree category. Detailed information can be found here J-1 Student Non-Degree | ISSC | ASU
The intended program is in-person. The Department of State has indicated that Exchange Visitors, if working remotely from a residence, must limit this work to 40% of their effort (e.g., 2 out of 5 days a week). Exchange Visitors working from a residence must report their remote address to ISSC.

Application overview

Apply to the ISSC to obtain a DS-2019. We will issue the DS-2019 up to 7 business days of a complete application. This does not include weekends or ASU observed holidays. During peak seasons, processing times may be more than 7 business days as we deal with a higher volume of requests.

Submit the application 2-6 months before the start date. This allows time for the J-1 scholar to apply for a visa at a U.S. Consulate.

There are several categories of J-1 scholar, all with different requirements and time limitations. See here for more detailed information about these categories. Here are the time limitations for each category:

J-1 Scholar category	Maximum duration
Short-term Scholar	6 months
Professor/Research Scholar	1 year upfront, then extended yearly for a total of 5 consecutive years
Specialist	12 months
Student Non-Degree	2 years
J-1 Student Intern	12 months

Sponsoring a J-1 scholar

Departments will submit a J-1 Scholar Initial Request for a prospective J-1 scholar through our Sunapsis system. If you are a department user that requires a Sunapsis account to submit this request, please contact the ISSC for access.

You will need to attach supporting documentation to the e-form application. This is a list of some of the documentation you may have to attach:

Invitation/offer letter
J medical insurance requirement form
J-1 incident report consent form
J-1 scholar English proficiency attestation form
J-1 scholar English proficiency interview form
Copy of passport page with biographical information for the J-1 scholar and for any accompanying J-2 dependents
Funding documentation
Previous DS-2019 form(s) (if applicable)
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Various other supporting documents

Up to 7 business days of receiving a complete application, we will contact you via email when the J-1 scholar's DS-2019 package is ready for pick up. This does not include weekends or ASU observed holidays. During peak seasons, processing times may be more than 7 business days as we deal with a higher volume of requests. We will also include a copy of J-1 scholar's DS-2019 for your records.

Extending a J-1 scholar

The J-1 scholar has the right to remain in the U.S. to complete the program objective provided that does not exceed the total length of time permitted by the program category and the scholar adheres to all regulations of the J-1 status.

To extend a J-1 scholar stay, departments will submit a J-1 Scholar Extension Request through our Sunapsis system. Any department user submitting an application first has to go through a training session to be granted access to the system. If you need access but have not yet attended a training session, or if you have attended a training session but need a refresher, please contact ISSC for the training schedule.

You will need to attach supporting documentation to the e-form application. This is a list of some of the documentation you may have to attach.

Copy of the passport page with biographical information for the J-1 scholar and for any accompanying J-2 dependents
Funding documentation
Proof of medical insurance coverage
Invitation/offer letter
Various other supporting documents

Up to 7 business days of receiving a complete application, we will contact the J-1 scholar via email when the J-1 scholar's DS-2019 package is ready for pick up. This does not include weekends or ASU observed holidays. During peak seasons, processing times may be more than 7 business days as we deal with a higher volume of requests. We will also send you a copy of J-1 scholar's DS-2019 via campus mail.

Funding documentation

Funding documentation showing ability to cover current estimates of monthly living expenses.

How to show documentation of funds:

If the scholar is using personal funds, an official dated bank statement must be provided
All accounts must be easily accessible and liquid assets
All documents must be in English, or an official English translation must accompany the original
All supporting documentation must be dated within the last six months
Letters of sponsorship must include exact amount of support and dates of sponsorship

Estimates of monthly living expenses:

$2,500 per month for the J-1 scholar
$1000 per month for J-2 spouse and each dependent