DS-2019 Application Guide

The University can host a foreign national for a temporary appointment of research, collaboration, observation, and/or teaching can accomplish this through the J-1 visa Exchange Visitor (EV) Program. The U sponsors six EV categories, including Research Scholar, Professor, Short Term scholar, Specialist and College/University student (Student Intern), and can host for various periods of time. Most foreign national visitors are required to have a visa to enter the U.S., and the primary document used to apply for a J-1 visa is a DS-2019 Certificate of Eligiblity. 

iconCanadian citizens are not required to possess a nonimmigrant J-1 visa to enter the U.S., but are required (like everyone else) to present a DS-2019 at a U.S. Port of Entry (land, sea, or air) to be admitted in J-1 "status." Please also keep in mind that participants cannot be candidates for tenure track positions. 

Inviting a Visiting Scholar

To invite a visiting scholar to participate in an Exchange Visitor Program, a host department must submit an application for a DS-2019 to the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) office. As part of the process, the host should determine the appropriate category for the program in which the visitor will participate. In addition, host departments are responsible for covering the following:

• Application Fee: A fee of $350 will be charged to the U of U host academic department for compliance purposes, document review and processing, as well as to determine eligibility for J-1 "status" and legal admission to the U.S. 
• Additionally, the incoming visitor will be responsible for some costs, which include a SEVIS I-901 Fee ($220) paid to the Department of Homeland Security. We will advise these costs to prospective EVs when we issue the DS-2019, but as a host, feel free to disclose these fees as part of your initial communication with them. 

Review and processing of an application for a DS-2019 may take up to 10 business days from the receipt of a fully complete submission. Bear in mind that we may require additional information, depending on the specific program, however, we will work with the host department to determine what additional information is necessary.

icon The application must be submitted via the host department (not the Exchange Visitor) to ensure proper protocol.

To submit an application for a DS-2019, please send all materials to internationalscholars@utah.edu

Application Materials

The following are a list of items required as part of an application for a DS-2019:

• DS-2019 Application
• Patient Contact Disclosure: Because the university is a medical teaching facility, many research appointments involve contact with medical patients. As part of this application, please confirm the appropriate level of patient contact, either Incidental Patient Contact or NO Patient Contact.

icon A no patient contact disclosure is already included as part of the DS-2019 application. 

• • For appointments that may involve "incidental patient contact," please review our Incidental Patient Contact policy page for more information. 
• Affiliate ID Number (UNID): Request an affiliate ID number (UNID) by completing the University of Utah Affiliate Form. For UNID related questions, please contact Human Resources at benefits@utah.edu.
• Passport: A copy of the EV's valid passport. 
• Proof of English Ability: Language proficiency can be demostrated in several different ways:
  • Recognized English Language Test such as TOEFL iBT (80 or above) or IELTS (6.5 or above) dated within two years of receipt of an application for a DS-2019. 
  • J-1 Interview conducted by English3. The J-1 interview is a recorded interview completed through English3's website available to anyone with internet access.
  • For additional options, please review our English Proficiency page.
• Export Control Questionnaire: Designated to facilitate compliance with United States export control regulations. The person completing this form should be the PI, supervisor, or Department Chair.
• Appointment/or Invitation Letter: This letter identifies the duration of the program, a brief description of the program activity, and site of activity address. If the EV is to be compensated or awarded benefits, please make a note of this in the letter. 
• Proof of Qualifications: Often proven through a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and/or copies of the highest degree awarded. 
• Verification of Funding: This can be demonstrated by the university host department's appointment letter, if paid by the U. Proof of funding of any type must identify a minimum of $2,400 USD per month (changing as of January 1, 2023) for the duration of the stay. An additional $500 per a dependent spouse and/or minor child would be necessary. For example, if an EV and spouse plan to visit for 9 months, the proof of funding should be fore the $19,800 ($15,300 for the EV and $4,500 for the spouse for 9 months). Please note this is not a salary requirement. Other appropriate options include:
  • Proof of scholarship or grant, which should identify the EV as the recipient, the amount of funding, as well as the "begin and end date" of any payment stream related to the visit. 
  • Self-funding, if the EV is funding it themselves, a PDF of a personal bank statement can serve as proof of funding. The bank statement should include all pages and be no older than 3 months from the date of the application (please no screenshots of a website). 
  • For any other type of funding, please contact the ISSS office for guidance.

Additional Information Required As Part of the Application (If Applicable)

• J-2 Dependents: A dependent application is included as part of the overall DS-2019 application. Dependent applications are only necessary if an EV plans to bring a dependent spouse and/or minor child during their stay. Minor children are eligible for dependent status, if they are 20 years old or younger at the time of the program begin date. While in the U.S. on a J-2 visa, dependent minor children "age out" at 21, and must either depart the U.S. or apply for another visa status. If a dependent child is found to be ineligible for a J-2 visa, they may be eligible to visit on a different visa type, such as a B-2 visitor's visa or via the ESTA visa waiver program.
• Student Intern Category: The following items are only necessary for the student intern category:
  • Form DS-7002 completed by the host U of U department. This form must be completed in full, as any incomplete form will result in processing delays. Tips to completing a DS-7002 can be found in the student inern guide page and DS-7002 tips guide page.
  • Recommendation Letter: The intern's home institution may use this template when writing a letter of recommendation.

ISSS will advise incoming scholars from pre-arrival, to the end of their research or teaching program, but it will be the responsibility of all Exchange Visitors to know and understand the rules and regulations of their J-1 visa status. We will facilitate this information as best we can through orientation, one-on-one advising, a quarterly newsletter, and through our website, although Exchange Visitors should access other resources, if necessary, even before arrival to begin their program, to understand all aspects of their visa, and one such resource is the Bureau of Cultural Affairs. 

• As a host department, it may be beneficial to you as well to understand the basic rules and regulations of the Exchange Visitor Program, especially when it comes to, but not limited to:
  • Extensions of an EV program.
  • Transfers to the University of Utah from a current U.S. based program (university or research institution).
  • The 12 and 24-month bar, which could make a visitor ineligible for a new J-1 visa program until after a waiting period. 
  • The 212(e) home residency requirement, which could impact future immigration related benefits, such as H-1B.
  • Temporary out of country benefit.
  • Change of Site Activity, when a visitor moves to a different department or lab. 
• Keep in mind the primary goals and objectives of an EV Program, which are cultural exchange and foreign diplomacy, and it is through these appointments of research, collaboration, teaching, and study, where cultural exchanges and foreign diplomacy can be accomplished. For more information, please review the Goals and Objectives page. 
• Please also understand that in the administration of an EVP, there is a special focus on an Exchange Visitor's health, safety, and welfare. Because the University of Utah must report serious incidences to the Department of State within one business day of knowledge of an incident, a host department, as a participant in an EVP, agrees to report same day knowledge of any serious problem or incident that may impact an EV directly, or the University's Exchange Visitor Program. Reporting should be to the University's Responsible Officer (RO) located in the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at 801-581-8876 or internationalscholars@utah.edu so it can meet its reporting deadline. For additional information, please review a video message on Incident Reporting, as well as the following rubric for the related policy and examples of reportable incidences. Please also review and become familiar with the rights and protections that one has a non-immigrant visa holder in certain employment and education based categories outlined in the Wilberforce Guidance.