Visiting staff are most commonly welcomed to Bard as J1 scholars. The J1 Cultural Exchange Program was created to “increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges.”
International visitors in this nonimmigrant category may be paid by the College or can be self-funded through personal funds or an outside funding source. This category is not an employment visa: the purpose is for academic exchange. Programs and departments with an interest in hosting a J1 scholar are advised to review and complete the Department J1 Scholar Request Form (found below).
Permanent appointments, that is, tenure-track positions, cannot be supported through J1 sponsorship. (See H1B.)
J1 scholars are eligible to pursue two categories of sponsorship:
The maximum duration of stay in this category is six months and should be considered when the assignment is temporary. Visitors in this category most commonly are invited to Bard to teach, consult, observe, train, and demonstrate special skills. The individual should plan to return home upon completion of their sponsored program. Typically, these visitors are professors, researchers, pre- and postdocs, and graduate students.
Restrictions
Dual intention is not allowed.
Two-Year Home Residency Rule 212(e) may apply.
Benefits
J2 dependents are allowed to work (with appropriate authorization) and study while in the United States.
Individuals can return an unlimited number of times in the Short-Term Scholar category.
Quick processing time.
Lower cost: SEVIS fee is $180; DS-160 visa application fee is $160.
Professor/Researcher
Professor/Researcher
The scholar is expected to have an advanced degree (master’s or PhD) and be well established in their discipline. They should be welcomed to Bard for an academic appointment and be engaged in teaching or research at the College. The maximum duration of stay for this category is five years.
RESTRICTIONS
Dual intention is not allowed; tenure-track appointments are ineligible for this visa category.
Twelve- and 24-month bars apply.
Two-Year Home Residency Rule 212(e) may apply.
Visitors who enter the United States in this visa category are subject to repeat participation bars:
12-MONTH BAR: A foreign national is ineligible to participate in a professor/research scholar exchange program if they held any J nonimmigrant status within the 12-month period immediately preceding the start of the exchange program. This 12-month bar applies to J2 dependents as well as principal nonimmigrants.
The following three exceptions apply:
J1 transfer from another sponsoring institution.
Prior presence in J status in the United States was of less than six months’ duration.
Presence in J status as a short-term scholar.
24-MONTH BAR (also known as the “two-year bar”): A foreign national who participates in the Exchange Visitor Program as a J1 Professor or Research Scholar becomes subject to the 24-month bar on “repeat participation” in the Professor/ Research Scholar category after completing their program even if the program lasts less than five years. The U.S. Department of State has taken the position that the 24-month bar will also apply to J2 dependents of J1 Professors or Research Scholars if the J2 subsequently wishes to return as a J1 Professor or Research Scholar.
English Language Proficiency
The Department of State (DoS) requires that all exchange visitors demonstrate they have the English language skills to successfully communicate within the local community as well as the Bard workplace or classroom environment.
For J1 scholars, Certification of English Proficiency may be demonstrated by:
An objective interview conducted in English with someone from your welcoming department.
Valid test score meeting the following standards: TOEFL or IELTS.
IELTS Overall score of 5.5 or higher
TOEFL:
100 or higher (internet based)
250 or higher (computer based)
600 or higher (paper based)
By documentation (e.g., a letter of certification from an academic institution or English language school).
Waived because the exchange visitor is a native speaker of English and/or from a country with English as an official language.
Waived because the exchange visitor received education in a country with English as an official language and the language of instruction in higher education (see list below).
If you would like more ways to be involved in English language study or are seeking opportunities for cross-cultural communication exchanges, please contact OISSS to inquire about events and groups that meet on campus.
What is the two-year home country physical presence requirement?
According to the Immigration Nationality Act, Section 212(e), J1 holders from certain countries, or those who have received government funds to support their visit, cannot become permanent residents in the United States, change status in the United States, or get work or family-based visa status such as H, L, or K until they return to their country of last permanent residence for at least two years cumulatively. If your visit is not being supported by government funds you can refer to the “skills list” for your home country to determine if you may be subject to this two-year home residency requirement. Dependents (J2s) of those who are subject to the “two-year rule” are also subject.
The two-year home country requirement does not prohibit a visitor from reentering the United States in another nonimmigrant category and does not apply to all employment visas. For example, an individual subject to this requirement can apply for an O1 visa before fulfilling or obtaining a waiver for this requirement.
Health Insurance Requirement
The United States Department of State (DoS), per Code of Federal Regulations (22CFR 62.14), requires health, accident, repatriation, and medical evacuation insurance for participation in the J1 Exchange Visitor Program. This requirement applies to all J1 exchange visitors and J2 dependents for the duration of the J1 program in the United States. J1 exchange visitors and their J2 dependents must be covered by the required medical insurance from the start of the J1 program:
Medical benefits of at least US $100,000 per accident or illness
Repatriation of remains in the amount of US $25,000
Medical evacuation in the amount of US $50,000
A deductible not to exceed US $500 per accident or illness
Failure to be covered by such insurance may lead to loss of legal immigration status and termination from your exchange visitor program at Bard College. If you will be a benefits-eligible Bard employee, you will need to purchase supplemental insurance to cover repatriation and medical evacuation, which Bard’s insurance does not cover.