DS-2019 Process

• the Exchange Visitor received funds from the U.S. government, his/her own government, or an international organization funded by the government;
• the education, training, or skills that the Exchange Visitor is pursuing in the U.S. appear on the Exchange Visitor Skills List for his/her country published by the Department of State.
• Foreign medical graduates receiving training in the U.S. under the sponsorship of the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

J-1 Exchange Visitors (and their J-2 dependents) in any J-1 category other than Professor or Research Scholar (e.g. Degree Student, Student Non-degree) for more than six (6) months are subject to the 12-month bar. This means that the EV will not be able to begin a new J-1 program as a Professor or Research Scholar until 12 months after their current J-1 program ends.

Exceptions: There are three exceptions that remove the 12 month requirement: 1) If the J-1 transfers programs; 2) if the EV is in J-1 status for less than 6 months; and 3) if the EV is classified in the Short-Term Scholar category.

J-1 Exchange Visitors (and their J-2 dependents) in the Professor or Research Scholar category are subject to the 24-month bar. This means that the EV will not be able to begin a new J-1 program as a Professor or Research Scholar until 24 months after their current Professor or Research Scholar Program ends.

Special Note: The scholar is barred from participating in the Professor or Research Scholar category again at any institution for 24 months following the program's end date as identified in the U.S. government’s data management system, SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitors Information System), regardless of the length of time spent on the program.