Scholars
International visitors seeking to conduct academic and cultural exchange activities at UGA may be sponsored by their sponsoring Department for a J-1 Scholar visa.
Departments that offer invitations/employment to internationals will need to request that Immigration Services issue any necessary immigration documents the scholar will require for obtaining a visa to enter the U.S., or for obtaining the correct legal status to allow employment at UGA.
In general, the type of activity and purpose of the visit will determine what type of visa will be required. The decision about the type of visa is primarily the responsibility of the department and Immigration Services.
J- 1 Scholar Information
To ensure meaningful participation in the Exchange Visitor Program and fulfillment of the objectives described in 22 CFR Part 62, the University sponsors Research Scholars and Short-Term Scholars only for appointments that constitute full-time academic engagement. For purposes of J-1 sponsorship, full-time academic engagement is normally considered 32 hours or more per week.
This category is for a foreign national who enters the United States for the primary purpose of conducting research, observing or consulting in connection with research projects at research institutions, corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited academic institutions, or similar types of institutions. A research scholar may also teach or lecture, unless disallowed by the sponsor.
The research scholar’s appointment to a position shall be temporary, even if the position itself is permanent.
Incidental lectures or short-term consultations are permitted with the approval of the responsible officer so long as they are directly related to the objectives of the participant’s program, and do not delay the exchange program’s completion date.
Immigration Services’ policy requires full-time participation for J-1 Research Scholars and Short-Term Scholars. This requirement is established by the University as a sponsor standard and is intended to ensure meaningful engagement in the exchange activities authorized under 22 CFR Part 62.
Find Your Immigration Services Contact
Find the immigration scholar/faculty advisor assigned to your College or School below.
Sponsorship Process
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The Full Process
Full Process (PDF)Please click the button below for the full process.
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Not Hired by UGA
The Office of Research and the Office of Global Engagement (OGE) have implemented VRS hosting procedures for Visiting Researchers unpaid by UGA. Complete a VRS questionnaire. Procedures can be found on the Office of Research website and questions about hosting a VRS can be directed to vrs@uga.edu.
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Hired by UGA
All incoming J-1 Scholars hired by the University of Georgia will be processed through UGA Jobs. After someone’s hiring proposal has been approved, departments will use ID Manager and search by the scholar’s name to get his/her UGA ID number.
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File an online request for J-1 visa sponsorship
Compass Departmental User GuideFile an online request for J-1 visa sponsorship in the office’s Compass portal
Please see the Compass Departmental User Guide, which explains how to request access and submit visa sponsorship requests.
English Assessment for Exchange Visitors
To ensure UGA’s compliance with United States Department of State regulations, English language proficiency for scholars seeking J-1 visas and whose applications are received on or after September 15, 2017, must be documented in one of the following three ways.
- Test Score
- Documentation from a Previous Institution
- Interview
Visa Sponsorship Time Frame
Processing times for J-1 initial processing with consular visa application: 1 to 3 months.
IS advisors will do their best to expedite as needed. We appreciate your patience with delays beyond our control. Processing timeframes for transfers of J status from another U.S. institution can take 1 to 4 weeks.
J-1 vs H-1B Comparison
See the link below for a chart comparing the J-1 and H-1B visa types.
Health Insurance Information for Visiting Scholars
Click this link for up-to-date information about the federal requirements regarding health insurance for J-1 visa holders.