Regulations for J-1 Short-Term Scholars and Specialists
Health Insurance Requirement
All exchange visitors (both J-1 principals and J-2 dependents) are required to have sickness and accident insurance and medical evacuation and repatriation insurance in effect for the duration of their exchange visitor status. (22 C.F.R.§62.14)
A willful failure to carry insurance is considered to be a violation of the Exchange Visitor Program regulations.
Short-Term Scholars
Definition: A short-term scholar is defined as a professor, research scholar, specialist, or a person with similar education or accomplishments coming to the United States on a short-term visit for the purpose of lecturing, observing, consulting, training, or demonstrating special skills at research institutions, museums, libraries, post-secondary accredited educational institutions, or similar type of institutions. [22 C.F.R.§62.4(b)]
When to use the short-term scholar category
Visits range from several days up to 6 months.
Locations and Activities
A short-term scholar is permitted to participate in activities stated on his or her DS-2019 Form at the listed location.
Specialists
Definition: An individual who is an expert in a field of specialized knowledge or skill coming to the United States for observing, consulting, or demonstrating special skills.[22 C.F.R. §62.4 (g)].
The specialist category does not include professors, research scholars, short-term scholars, or alien physicians in training programs. (22 C.F.R. §62.26)
Eligibility and limitations in the specialist category
An individual is eligible to be classified as a specialist if he or she:
- Is an expert in a field of specialized knowledge or skill;
- Seeks to travel to the United States for the purpose of observing, consulting, or demonstrating his or her special knowledge or skills; and
- Does not fill a permanent or long-term position of employment while in the United States.
Duration of stay
A specialist can participate in the Exchange Visitor Program for the length of time necessary to complete the program, not to exceed one year.
Locations and Activities
A specialist can participate in an exchange visit program at the location(s)