Scholar/Employee Information:
The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program

The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program allows Saint Louis University to bring international scholars to the United States. The university has been approved by the U.S. State Department to serve as the visa sponsor for these individuals. Other organizations such as Fulbright, the Institute for International Education (IIE), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) may also serve as the J-1 visa sponsor for scholars at SLU. These organizations may provide the individual with his or her visa document, but the IC still needs to be aware of their presence, and the scholar should still check in with the Office of International Services.

Federal regulations govern the Exchange Visitor and the sponsor. The intent of the program is exchange of knowledge; the assumption is that the international scholar is coming temporarily to the U.S and expects to return home. The J-1 exchange visitor classification is appropriate for most research scholars. To apply for the J-1 visa, scholars are issued a Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, commonly referred to as Form DS-2019. The IC issues Form DS-2019 when SLU serves as the visa sponsor. If the scholar is sponsored by another J-1 program, such as Fulbright, WHO, or NIH, that organization is responsible for issuing the visa certificate.

To request the form DS-2019, the hiring department should complete the J-1 Department Request Form. The prospective J-1 scholar should complete the New J-1 Scholar Information Sheet. Please return both forms to the Office of International Services.

If you have additional questions regarding the J-1 exchange visitor program, please contact Cathy Donahue at the Office of International Services.