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Hosting a J-1 Exchange Visitor

Instructions for FIU administrators

Florida International University is the sponsor of the Exchange Visitor Program P-1-04568 which is administered by the Office of International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS), overseen by the J-1 Program Administrators/Advisors or Responsible Officers.

Due to the intricacies of J-1 immigration processing, the ISSS recommends that departments submit completed forms to ISSS at least 90 days prior to the proposed start date of the academic activity to enable sufficient time for processing.

Florida International University refers to a scholar as an exchange visitor for U.S. Department of State purposes and as a “visiting scholar” for university purposes. If the scholar’s spouse or children accompany him or her, they are considered dependents and must enter the United States on J-2 visas. The University is authorized to sponsor exchange visitors in five categories, Professor, Research Scholar, Short-Term Scholar, Specialist and Student.

Annually, Florida International University hosts approximately 200 visiting scholars in the J-1 category. J-1 Exchange Visitors visit the university for as little as one week to a maximum of 5 years in paid or unpaid appointments (depending on their J-1 Exchange Visitor categories).

Department faculty and administrators who wish to invite and/or employ an international scholar in J-1 classification should click on the links under ‘Bringing an Exchange Visitor to FIU’ below to learn about how to request J-1 visa-related documentation for the prospective scholar.

How Does the Process Work?

  1. An FIU Faculty/Administration member decides to host/invite an Exchange Visitor under one of the J-1 Categories sponsored by FIU. This is done either by inviting the individual, partnering with an international organization; or through other international links that may result in an international scholar visit.
  2. FIU Faculty/Administration member works with the appointed liaison (generally an HR Liaison) within their departments/colleges and together, they prepare the documentation to submit to ISSS. Due to the intricacies of J-1 immigration processing, ISSS recommends that departments submit a complete request at least 90 days prior to the proposed start date of the academic activity to enable sufficient time for processing.
  3. During this process, the prospective Exchange Visitor communicates directly with the Faculty/Administration member and the College/Department liaison preparing the request.
  4. Health Insurance is one of the main requirements for a DS-2019 to be issued. The hosting college/department/liaison is responsible for processing the payment and uploading the payment receipt with your request.
  5. Once ISSS receives all the required documents and evaluates all of the forms and supporting documentation, a DS-2019 form is issued to assist the prospective scholar in obtaining the J-1 visa in his/her home country.
  6. The ISSS Officer contacts the FIU College liaison when the DS-2019 is ready and sends the document to the Exchange Visitor.
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  • Non-degree Student Researcher

    If the Exchange visitor is an individual who is a student in his home country and is sponsored to come to Florida International University to undertake research related to a degree she/he will be granted by his/her home institution.

    The student will not be admitted as a degree seeking student by Florida international University admission office, will not be enrolled in any classes. With the unit’s Dean’s permission, a school/faculty member can invite a student to pursue his or her objective and use Florida International University facilities under the supervision of a faculty member.

    Under J-1 Exchange Visitor regulations, a student coming for the purpose of engaging full time to comply with a “prescribed course of study” in their home country:

    • Must follow a program that is carried out pursuant to a written agreement between the American and foreign educational institutions
    • May stay in the U.S. for a maximum of 24 months
    • Must have health insurance which meets minimum federal requirements for the duration of stay.
  • Responsibilities of the Office of International Student & Scholar Services

    The ISSS Office is responsible for the immigration processes that brought the scholar to the United States as well as maintaining the scholar's immigration status current while he/she is at FIU. 

    • Once the Visiting Scholars arrives at FIU, he/she MUST complete their Immigration Check-in. This will allow our office to validate their record in our immigration database and the US Government database (SEVIS). Scholars can acess the access the ISSS Portal through normal login or limited access to upload their required documents. An FIU User Name and password, or TEMP ID is required for accessing the portal. Additional instructions are on the F-1 & J-1 Check-in page. 
    • Scholars are invited to attend an ISSS Welcome Session that provides useful information about campus, their responsibilities, and related matters. ISSS contacts the scholars for date/location/time.
    • ISSS can provide information on short-term housing, securing a bank account, driver’s license, transportation upon arrival and during stay, as well as general information for the scholar and dependents.
    • ISSS will work with the scholar on any immigration process or question he/she may have during their stay.
    • ISSS will ensure that scholars are complying with the J-1 Visiting Exchange Program requirement of working/doing research/teaching in person and on campus due to the cultural and knowledge exchange nature of this program.  J-1 scholars cannot be designated as fully remote.
  • Responsibilities of the Hosting Department/College/Faculty

    The FIU Host department or faculty should establish contact with the visiting scholar before arrival to campus to answer any initial questions or concerns. Please provide this Pre-Arrival Information for the scholar's preparation to come to the United States.  Once the visiting scholar arrives, the College/Department must assist the scholar as follows:

    • Arrange for an FIU email account and an FIU ID Number (Panther ID).
    • Provide appropriate office space, computer and library access
    • Assist the scholar in obtaining an FIU OneCard
    • Provide a tour of campus or encourage the scholar to take advantage of the tours offered through FIU.
    • Introduce the visiting scholar to all members of the hosting department and/or college, including a personal introduction to the college administration (dean/associate dean).
    • Encourage the scholar to attend events around campus offered by ISSS or the many other groups and/or offices.
    • Introduce the scholar to department staff and colleagues and discuss an appropriate work schedule
    • Maintain frequent contact with the scholar throughout the duration of his/her stay on campus
    • Assist or provide guidance on the related HR processes that the scholar will have to complete, including the processing of their Social Security Card, to start their appointment and payment cycle. It is the hosting department's/college's responsibility to assist the scholar with this process as their employer. HR processes MUST be overseen by the hosting college/department in order to provide a smooth and rapid transition for the scholar.
    • Ensure scholar and dependents are covered by FIU approved Health Insurance for the duration of their stay (Lack of coverage can result in immigration issues for the scholar and family)
    • Ensure the scholar has a base/office/workspace/assigned classroom ON CAMPUS to perform his/her activities IN PERSON as the US Department of State's J-1 Exchange Visiting Scholar Program requires. J-1 scholars cannot be designated as fully remote.
  • Medical Insurance Requirement

    Visiting Scholars MUST hold a valid and FIU approved Health Insurance Policy for them and their dependents for the duration of their stay at FIU. The hosting department will ensure that scholars are insured by including the RECEIPT FOR INSURANCE PAYMENT to the application packet.

    FOR SCHOLARS WHOSE INSURANCE WILL BE FUNDED BY THE HOSTING DEPARTMENT:
    Please use this link to choose a vendor and be guided through the process. Scholar may purchase their insurance and submit their RECEIPT for payment to the hosting department or they may start a requisition for the hosting Department to then handle the communication directly with the insurance company. The hosting department will include ONLY the proof that the insurance has been purchased and paid in the application submitted to ISSS.
    FIU Approved Alternative Insurance Options

    *Outside coverage will not be accepted with the DS-2019 request, all prospective scholars must purchase medical coverage from one of FIU's approved vendor's list.

  • J-1 Scholar Fee

    Starting December 1, 2025, new non-student maintenance fees went into effect for J-1 Scholars and their dependents. Please see below the table of fees here. Note that these one-time fees are necessary to keep up with rising operating costs and to maintain records for non-students who are not paying tuition/fees to the university.

    The fees can be paid directly by the scholar online using this website https://issscart.fiu.edu/, or by the sponsoring department, providing an activity number for Smart Billing.

  • J-1 Extensions
  • J-1 Transfers
  • Other Visa Categories

    Florida International University employs H-1B “Temporary Workers in a Specialty Occupation” in a variety of paid positions. FIU also employs foreign temporary workers in other immigration classifications such as Trade NAFTA (TN), Persons of Extraordinary Ability (O-1) Department faculty and administrators who wish to hire an international employee in H-1B, TN or O-1 classification should contact their respective dean’s office.

    For more information on this, access the FIU Immigration Process webpage.

Initiate a DS-2019 Request

  • Step 1: Export Control

    University Compliance Requirement

    • Export Questionnaire.  Please access this form and follow all instructions. You will be notified via email when approved. Include approval email with your submission to ISSS.  DS-2019 process cannot be started without this approval.
  • Step 2: DS-2019 Application

    Gather the following documents and submit using the ISSS Portal.
    Read ISSS Portal Instructions here

    • DS-2019 Initial Application Request (Read Instructions here)
    • Copies of all previous DS-2019s (if applicable)
    • FIU Offer letter
    • Funding information or Letter from Sponsoring university, organization, or government agency in English indicating funding in US dollars or Personal Bank Letter indicating funding in US dollars
    • Resume or Curriculum Vitae
    • Copy of Biographical page of the prospective scholar (and dependents) passport
    • Export Questionnaire email confirmation of clearance 
    • English Language Proficiency Form
    • Department Acknowledgement (Process cannot proceed without this form)
    • Health Insurance Purchase Receipt
    • ISSS J-1 Scholar Fee of $250.00
  • Additional for Student Researchers Only
    • A letter from the student’s academic advisor in the home country that describes the student’s academic program, confirms what Florida International University professor will supervise his/her work, and states a beginning and projected end date of the activity at Florida International University.
    • A letter from the sponsoring Florida International University professor regarding the nature of his/her involvement with the student’s project with the beginning and projected end date of the activity at Florida International University.
    • A memo from the school’s dean corroborating the arrangement.