Information about J-1 Visas

Maximum time allowed in J-1 status is 3 years

Who can we sponsor on the J-1

• A foreign national is eligible for MIT's J-1 sponsorship if he or she will be:
  
  • holding a temporary MIT position (non-tenure track)
  • on an academic appointment, at least 50% time
  • appointed with the appropriate title (common examples: Visiting Scientist, Visiting Engineer, Visiting Scholar, Postdoctoral Fellow, Postdoctoral Associate, or higher)
  • meeting funding minimum and health insurance requirements.
• Individuals enrolled in degree programs abroad are technically students and are not eligible for sponsorship through the International Scholars Office (ISO). MIT does not provide visa sponsorship for library, technical, administrative, or computer positions.

J-1 Short Term Scholar

• Maximum time allowed is 6 months
• No extension permitted

2 year Home Residency Requirement

• After being on the J-1 for 3 years some countries require the scholar to return to their home country for 2 years.
  
  
• While fulfilling the 2 year requirement, Scholar can be on the J-1 Short Term Scholar, if needed.

Processing J-1

• Fax Form B to Scholar. If scholar is not being funded by MIT, then scholar should provide a funding letter from source of funding. Form B provides scholar with the financial minimums that is required for eligibility for J-1 status
  
  
• Return Form B and funding letter (if applicable) to Elsye Luc, LNS HQ 26-505. Elsye will complete the process with Form A and submission to ISO.

J-1 Processing Time

• It takes 30 days from when ISO receives Forms A, B, and funding letter (if not being paid by MIT) to process the SEVIS DS-2019.
  
  
• Please allow for sufficient time to process J-1 visas.
  
  
• Please note, due to new security system in place some scholars may encounter significant delays from security clearance check abroad.