The UofM sponsors four non-student categories under the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. Prior participation in a J-1 program may affect an individual's ability to participate in future J-1 programs.

• Short-Term Scholar: Objectives can be to lecture, observe, consult, train, or demonstrate special skills. Short-term scholars will come to the U.S. for a short visit and have no plans to continue beyond the 6-month limit. Visiting Short-term scholars may stay in the U.S. for a maximum of 6 months.
• Professor: The primary purpose is to teach, lecture, observe, or consult. The professor may also engage in research and participate in occasional lectures if authorized by the program sponsor. Visiting Professors may participate in the program for a minimum of 3 weeks and up to a total of 5 years, which includes transfers between exchange visitor programs.
• Research Scholar: This category is for an individual whose primary purpose is to perform research, observe, or consult in connection with a research project. Visiting Research Scholars may participate in the program for a minimum of 3 weeks and up to a total of 5 years, which includes transfers between exchange visitor programs.
• Specialist: This category is for individuals that have a specialized area of expertise and whose primary purpose is observing, consulting or demonstrating special knowledge or skills. The maximum period of stay is one year.

Foreign nationals must submit an application to request a J-1 visa through the Division of International Affairs. This application will include documents to be completed by the potential J-1's sponsoring academic department at the University of Memphis. Fulbright Students and Fulbright Scholars should also complete this application despite their visas being sponsored by Fulbright. Please see the application for additional information.

J-1 Scholar Application >

 

If you have questions, please contact the UofM's Education Abroad Department via email at tigersabroad@memphis.edu.

Both J-1 and J-2 Visa holders are required under US Federal law to hold health insurance, which must meet mandatory levels of support for the entirety of their time in the United States. Should a visa holder extend the length of their stay, they must also extend their health insurance coverage.

J Visa holders should purchase an insurance plan that meets the minimum requirements set by the US Federal Government.

Health Insurance Minimum Requirements:

Minimum coverage must provide medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness; repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000; expenses associated with medical evacuation to the exchange visitor’s home country in the amount of $50,000; and deductibles cannot exceed $500 per accident or illness (Section 62.14(a)).  Inadequate insurance coverage may be catastrophic for an individual exchange visitor. Thus, the Department increased the requirements.

Program participants and their dependents are required to have medical insurance coverage with the following minimum benefits [22 CFR 62.14].

• Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000
• Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
• A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

As sponsors we are required to ensure that all exchange partcipants (and any dependents entering the United States as holders of a J-2 visa) have insurance in effect from the start date to the end date of their exchange program in the United States. The insurance policy secured by the J Visa holder must meet the benefits requirements and must be underwritten by an insurance corporation with a rating of "A-" or above. Alternatively, the sponsor may ascertain that the participant's policy is backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country. For more information, see government regulations [22 CFR 62.14].