Overview for HR Business Partners and Host Units
J-1 Exchange Visitor Program
Purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program
The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus is an official program sponsor of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, as authorized by the Department of State. The primary goal of the J-1 program is to promote international educational and cultural exchange while fostering mutual understanding between the people of the United States and other countries.
Responsibility
The University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus assumes significant responsibility and liability as an official sponsor of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program, as authorized by the U.S. Department of State. Faculty sponsors and supervisors also take on substantial responsibility and liability when inviting a J-1 Scholar or Student Intern to participate in academic or research programs at the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus.
Failure to comply with federal program requirements may jeopardize the university’s ability to sponsor the J-1 Program and could result in the revocation of J-1 status for the participant, as well as the loss of the University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus' J-1 program designation.
- J-1 Scholar Checklist
- Form DS-2019
- Bars to Repeat Participation
- In-person Requirement
- Minimum Financial Support and Cost of Living
- Proof of Financial Support Requirements
- English Language Proficiency
- Export Control
- Medical Insurance Requirement
- J-2 Dependents
- Transfer In from another J-1 Program
- Update start and/or end dates
- Two-year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement
- Period of Stay: Entry and Departure
- Paying the SEVIS Fee
- Applying for J-1 and J-2 Entry Visas
- J-1 Scholar Checklist
- Maintaining Status
- Incidental Employment
- Change in terms of J program
- Incident Reporting
- International Scholar Rights and Resources
- Travel and Reentry
- Reporting Address Changes
- Out of Country Authorization
- Extending the J-1 Program/DS-2019
- Transfer Out to another J-1 Program
- Departure from the University and/or J-1 Program
- Anschutz Postdoctoral Office
Overview of Process, Timeline and Costs for a New and Transfer J-1 Scholar or Student Intern
| Unit Submits Request |
| HR business partner prepares and submits request including export control to ISSS at least 2-3 months in advance of proposed start date for someone outside the U.S. and at least 1 month in advance for a J-1 transfer. |
| Timeline: |
| HR Business Partner: 1-3 weeks |
| Cost: None |
ISSS Issues |
| If the request is complete, ISSS issues Form(s) DS-2019 and emails the form(s) to the prospective scholar or student intern. |
| Timeline: |
| ISSS: Within 10 business days after receiving a complete request |
| Cost: None |
| Scholar or Student Intern Applies for Visa |
| The scholar or student intern submits their visa application and schedules their interview (J transfers, Canadian & Bermudan citizens exempt from visa) |
| Timeline: |
| Consulate: Varies greatly (Visa Appointment Wait Times) |
| Costs: $220 SEVIS fee paid by scholar/student intern or host unit (J transfers exempt) $185 machine-readable visa fee paid by scholar/student intern or host unit if the scholar or student intern is coming from outside the U.S |
| Scholar or Student Intern Arranges Travel & Arrives |
| The scholar or student intern makes their travel arrangements and arrives at the university |
| Timeline: |
| Scholar or Student Intern: Varies |
| Cost: travel paid by scholar, student intern, or host unit |
*Note that the last two steps do not apply to J-1 scholars transferring their J sponsorship to the university.
In the J-1 Request for Form DS-2019 (please select an option under "Next Steps" on this page to find the link) you will choose the J-1 category and title appropriate to the activity and length of stay of the prospective scholar.
J-1 Category | Common University Titles* | J-1 Activity | J-1 Length of stay** |
Research Scholar | Paid
Unpaid: Research Affiliate | research, observe, or consult and the possibility to teach or lecture (can include MDs with no patient contact/care) | 3 weeks to 5 years |
Professor | Visiting faculty title | teach, lecture, observe, or consult and the possibility to research (can include MDs with no patient contact/care) | 3 weeks to 5 years |
Short-term Scholar | Any of the above or other visiting title | lecture, observe, consult, train, or demonstrate special skills (can include MDs with no patient contact/care) | Up to 6 months with no extensions |
Specialist | Paid or Unpaid
| observe, consult, or demonstrate special knowledge or skills | 3 weeks to 1 year |
Student Intern | Paid: Student Stipend Unpaid: Research Affiliate | Undergraduate research or training | 3 weeks to 1 year |
Alien physician (administered by Graduate Medical Education, not ISSS) |
| Medical residency or fellowship | Up to 7 years |
*See the Benefit Eligibility Matrix for job codes, job titles and title definitions.
* *J-1 lengths of stay do not replace university policy on appointment time limits. See
- Equal Pay for Equal Work Act Posting Guidance for Visiting Faculty Appointments
- Maximum appointment of 9 months (Denver) or one year (Anschutz)and where conversion to a regular appointment is not expected.
- When visiting positions are posted, appointments are limited to 2 academic years (Denver) and 2 years (Anschutz).
- Anschutz Policy for Research Postdoctoral Fellows/Trainees
- Maximum of five years of postdoctoral experience.
- Petition the dean of the school/college in which the faculty mentor has their primary appointment for an extension.
CU Denver also hosts Fulbright scholars and other scholars sponsored by 3rd parties.
- No Tenured Positions: J-1 Exchange Visitors may not hold tenured or tenure-eligible faculty positions.
- Patient Contact and Care: Only J-1 Exchange Visitors in the alien physician category who are formally enrolled in a Graduate Medical Education program and sponsored by the Education Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) can have direct patient contact or patient care responsibilities. J-1 scholars in other categories may not touch any patient or provide patient care. Failure to comply risks the J-1 scholar’s status and the University’s authority to sponsor the J-1 program.
- Bars to Repeat Participation: 12- and 24-month bars
- English Language Proficiency
- Minimum Financial Support and Cost of Living
- In-Person Requirement
- Cultural Component: The host unit agrees to provide cross-cultural activities, encourage participation in activities and facilitate exposure to American society, culture and institutions.
Next Steps:
Invite a New/Transfer-in J-1 Scholar or Update Start & End Dates
Submit a request for a new or transfer-in J-1 scholar in the professor, research scholar, short-term scholar or specialist categories or update the start and/or end dates for a processed request.
Request an Extension or Amendment for a Current J-1 Scholar
Submit a request to extend or amend the J-1 program for a professor, research scholar, short-term scholar or specialist.
Invite a J-1 Student Intern (Undergraduate Student Enrolled Abroad)
Submit a new, extension or amendment request for a J-1 student intern.
National Jewish Health or Denver Health & Hospital Association
Submit a request for a J-1 scholar or student intern at NJH or DHHA
International Student & Scholar Services
International Students
CU Denver
Student Commons Building
1201 Larimer Street
Suite 1119
Denver, CO 80204
International Scholars
CU Denver
Lawrence Street Center
1380 Lawrence Street
Suite 932
Denver, CO 80204
International Students & Scholars
CU Anschutz
Fitzsimons Building
13001 East 17th Place
Ground Floor: STE. EG305, EG305A, and EG306
Aurora, CO 80045
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