What Is The Purpose Of The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program?
The purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program, in part, is to foster the exchange of ideas between Americans and foreign nationals and to stimulate international collaborative teaching, lecturing and research efforts. The exchange of professors and research scholars promotes the exchange of ideas, research, mutual enrichment, and linkages between research and educational institutions in the United States and foreign countries. It does so by providing foreign professors and research scholars the opportunity to engage in research, teaching, and lecturing with their American colleagues, to participate actively in cross-cultural activities with Americans, and ultimately to share with their countrymen their experiences and increased knowledge of the United States and their substantive fields.
What Is The Two-Year Home-Country Physical Presence Requirement [212(e)]
Scholars subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement must return to their home country for at least two years at the end of their J-1 program. Subject scholars are not able to return to the U.S. as H-1B Temporary Workers, L-1 Intracompany Transferees, or become Permanent Residents of the U.S. until after they have accumulated two years of physical presence in their home country or been granted a waiver of that requirement.
Refer to the J-1 visa in your passport and your consular-signed DS-2019 to determine if you are subject to the two-year home residence requirement. Please review the portion of your visa marked “Annotations” and look for “subject” or “not subject.”
Other Future Impacts on Ability to Return to U.S. After J-1 Visitor Program
There are bars on repeat participation in the J-1 program that could apply to you.
The first is a 12-month bar. This bar affects those scholars that visit the U.S. as J-1 Student Interns or Specialists or the dependents of J-1 Student Interns or Specialists. If you visit the U.S. as a J-1 Student Intern or Specialist or J-2 dependent of a Student Intern or Specialist and remain in the U.S. for six months or more, you will be barred from becoming a J-1 Research Scholar or professor for 12 months following the end of your program.
The second is a 24-month bar. This bar only affects those scholars that visit the U.S. as J-1 Research Scholars or Professors or the dependents of J-1 Research Scholars or Professors. If you visit the U.S. as a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor or J-2 dependent of a Research Scholar or Professor for any length of time, you cannot become a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor again for 24 months following the completion of your J-1 program.
How Can I Meet The Mandatory Health Insurance Requirement Of The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program?
Iowa State University offers a health insurance plan through Wellmark for visiting scholars. While the cost of this plan may change from year to year, the plan always meets or exceeds the minimum insurance coverage requirements for the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program as explained on page 2 of your DS-2019. You can find further information regarding the ISU Student Scholar Health Insurance Program (SSHIP) here.
Billing for the ISU insurance plan is based on full calendar months. Monthly payments are not adjusted for less than a month’s coverage. For example, if your program begins on December 24, 2023, and ends on January 12, 2024, you will be charged for two full months of coverage.
To contact SSHIP, send an email to isusship@iastate.edu.
Remember – U.S. Department of State regulations require that all J-1 Exchange Visitors and J-2 dependents have health insurance coverage that meets U.S. government requirements for the entirety of the J-1 program. Failure to maintain qualifying health insurance coverage for yourself and your dependents is a violation of J-1 immigration status and can lead to termination of your J-1 program.
How Much Should I Expect to Spend on Living Expenses?
As an exchange visitor, you should plan to have a minimum of $1,859 per month to cover your own living expenses (includes cost of health insurance). Below are the minimum monthly living expense estimates (includes cost of health insurance) which include both the scholar and dependents.
NOTE: New estimates will take effect August 1, 2025.
Scholar and spouse $2,737
Scholar and child* (no spouse) $2,646
Scholar, spouse and child(ren)* $3,523
*Add $561/month for each additional child
Typical expenses include housing, utilities such as gas and electricity, food, medical care, medications, phone service, laundry, bus pass, renter’s insurance and entertainment. If you purchase a car you will have additional expenses for required auto insurance, a license plate, and a driver’s license. Since these expenses can vary greatly depending on individual circumstances, no actual estimates have been provided. The figures above should be considered a bare minimum.
What Is The DS-2019 And What Is Its Purpose?
Form DS-2019 certifies your acceptance to Iowa State University’s (ISU) Exchange Visitor Program P-1-00732. Your stay in the U.S. is subject to the conditions stated on the back of Form DS-2019. It is very important that you read and understand these conditions. To acknowledge your acceptance of these conditions, please sign the Exchange Visitor Certification at the bottom of your Form DS-2019 in blue ink, including the place (city) in which you were located when you signed the form and the date you signed it.
Each member of your family must have their own Form DS-2019 to enter the U.S. in J-2 status. Only a spouse to whom you are legally married and your children under the age of 21 may enter the U.S. as your J-2 dependents.