J-1 Visas
International Support Services oversees advising and processes departmental requests and immigration paperwork for exchange visitors in three non-student categories of the Exchange Visitor Program at Virginia Tech: Research Scholar, Professor, and Short Term Scholar. Participants in these categories (often referred to as "visiting scholars") are permitted to conduct research, teach, observe, or consult on a temporary basis for the purpose of educational and cultural exchange.
Information for Visiting Scholars:
The International Support Services Web site has a variety of resources for J-1 Visiting Scholars including information on Getting the Visa, SEVIS Fee, Health Insurance, Check-In Procedures, 212(e) Home Residency, and the 30 Day Grace Period. Feel free to browse the website to gather important information about your participation as an exchange visitor.
Newly arrived scholars should check in at International Support Services during walk-in hours. Scholars must have an appointment to check-in outside of walk-in hours. Please visit the Check-In-Procedures page for more information.
J-1 Walk-In Hours:
Tuesday and Thursday
10:00 am - 11:30 am
Wednesday
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Information for VT Departments:
Departments wanting to invite a visiting scholar to Virginia Tech should read and complete the J-1 Scholar Packet (Word, PDF) and return to Mollie LoJacono at ISS (contact info below). The J-Visa Flow Chart provides an overview of the J-1 visa process for VT Host Departments. The Requirements and Procedures page gives VT Departments more detailed information about the J-1 process at Virginia Tech as well as other information related to hosting a Visiting Scholar such as transfers, extensions, etc.
All DS-2019 immigration paperwork must be picked up in person at Int'l Support Services during walk-in hours. To pick up documents outside of walk-in hours, an appointment must be made with Mollie LoJacono (contact information below). Walk-in hours and the in-person requirement exist to protect legally sensitive documents and ensure that you get the correct documents at pick-up.
About the J-1 Visa:
The J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa issued for exchange visitors who are approved to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program as administered by the U.S. Department of State. The purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program is to promote mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by educational and cultural exchanges. The Department of State designates Program Sponsors to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals into the U.S. and the completion of the objectives of their exchange visitor program category. As a designated Program Sponsor, Virginia Tech has been approved to facilitate the exchange visitor program for a variety of exchange visitor program categories. Furthermore, The J-1 visa paperwork processed by ISS is for an exchange visitor visa, not an employment visa, and J-1 status is a nonimmigrant status. Use of exchange visitor visas for tenure track or permanent appointments is prohibited.
Visa services at Virginia Tech:
For an overview of all visa services at Virginia Tech, please see VT Visa Services.
Int'l Support Services processes Permanent Residency Applications, H-1B Visas, and J-1 Exchange Visitors in the three non-student categories: Research Scholar, Professor, and Short-Term Scholar. Int'l Support Services also processes approval requests and invitation letters for international visitors.
Cranwell International Center processes the J-1 Student Intern, and J-1 Student Bachelors Categories as well as all undergraduate F student visas.
The Graduate School processes the J-1 Student Masters, Student Doctorate, and Student Non-Degree Categories as well as all graduate F-1 student visas.
For more information about the scholar categories of J exchange visitors please contact:
Mollie LoJacono
Coordinator of International Support Services
Phone: (540) 231-1425
E-mail: mollie@vt.edu