The following lists both U.S. Government and Columbia University restrictions on those in J-1 status.

Government Restrictions:

• Tenure or tenure-track - Government regulations do not allow J-1 status for tenured or tenure track positions.
  
  
• Bachelor's degree - Government regulations require that all those in J-1 research scholar, professor, or short-term scholar category hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent.
  
  
• 5-year time limit - Those in the J-1 research scholar or professor category may remain in the U.S. for up to five years.
  
  
• The 24-month bar - Those who complete a J-1 or J-2 program, regardless of the duration of their program, are barred for two years from beginning a new J-1 research scholar/professor program. This bar does not apply to those who are in the J-1 short term scholar category (limited to a maximum stay of six months).

• The 12-month bar - An individual is not eligible for the J-1 category of professor or research scholar if he or she has been physically present in the United States in J-1 or J-2 status for all or part of the twelve month period immediately preceding the date of program commencement as stated on his or her Form DS-2019, unless
  1. The participant is transferring to the sponsor's program and has not exceeded the maximum allowed time of five years
  2. The participant's presence in the United States was of less than six months duration; or
  3. The participant's presence in the United States was pursuant to a short-term scholar exchange activity.
  
  
• A change of J-1 "category" is generally not allowed by the Exchange Visitor Program.



• The J-1 scholar must enter the U.S. and complete an immigration registration with the ISSO no later than 30 days after the start date on the DS-2019. If the scholar will arrive later, the ISSO must be informed in writing during this 30-day period in order to notify the Department of State of the delay. Failure to complete a timely immigration registration will cause the Department of State to cancel the J immigration record. All new J-1 scholars must bring to the ISSO the passport, I-94 card and DS-2019 to complete this mandatory immigration registration.
  

Columbia University Restrictions:

• Collaborative research - Anyone participating in collaborative research must have a Columbia appointment and not be a Visiting Scholar/Scientist. By definition, an undergraduate cannot be collaborating in research.
  
  
• Post-doctoral Positions - All post-doctoral positions must be funded either by Columbia University salary or by an outside organization. No other funding sources, such as personal or family funds, are allowed. Post-doctoral positions have a time limit of three years.
  
  
• Affirmative Action - If employment is full-time, affirmative action approval must be granted before the DS-2019 is issued, except in the case of post-doctoral research scientists in departments other than Physics and Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory.

Visiting Scholars/Visiting Scientists have separate eligibility requirements. See the information on Visiting Scholar/Scientist Designation for details.

The following documents must be submitted to this office in order for an DS-2019 Visa Certificate to be issued to the requested J-1 scholar. All scholars requesting J-1 status, and any accompanying dependents requesting J-2 status, must obtain a DS-2019 form.

1. Application for J-1 Visa Certificate. An application must be completed on-line by a Columbia departmental employee. Employees must have pre-approved access to do this.
   
   
2. Acknowledgment of Understanding and Promise to Comply with Medical Insurance Coverage Requirements for J-1 Exchange Visitors.
   
   
3. If the person requesting J-1 status is currently in the United States in J-1 status or has been in J-1 status within the last two years but is now outside of the United States, submit a copy of all previously issued DS-2019 forms.
   
   
4. If the person requesting J-1 status will hold a University appointment, submit a copy of the University offer of employment signed by the chair of department stating the dates, title, and salary of the appointment. If a person receives any funding from Columbia University and will be in J-1 status, the person must have a University appointment. The University does not allow those with a Visiting Scholar/Scientist designation to receive any Columbia University funding.
   
   
5. Funding documents showing the minimum amount per month as set by the Provost's Office each year. Please call the ISSO for future year's living expense guidelines. For the 2011-2012 year, the J-1 holder must show at least $2,400/month for the J-1 and $800/month for an accompanying spouse plus $400/month for each accompanying child. These amounts are expected to increase each year. All documents should be submitted in English and should be less than three months old.
   
   
6. Photocopy of passport identification page
   
   
7. For Visiting Scholars/Scientists, a copy of the CV.
   
   
8. For Visiting Scholars/Scientists, a $300 fee is charged for filing this application. This can be paid by including the department's account number in the online application or by having the scholar submit this form: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/isso/faculty/J_dpt_mgr/Fee_Authorization.pdf.
    
   
9. Send the Two Year Home Residency Requirement to the J-1 scholar. The scholar must be notified that there may be a requirement to return home for two years after completion of the J-1 program.
   
   
10. Send the Health Insurance in the United States to the J-1 scholar if the University is not providing health insurance as part of the benefits of employment.
    
    
11. The J-1 Termination Form should be sent to this office once the J-1 holder terminates her/his position.

Fax documentation of items 3 and 4 along with confirmation of local address to reflect the new period of stay and funding to the International Students and Scholars Office at 851-1235 with the heading "J-1 Extension". Visiting scholars/scientists are normally allowed to stay for a maximum of one year. Postdoctoral research scientists/scholars or postdoctoral fellows are normally allowed a maximum stay with that title of three years.