• May not receive tenure or be in tenure track position

• Minimum duration of three weeks, maximum of five years

• Primary purpose is to perform research, observe or consult on research project

• May not receive tenure or be in tenure track position

• No minimum duration, Maximum duration is six months

• No extensions beyond six months or change of category are permitted

• Primary purpose is to perform research, teach, lecture, consult or observe

• May not receive tenure or be in tenure track position

• Minimum duration of three weeks, maximum of five years

• Primary purpose of teaching, lecturing, observing or consulting. May also conduct research.

• LSU HSC New Orleans is also authorized to sponsor College and University J-1 Students.

• For more information on this category, please go to our page for J-1 Students.

Federal Regulations require all J Exchange Visitors (Students and Scholars) to purchase and maintain certain levels of insurance for themselves and their J-2 dependents for the entire duration of their J-1 status, including arrival prior to start date and during the 30 day grace period, in the U.S.

Failure to acquire or maintain appropriate insurance coverage for the J-1 Exchange Visitor or any J-2 dependent(s) is grounds for termination of the J Exchange Visitor's SEVIS record and that of their dependents. No reinstatement is available for this type of violation.

Each exchange visitor must document current insurance coverage for themselves and their dependents by completing (with the Insurance company) a LSUHSC-34 Form unless an exception is granted by the Director of International Services. All requests for exceptions to this requirement must be made in advance of the expiration of any prior LSUHSC-34 Form.

According to Federal Regulations at 22 CFR §62.14, MINIMUM COVERAGE MUST INCLUDE: 

(a) Sponsors shall require each exchange visitor to have insurance in effect which covers the exchange visitor for sickness or accident during the period of time that an exchange visitor participates in the sponsor's exchange visitor program. Minimum coverage shall provide:

(1) Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness;

(2) Repatriation of remains in the amount of $25,000;

(3) Expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000; and

(4) A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.

(b) An insurance policy secured to fulfill the requirements of this section:

(1) May require a waiting period for pre-existing conditions which is reasonable as determined by current industry standards;

(2) May include provision for co-insurance under the terms of which the exchange visitor may be required to pay up to 25% of the covered benefits per accident or illness; and

(3) Shall not unreasonably exclude coverage for perils inherent to the activities of the exchange program in which the exchange visitor participates.

(c) Any policy, plan, or contract secured to fill the above requirements must, at a minimum, be:

(1) Underwritten by an insurance corporation having an A.M. Best rating of “A-” or above, an Insurance Solvency International, Ltd. (ISI) rating of “A-i” or above, a Standard & Poor's Claims-paying Ability rating of “A-” or above, a Weiss Research, Inc. rating of B+ or above, or such other rating as the Department of State may from time to time specify; or

(2) Backed by the full faith and credit of the government of the exchange visitor's home country; or

(3) Part of a health benefits program offered on a group basis to employees or enrolled students by a designated sponsor; or

(4) Offered through or underwritten by a federally qualified Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) or eligible Competitive Medical Plan (CMP) as determined by the Health Care Financing Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

(d) Federal, state or local government agencies, state colleges and universities, and public community colleges may, if permitted by law, self-insure any or all of the above-required insurance coverage.

(e) At the request of a non-governmental sponsor of an exchange visitor program, and upon a showing that such sponsor has funds readily available and under its control sufficient to meet the requirements of this section, the Department of State may permit the sponsor to self-insure or to accept full financial responsibility for such requirements.

(f) The Department of State, in its sole discretion, may condition its approval of self-insurance or the acceptance of full financial responsibility by the non-governmental sponsor by requiring such sponsor to secure a payment bond in favor of the Department of State guaranteeing the sponsor's obligations hereunder.

(g) An accompanying spouse or dependent of an exchange visitor is required to be covered by insurance in the amounts set forth in paragraph (a) of this section. Sponsors shall inform exchange visitors of this requirement, in writing, in advance of the exchange visitor's arrival in the United States.

(h) An exchange visitor who willfully fails to maintain the insurance coverage set forth above while a participant in an exchange visitor program or who makes a material misrepresentation to the sponsor concerning such coverage shall be deemed to be in violation of these regulations and shall be subject to termination as a participant.

(i) A sponsor shall terminate an exchange visitor's participation in its program if the sponsor determines that the exchange visitor or any accompanying spouse or dependent willfully fails to remain in compliance with this section.

Failure to acquire or maintain appropriate insurance coverage for the J-1 Exchange Visitor or any J-2 dependent(s) is grounds for termination of the J Exchange Visitor's SEVIS record and that of their dependents. No reinstatement is available for this type of violation.

The Office of International Services will remind exchange visitors when their insurance coverage, or that of their dependents, will expire. This reminder is only a courtesy. It is the responsibility of the principal exchange visitor (J-1) to properly maintain the required coverage.

J-1 Exchange Visitors must take care to arrive no more than 30 days prior or 30 days after the start date indicated on their Form DS-2019. Exchange Visitors who do not arrive in the United States within 30 days following their Form DS-2019 start date will have their J program automatically terminated by the SEVIS system. If arrival is delayed more than 15 days past the start date indicated on the Form DS-2019, please contact the Office of International Services immediately so program dates can be amended!!

Upon arrival in the United States and check in with the Office of International Services, the J-1 Exchange Visitor's program must be validated in the SEVIS system. If this is not done within 30 days following the start date on the DS-2019, the program will automatically be terminated by the SEVIS system. Please ensure that check-in with International Services is a priority upon arrival in the United States so your program can be validated before the deadline.

Grace Period Before Program Start Date: J-1 Exchange Visitors and their J-2 dependents may enter the United States up to 30 days prior to the start date indicated on their Form DS-2019. No program activity or employment may begin prior to the start date indicated on the DS-2019 form.

Grace Period Following Program End Date: J-1 Exchange Visitors who are in valid J-1 status (SEVIS record has not been terminated/no status violation has occurred) are permitted a 30 day grace period following the program completion date listed on their most recent DS-2019. During this 30 day period:

• the EV's SEVIS record is INACTIVE

• the EV may physically remain in the United States in J-1 status,

• the EV is permitted to apply for a change of status if eligible.

• the EV is NOT permitted to leave the United States and re-enter using expired DS-2019

• the EV is NOT permitted to transfer to another J Program Sponsor

• the EV MUST maintain the required insurance for themselves and any J-2 dependents

U.S. federal regulations require all J-1s to report a change of address within 10 days of the address change.  The U.S. federal government requires J-1s to report this directly to the Office of International Services. International Services is then required to provide this and other scholar data to the federal government electronically through the SEVIS system.  No other university office is authorized by the federal government to update this data in SEVIS, though other offices, such has HR and/or the Registrar should also be notified of this change. Please notify us of any change in address by email with a completed ISO Biographical Update Form.

Reporting an address change to the U.S. Postal Service, Human Resources or to your Department does NOT fulfill the obligation to report directly to OIS for reporting in SEVIS.

22 C.F.R. § 62.77(b) states "An exchange visitor (and the accompanying spouse and any dependent children) who failed to submit a change of current U.S. address as required under §62.63 is in violation of the Exchange Visitor Program regulations and is not eligible for reinstatement. The Department will deny any such application for reinstatement."

J-1s must notify the OIS whenever there is a change in their program activity or program dates. An updated DS-2019 may be required.

J-1s must apply for an extension before their DS-2019 form expires if they intend to continue their program activity at LSU HSC New Orleans past the end date on their current form. J-1s in the Research Scholar or Professor categories currently have a maximum of five years to complete their J-1 program. Short-term scholars have 6 months, and no extensions are available past 6 months. The J-2 dependents' program duration cannot exceed that of the J-1.

The two year home residence requirement is NOT an eligibility requirement for participation in a J Exchange Visitor program. The purpose of this requirement is to have your home country benefit from your experience in the United States by requiring you to return home with the knowledge and skills gained from your program.

You may be subject to the two-year home residence requirement, as set out in Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act...more info.

Periodically, J-1s leave the university early or unexpectedly due to a variety of reasons. U.S. federal regulations require J-1s to inform their advisor in the Office of International Services if they or any sponsored dependents plan to permanently leave LSU HSC-New Orleans before the expiration date of their DS-2019 form as well as the reason for doing so.

J-1 scholars may conduct their specified program activity only at LSU HSC New Orleans unless specifically authorized ahead of time by OIS to conduct their research at another site or give a lecture or consultation at another institution or organization.  J-1s must receive permission from the OIS ahead of time if invited to speak or consult at another institution or organization (Incidental Employment Authorization) or to perform additional/different activity for another department/school within LSUHSC. J-1 students must abide by the regular employment regulations.