US Forest Service International Programs Presented by Brenda Dean, International Visitor Program...

US Forest ServiceUS Forest Service

International ProgramsInternational ProgramsPresented by

Brenda Dean, International Visitor Program Coordinator

The J-1 The J-1 Exchange Visitor ProgramExchange Visitor Program

The J-1 Exchange Visitor The J-1 Exchange Visitor ProgramProgram

Developed to implement the Developed to implement the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act

(Fulbright-Hayes Act)-1961(Fulbright-Hayes Act)-1961

Objective:Objective:

““To increase mutual understanding To increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States between the people of the United States

and the people of other countries and the people of other countries by means of by means of

educational and cultural exchanges.”educational and cultural exchanges.”

What you need to know…What you need to know… Overview of the J-1 Exchange Visitor (EV) ProgramOverview of the J-1 Exchange Visitor (EV) Program

J-1 EV Program CategoriesJ-1 EV Program Categories

Entry, Arrival & Immigration DocumentsEntry, Arrival & Immigration Documents

Travel outside the USATravel outside the USA

How to Maintain your “J” StatusHow to Maintain your “J” Status Insurance, Address changes, Program Activities & limitations Insurance, Address changes, Program Activities & limitations

(Employment)(Employment)

J-2 DependentsJ-2 Dependents

2-year Home Residency Requirement - 212(e)2-year Home Residency Requirement - 212(e)

Program Completion or ExtensionsProgram Completion or Extensions Departure Reports, 30-day grace periodDeparture Reports, 30-day grace period

Categories of J-1 Exchange VisitorsCategories of J-1 Exchange Visitors

Academic Government Visitor* International Visitor Professor Research Scholar* Short-Term Scholar* Specialist* Students (College/University) Students (secondary) Teacher (secondary)

Private Sector Alien Physician Au Pair Camp Counselor Summer Work/Travel Trainee

Note: All categories have different purposes, rules & time limitations. *The US Forest Service sponsors

visitors in the four underlined.

Educational Exchange ActivitiesEducational Exchange Activitieswith the Forest Service with the Forest Service

Government VisitorsVisits/Tours

MeetingsWorkshops/Seminars

Max Program: 18 months

Research ScholarsCollaborative Research

Lectures, Consultations

Max Program: 5 years

SpecialistsObservation

Demonstrations

Consultations


Short-Term ScholarsCollaborative Research

Lectures, Consultations


The J-1 Exchange Visitor ProgramThe J-1 Exchange Visitor ProgramResponsible Agencies & OrganizationsResponsible Agencies & Organizations

Department of State

Visa Services

Public Diplomacy & Public Affairs

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Exchange Coordination - Academic and Gov’t Programs

Program Sponsor

•Government Agencies• Universities• Exchange Organizations

•Oversees Program & Reporting Activities

•Issues & Modifies DS-2019s

•Provides Orientation

•Host - Site of Activity

US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)

Department of Homeland Security

Bureau for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

US Customs & Border Protection (CBP)

Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

The J-1 Exchange Visitor ProgramThe J-1 Exchange Visitor ProgramResponsible Agencies & OrganizationsResponsible Agencies & Organizations

Department of State

Visa Services

Public Diplomacy & Public Affairs

Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs

Exchange Coordination - Academic and Gov’t Programs

Program Sponsor

•Government Agencies• Universities• Exchange Organizations

•Oversees Program & Reporting Activities

•Issues & Modifies DS-2019s

•Provides Orientation

•Host - Site of Activity

Department of Homeland Security

Bureau for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

US Customs & Border Protection (CBP)

US Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS)

Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

The relationships among agencies are complex and often confusing to

visitors.

Form DS-2019Form DS-2019Certificate of Eligibility for (J-1) Exchange Visitor StatusCertificate of Eligibility for (J-1) Exchange Visitor Status


Issued through SEVIS –Student and Exchange Visitor Information System for the purpose of tracking EV activities (SEVIS # - Box 1)

by Program Sponsor’s (Box 2) Responsible Officer (RO) or Alternate Responsible Officer (ARO) (Box 7)

to a specific individual (Exchange Visitor) who meets program eligibility criteria (Box 1)


for a specific Program, Field & Category (Box 4)

for which sufficient Funding has been demonstrated (Box 5)

for the specific Program Period (Box 3).

Consular Officials (DOS) review the form and grant J-1 visas. (Box 6)

Border Patrol & Customs Officials (DHS) permit entry into the USA in J-1 Status.

Passports & J-1 VisasPassports & J-1 Visas

Passport must be valid 6 Passport must be valid 6 months into the future at all months into the future at all timestimes

J-1 Visa issued by US J-1 Visa issued by US Consular OfficerConsular Officer

Visa Number - (in red)Visa Number - (in red) Lengths of Validity DifferLengths of Validity Differ If you exit the USA, you must If you exit the USA, you must

have valid passport, visa & have valid passport, visa & DS-2019 to re-enter in J DS-2019 to re-enter in J statusstatus

Familiarize yourself with the processes and timelines for•Passport renewal•Application for new visa (exiting & re-entering)

Form I-94 Form I-94 Arrival/Departure CardArrival/Departure Card

Issued by Customs & Issued by Customs & Border Patrol Official at Border Patrol Official at Port of EntryPort of Entry

Serves as proof of entry & Serves as proof of entry & immigration statusimmigration status

Defines Length of Stay – Defines Length of Stay – J-1 EVs should have “D/S” J-1 EVs should have “D/S”

stamped on I-94, passport stamped on I-94, passport and DS-2019 – and DS-2019 – DURATION OF STATUSDURATION OF STATUS(Duration of Stay – (Duration of Stay – Duration of Status)Duration of Status)

•Keep this card stapled in your passport – It is an important record!•Will be taken from you as you exit the country (Exception – some travel to Canada and Mexico)

TravelTravel

DS-2019 must be endorsed (signed) for travel DS-2019 must be endorsed (signed) for travel by RO/ARO by RO/ARO (Box in lower right hand corner - Complete request form online)

Endorsement valid 12 monthsEndorsement valid 12 months Must have valid Visa & Passport to re-enterMust have valid Visa & Passport to re-enter Exceptions – Canada and Mexico – Ask IP Exceptions – Canada and Mexico – Ask IP

before traveling!before traveling!

ALWAYS CONSULT INTERNATIONAL ALWAYS CONSULT INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFICE PROGRAMS OFFICE BEFOREBEFORE

TRAVELING OUTSIDE THE USATRAVELING OUTSIDE THE USA

ResponsibilitiesResponsibilities

Exchange Visitors/ J-1 Visa HoldersExchange Visitors/ J-1 Visa Holders

must:must:

Engage in Cultural Exchange ActivitiesEngage in Cultural Exchange Activities Participate in Educational ActivitiesParticipate in Educational Activities Maintain “J-1 Status”Maintain “J-1 Status”

(Abide by all immigration & Program (Abide by all immigration & Program policies)policies)

Cross-cultural ActivitiesCross-cultural Activities Experience anything typical or Experience anything typical or

representative of North American representative of North American societies and culturessocieties and cultures

Interact with American friends & Interact with American friends & colleaguescolleagues

Take part in Forest Service activitiesTake part in Forest Service activities

Participate in Community activitiesParticipate in Community activities

Maintaining “J” StatusMaintaining “J” Status

Engage in approved program activities Engage in approved program activities as designated by the US Forest Serviceas designated by the US Forest Service

Have mandatory insurance coverage for Have mandatory insurance coverage for self and all dependentsself and all dependents

Provide new addresses/contact info Provide new addresses/contact info with in 10 days of any change of with in 10 days of any change of locationlocation

Do not perform any activity outside the Do not perform any activity outside the approved program activitiesapproved program activities

Insurance RequirementsInsurance Requirements

•Cover illness and accidents

•$50,000 minimum

•$500 deductible

•$10,000 medical evacuation

•$7,500 repatriation of remains

Mandatory for J-1 Visa Holders

Contact InformationContact Information

Notify IP of new address/contact information Notify IP of new address/contact information within 10 days of a change! – SEVIS within 10 days of a change! – SEVIS

Complete Change of Address Form and Complete Change of Address Form and return it to the IP Office return it to the IP Office

Failure to notify sponsor of address Failure to notify sponsor of address

change is a violation of J-1 status change is a violation of J-1 status

Engage Engage onlyonly in in approvedapproved Program Program ActivitiesActivities

1.1. Established Educational and Cultural Established Educational and Cultural Exchange Program – Approved Exchange Program – Approved ActivitiesActivities

2.2. No UnauthorizedNo Unauthorized Employment or Employment or Educational ActivitiesEducational Activities

J-2 DependantsJ-2 Dependants

Spouse and unmarried children Spouse and unmarried children below 21below 21

Adequate fundingAdequate funding Must have health insuranceMust have health insurance May travel separately from J-1. May travel separately from J-1.

However, J-1 cannot leave the However, J-1 cannot leave the country for more than 30 days country for more than 30 days without J-2 dependentswithout J-2 dependents

J-2 may apply for Employment J-2 may apply for Employment Authorization Document (EAD Authorization Document (EAD Card) Card)

Two-year Home Country Physical Two-year Home Country Physical Presence RequirementPresence Requirement

What does it mean?

An EV J-1 Visa Holder and his/her J-2 dependents are not eligible for:

Permanent Residency (green card)

H visa (temporary workers and dependents)

L visa (intra-company transferees)

before they have been physically present in their home country for 2 years (cumulative).

Two-year Home Country Physical Two-year Home Country Physical Presence RequirementPresence Requirement

Who is subject?

Government Funded Exchange Program Participants

Those who have skills on the “Skills List”

Receiving graduate medical education or training

Waivers of the 2-year Home Presence Requirement?

Information is available on the official Department of State Website.

Criteria:

No Objection Statement from home government Request by an interested US Government Agency Fear of Persecution Exceptional Hardship to a US citizen spouse or child Request by a designated State Dept of Health

Departure RequirementsDeparture Requirements

Departure Report – Departure Report – Exchange VisitorExchange Visitor

Program Completion Program Completion Report – Report – AdvisorAdvisor

30 day grace period 30 day grace period for travelfor travel

24-Month Bar24-Month Bar

Exchange Visitors who participate as Exchange Visitors who participate as Professors or Research Scholars are Professors or Research Scholars are not eligible to participate in another not eligible to participate in another program as a Professor of Research program as a Professor of Research Scholar until 24 months after the Scholar until 24 months after the completion date of their previous completion date of their previous program. There are no exceptions for program. There are no exceptions for programs of less than 6 months.programs of less than 6 months.

12-Month Bar12-Month Bar

Individuals who have been present in Individuals who have been present in the United States in any “J” the United States in any “J” classification other than short-term classification other than short-term scholar, and who have participated in a scholar, and who have participated in a program of more than 6 months, are program of more than 6 months, are not eligible to start a new program as a not eligible to start a new program as a Professor or Research Scholar until 12 Professor or Research Scholar until 12 months after the completion date of the months after the completion date of the previous program.previous program.

DisclaimerDisclaimerIt is ultimately the Exchange Visitor’s responsibility to It is ultimately the Exchange Visitor’s responsibility to

understand and abide by immigration regulations to understand and abide by immigration regulations to which s/he is subject. which s/he is subject.

The International Programs Office makes every effort to The International Programs Office makes every effort to inform international visitors associated with the US inform international visitors associated with the US Forest Service of the policies governing their programs; Forest Service of the policies governing their programs; however, regulations change rapidly and are quite however, regulations change rapidly and are quite complex. complex.

International visitors and scholars should stay informed International visitors and scholars should stay informed and abreast of immigration policies that concern their and abreast of immigration policies that concern their programs and stays in the United States. programs and stays in the United States.

FormsForms

Please complete the Please complete the following forms immediatelyfollowing forms immediatelyupon arrival:upon arrival:

1.1. Arrival FormArrival Form2.2. Address FormAddress Form3.3. Insurance FormInsurance Form4.4. Debit Card ReceiptDebit Card Receipt5.5. Receipt of Handbook/Acceptance of Receipt of Handbook/Acceptance of

ResponsibilityResponsibility

Brenda DeanBrenda DeanInternational Visitor Program Coordinator International Visitor Program Coordinator

Responsible OfficerResponsible Officer

Patricia PaughPatricia PaughAlternate Responsible OfficerAlternate Responsible Officer

USDA Forest ServiceInternational Programs

1099 14th Street, NW Suite 5500W, Washington, DC 2005 202-273-4695

US Forest Service International Programs Presented by Brenda Dean, International Visitor Program...

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