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How This Form Works and Who Should Use This Form
Please note the following reminders about the ISS Request Form:
- The form does NOT transmit any information or answers electronically to ISS.
- ISS is not notified electronically that a form has been filled out.
- ISS is NOT able to retrieve/access your information on this form.
Rather, this form collects information needed in the immigration process and transforms this information into a PDF document that is emailed to you. The requesting department must then collect approval signatures on this document.
The PDF document is generated when you click the "generate .pdf" button on the last page of the form. This PDF will be emailed to the address entered into the last field on the form. Once you receive the email/save the PDF, the next steps in the process are to print the PDF, obtain the required approval signatures and support documents, then forward the completed request to ISS for processing.
Finally, this form should only be completed by an individual in the Requesting VT Department. It should NOT be completed by the foreign national on whose behalf the immigration paperwork is being requested.
You will be required to demonstrate your understanding of these terms at the end of this form.
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Required Signatures:
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I understand this is a legal representation of my signature.
Clear
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I understand this is a legal representation of my signature.
Clear
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Information about the Foreign National:
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Email address for the Foreign National. Please provide an email address that is checked regularly.
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Gender: *
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Requested Immigration Status *
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Info on J-1 Start Dates
A reasonable start date for a J-1 is at least 2-3 months from the date it is submitted to ISS for processing.
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Info on H-1B Start Dates
For change of status cases (e.g. F-1 to H-1B): A reasonable start date is at least 4-5 months from the date it is submitted to ISS for processing when using the immigration service's regular processing and 2-3 months from the date it is submitted to ISS if using the immigration service's Premium Processing Service. For example, if the person's OPT expires August 9, you need to submit the H-1B case to ISS by mid-March to avoid premium processing. Or, if using premium processing, submit to ISS by mid-May. Call ISS if you have questions about what start date to use.
For H-1B extensions, amendments, and change of employer (transfers): a reasonable start date is at least 2-3 months from the date the case is submitted to ISS for processing. For example, if the H-1B person's status will expire on August 9, you need to submit the extension case to ISS by mid-May
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Must match dates on TOFO if applicable.
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Must match dates on TOFO if applicable.
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Requesting Department Information:
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J-1 Questions
You must attach all the required support documents to the J-1 request before sending to ISS. Details about the entire J-1 request procedure and required documents are available on ISS's Website.
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The J-1 section is not applicable.
Please move to the next section.
You must check the J-1 checkbox on page one in order to populate this section.
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J-1 Participant Information
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Please note that some passports, e.g. Chinese passports, list the birth province or hometown. Be sure to obtain the CITY of birth.
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What is the highest post-secondary degree the foreign national will have completed by the intended start date? *
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In what post-secondary degree ABROAD if any will the foreign national be enrolled during the J-1 program? *
Please note that J-1 scholars and student interns are not permitted to audit or enroll in classes for credit in the U.S. during their J-1 program and that it is not possible to switch from a J-1 scholar or student intern category to a J-1 student category while in the U.S. If the foreign national has plans to begin a degree program shortly after his or her J-1 scholar or student intern program, please discuss this with ISS before requesting the J-1.
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J-1 Category
Please note the following information to help you choose the appropriate J-1 category. Please also refer to ISS's web page on J-1 Categories to see all eligibility criteria for each category.
- You should choose the category based on intended activities at VT, not foreign national’s position in home country
- Do not use SHORT TERM SCHOLAR category if there is any possibility of the program lasting longer than 6 months.
- Any J may be subject to the 2 year home residency requirement.
Short Term Scholar Description:
Primarily conduct research, lecture, consult, or observe. Completed at least a bachelor’s degree. Maximum stay 6 months (including transfers to/from other institutions.
Research Scholar Description:
Primarily conduct research; may also teach. Completed at least a bachelor’s degree (this requirements is based on standard requirements found in the higher education industry; VT policy may require an even higher degree if the individual will occupy a certain position, e.g. postdoc). Maximum stay of 5 years. The 12/24 month bars apply.
Professor Description:
Primarily teach/lecture; may also conduct research. Completed at least a bachelor’s degree (this requirement is based on standard requirements found in the higher education industry; VT policy may require an even higher degree if the individual will be teaching courses). Maximum stay of 5 years. The 12/24 month bars apply.
Student Intern Description:
Foreign national must be currently enrolled as a degree-seeking student at a post-secondary academic institution abroad. Internship may last no more than 12 months. Internship must consist of a minimum of 32 hours of work per week. Internship must not consist of more than 20% clerical work. Internship must fulfill educational objectives of foreign national's current degree program abroad. Internship must not consist of clinical, medical, or childcare work and may not involve a staffing agency. Internship is not used as substitute for ordinary employment or work purposes and intern does not displace U.S. workers. Internship exposes participants to American techniques, methodologies, and technology and expands upon the participants' existing knowledge and skills. Programs must not duplicate the participants' prior work experience or training received elsewhere. Interns must be evaluated upon conclusion. Internships of 6+ months must also have mid-point evaluation.
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J-1 Category *
J-1 Eligibility Requirements
2 year home residency requirement: Possible for any J-1. If subject, foreign national is ineligible to change immigration status in the U.S. or obtain H, L, K, or Permanent Residency visa/status until s/he either fulfills the requirement or gets a waiver thereof.
12 month bar: Foreign national cannot have participated in a J program (as J-1 or J-2) for all or part of the 12 month period immediately preceding start date on his/her Form DS-2019, unless s/he is transferring to VT’s program, prior physical presence in J status in U.S. was less than 6 months or was a short term scholar.
24 month bar: Based on J-1 category. Foreign national cannot have participated in a J program as a J-1 or J-2 research scholar or professor within the 24 months preceding the start date of new J-1 research scholar or professor program. Foreign national will be ineligible to participate as J-1 professor or research scholar for two years following the end date of this program.
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Form DS-7002 for Student Interns *
Click here to view the J-1 Forms Page
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Required *
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Program Information
Please provide information about the academic field in which the J-1 be engaged and the specific duties and tasks the J-1 will be assigned.
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Please indicate the sub-disciplines if applicable (e.g. “nuclear physics” instead of “physics” or “pathology” instead of “biological sciences”). If multi-disciplinary, list all relevant disciplines in order of importance.
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Will the foreign national have “hands on” contact with patients, including animal patients? *
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Site(s) of Activity
Please include all sites of activity the J-1 may be placed at during the J-1 program.
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If there are multiple worksites, please fill out all in these address fields.
Another field will appear once this one is populated.
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If there are multiple worksites, please fill out all in these address fields.
Another field will appear once this one is populated.
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If there are multiple worksites, please fill out all in these address fields.
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Financial Information
- - Multiple funding sources are allowed and all funding sources must be disclosed.
- - The total funding must meet minimum requirements listed below.
o J-1 Scholar or Student Intern: $1700 per month
o J-2 Spouse: $4000 per year
o J-2 Child: $2000 per year
- - Scanned copies of funding documents are acceptable and funding documents must be in English (or translated into English), on letterhead, and specify an amount of funding.
- - If a department plans to hire a scholar as a post-doc or research associate, Virginia Tech employment guidelines must be followed. These guidelines may require funding at a higher level. Please contact Personnel (1-5301) or the Research Division (1-9359) for more information about hiring and appointment policies.
- - For Virginia Tech funding, please submit a copy of the P-14, Terms of Faculty Offer Letter, etc. with the J-1 Request Form.
- - For VT support paid out from a grant, identify the VT Department name, not the grant number or organization.
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e.g. VT Dept, XYZ University, etc...
Another field will appear as you enter data on this field.
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e.g. VT Dept, XYZ University, etc...
Another field will appear as you enter data on this field.
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e.g. VT Dept, XYZ University, etc...
Another field will appear as you enter data on this field.
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e.g. VT Dept, XYZ University, etc...
Another field will appear as you enter data on this field.
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e.g. VT Dept, XYZ University, etc...
Another field will appear as you enter data on this field.
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e.g. VT Dept, XYZ University, etc...
Another field will appear as you enter data on this field.
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e.g. VT Dept, XYZ University, etc...
Another field will appear as you enter data on this field.
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e.g. VT Dept, XYZ University, etc...
Another field will appear as you enter data on this field.
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e.g. VT Dept, XYZ University, etc...
Another field will appear as you enter data on this field.
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e.g. VT Dept, XYZ University, etc...
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Additional Information for Host Department Funding Source
In general, most grants/funds are awarded to a PI in the department and are not ear-marked specifically for international exchange nor do they name the J-1 the department is seeking to invite as a person the grant should be used on. Therefore, if the PI wants to use such grant money awarded to him/her to support/pay a J-1, we do not consider that such funding is "for the purpose of international exchange."
Generally you should only answer "Yes" to the next question if the department has received a grant or funds from a US government agency (USAID, NIH, DOE, etc.) and the grant specifically states the money is to be used on the J-1 by name or for the specific purpose of international exchange.
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Has the VT Host Department received funding for international exchange from one or more US Government Agencies to support this exchange visitor? *
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Eligibility for VT Insurance and Benefits
Generally a J-1 would only be eligible for VT insurance and benefits if the department is hiring the J-1 as a full-time benefited employee.
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Will the foreign national be eligible for Virginia Tech health insurance and benefits (Cova Care)? *
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Previous J Status
Previous participation in certain categories within the J program can possibly restrict a person from participating again in certain categories of the J program. These restrictions are the 12 and 24 month bars. They are based on a person's J category and only affect a person's ability to participate in multiple J-1 programs within a certain time frame. These bars are not the same as the 2 year home residency bar which is triggered by other criteria (funding and the skills list) and restricts eligibility for future employment visa statuses. ISS checks each foreign national's prior J status to ensure s/he is eligible for the J-1 program at VT.
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Has the foreign national held any J status in the past 2 years *
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English Requirement
Currently there are three ISS approved options for documenting sufficient English proficiency. Please see ISS's page on English Requirements for detailed information on what documentation is required for each option, which English language tests are accepted, and the minimum score an individual must obtain on an accepted English test to meet the requirement for the test option.
Please note that ISS is looking to expand the options further and the English Requirements page will be updated when other options become available.
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Which ISS approved option is the foreign national using to meet the English language proficiency requirement? *
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Option 1 Acceptable English Proficiency Documentation *
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Option 2 Acceptable English Proficiency Documentation *
Click here to view the English Requirements Page
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Option 3 Acceptable English Proficiency Documentation *
Click here to view the English Requirements Page
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Option 4 Acceptable English Proficiency Documentation *
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Miscellaneous Questions:
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Does the foreign national intend to transfer to another institution in the U.S. after the program at VT? *
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Is foreign national currently in U.S.? *
attach copy of visa, I-94, & if applicable, DS-2019/I-20/I-797
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J-2 Dependents
DS-2019s for J-2 dependents should be requested at the same time as the initial J-1 request is processed even if a dependent’s arrival date or length of stay is unknown. The DS-2019 for a J-2 dependent will have the same start and end dates as the J-1's DS-2019 regardless of when the dependent’s DS-2019 is processed and regardless of whether the dependent accompanies the J-1 upon initial arrival or follows several months later. Many scholars want to wait until they arrive and then request the DS-2019s for their dependents. However, this is not recommended because of the additional processing time and expense needed to process J-2 DS-2019s separately from the J-1 DS-2019.
ISS encourages departments to verify whether dependents will come at any time during the J-1's program so ISS can issue J-2 DS-2019s at the same time as the J-1 DS-2019. If the foreign national will bring dependents, please complete the fields below for each J-2 dependent the J-1 wishes to bring. Please note that as the information for dependents is entered more lines will appear.
Immigration information for spouses who may want to work at VT or other academic institution:
Sometimes a person's spouse also wants to work in academia doing research or teaching. In cases where individuals who are married to each other both want to work in academia in the US, it is usually better that each person obtain his/her own independent visa (J-1) rather than one coming as a visa dependent (J-2) of the other. This is especially true when using the J visa. Unfortunately many couples don't find out that they should have both come as J-1s until they've already arrived as a J-1 and J-2 and by that time it's too late for the J-2 to change to J-1 due to immigration restrictions. While a J-2 can certainly apply for work authorization, this process takes time and the J-2's work authorization will always be dependent on the J-1's program dates, ability to extend the program, etc. These complications are avoidable if the couple is informed of them before entering the US. Therefore, please try to verify whether the J-1 you are requesting has a spouse who also has plans to obtain a research/teaching position at VT or in the U.S. and if so, speak with ISS immediately. If ISS is made aware of this in the beginning of the request process, ISS can speak with the couple and make them aware of the pros and cons of each immigration option (whether to both come as J-1 or to come as J-1 and J-2) so the couple can make an informed immigration decision. This will hopefully prevent unnecessary immigration restrictions/complications which sometimes occur when the couple comes as a J-1 and J-2 dependent spouse.
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Does the foreign national have any dependents in need of J-2 status? *
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Understanding of Processing Fee for Separate J-2 DS-2019 Request *
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1- Gender: *
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1- Relationship: *
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we are now required to collect Spouse Email information per Department of State regulations. Please indicate an email address for the spouse.
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Please note that some passports, e.g. Chinese passports, list the birth province or hometown. Be sure to obtain the CITY of birth.
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Another dependent section will appear as you enter data on this field.
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2- Gender:
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2- Relationship:
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we are now required to collect Spouse Email information per Department of State regulations. Please indicate an email address for the spouse.
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Please note that some passports, e.g. Chinese passports, list the birth province or hometown. Be sure to obtain the CITY of birth.
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Another dependent section will appear as you enter data on this field.
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3- Gender:
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3- Relationship:
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we are now required to collect Spouse Email information per Department of State regulations. Please indicate an email address for the spouse.
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Please note that some passports, e.g. Chinese passports, list the birth province or hometown. Be sure to obtain the CITY of birth.
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Another dependent section will appear as you enter data on this field.
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4- Gender:
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4- Relationship:
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we are now required to collect Spouse Email information per Department of State regulations. Please indicate an email address for the spouse.
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Please note that some passports, e.g. Chinese passports, list the birth province or hometown. Be sure to obtain the CITY of birth.
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Another dependent section will appear as you enter data on this field.
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5- Gender:
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5- Relationship:
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we are now required to collect Spouse Email information per Department of State regulations. Please indicate an email address for the spouse.
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Please note that some passports, e.g. Chinese passports, list the birth province or hometown. Be sure to obtain the CITY of birth.
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Another dependent section will appear as you enter data on this field.
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6- Gender:
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6- Relationship:
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we are now required to collect Spouse Email information per Department of State regulations. Please indicate an email address for the spouse.
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Please note that some passports, e.g. Chinese passports, list the birth province or hometown. Be sure to obtain the CITY of birth.
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Another dependent section will appear as you enter data on this field.
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7- Gender:
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7- Relationship:
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we are now required to collect Spouse Email information per Department of State regulations. Please indicate an email address for the spouse.
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Please note that some passports, e.g. Chinese passports, list the birth province or hometown. Be sure to obtain the CITY of birth.
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Another dependent section will appear as you enter data on this field.
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8- Gender:
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8- Relationship:
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we are now required to collect Spouse Email information per Department of State regulations. Please indicate an email address for the spouse.
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Please note that some passports, e.g. Chinese passports, list the birth province or hometown. Be sure to obtain the CITY of birth.
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Another dependent section will appear as you enter data on this field.
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9- Gender:
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9- Relationship:
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we are now required to collect Spouse Email information per Department of State regulations. Please indicate an email address for the spouse.
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Please note that some passports, e.g. Chinese passports, list the birth province or hometown. Be sure to obtain the CITY of birth.
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Another dependent section will appear as you enter data on this field.
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10- Gender:
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10- Relationship:
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we are now required to collect Spouse Email information per Department of State regulations. Please indicate an email address for the spouse.
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Please note that some passports, e.g. Chinese passports, list the birth province or hometown. Be sure to obtain the CITY of birth.
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J-1 Processing Fees
Effective 1/1/2015, all requests for J-1 Initial, Transfer, and Extension cases processed by ISS are subject to an internal processing fee.
The processing fee for the Short-Term Scholar, Research Scholar, and Professor categories is $100. The processing fee for the Student Intern category is $100.
The processing fee must be paid by the requesting department as a one-time banner budget transfer. Instructions for processing payment can be found on the J-1 Processing Fees page of ISS's website.
Proof of payment must be in the form of the transaction journal number from Banner (“J” followed by 7 numbers). Please enter the transaction journal number in the Banner Confirmation Number field below.
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J-1 Processing Fee Statement *
Click here to view the J-1 Processing Fees page
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If you do not yet have the banner confirmation number, you may write "To Be Determined" in this box and hand write the banner confirmation number on the form later.
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Required J-1 Support Documents
Below is a list of J-1 support documents which you must attach with this request before sending to International Support Services.
Check each box so that each support document will display on your finished ISS Request Form.
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Support Document 1: *
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Support Document 2: *
Refer to ISS's Invitation letters page for invitation guidelines.
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Support Document 3: *
Click here to view the Funding Requirements page
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Support Document 4: *
Click here to view the Export Review and Conviction Checks page
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Support Document 5: *
Click here to view the Export Review and Conviction Checks page
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Support Document 6: *
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Support Document 7: *
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Support Document 8: *
Click here to view the English Requirements Page
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Support Document 9: *
The DS-7002 form and instructions can be downloaded from ISS's J-1 Forms page.
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H-1B Questions
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The H-1B section is not applicable.
Please move to the next section.
You must check the H-1B checkbox on page one in order to populate this section.
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Department Information:
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Information about the Position:
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Type of Appointment: *
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Offered Yearly Salary: *
$
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Status Requested: *
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Premium Processing (which includes filing fee for USCIS Form I-907) for 15-day USCIS adjudication. *
May be required by ISS.
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TN Questions
TN status can be requested in increments of up to three years. In general, ISS recommends departments request multi-year TNs.
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The TN section is not applicable.
Please move to the next section.
You must check the TN checkbox on page one in order to populate this section.
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Department Information:
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Information about the Position:
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Type of Appointment: *
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Offered Yearly Salary: *
$
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Status Requested: *
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Premium Processing (fee is $1,225) for 15-day USCIS adjudication. *
May be required by ISS.
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If there are multiple worksites, list all.
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If there are multiple worksites, list all.
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If there are multiple worksites, list all.
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O-1 Questions
O-1 status can be requested initially for 3 years with extensions of up to one year increments. In general, ISS recommends departments request a multi-year initial O-1.
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The O-1 section is not applicable.
Please move to the next section.
You must check the O-1 checkbox on page one in order to populate this section.
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Department Information:
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Information about the Position:
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Type of Appointment: *
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Offered Yearly Salary: *
$
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Status Requested: *
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Premium Processing (fee is $1,225) for 15-day USCIS adjudication. *
May be required by ISS.
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If there are multiple worksites, list all.
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If there are multiple worksites, list all.
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If there are multiple worksites, list all.
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E-3 Questions
E-3 status can be requested in increments of up to two years. In general, ISS recommends departments request multi-year E-3s. If a department requests a multi-year H-1B but the position ends before the requested end date, the department is liable for the beneficiary’s return transportation. For filing fee information, please contact International Support Services.
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The E-3 section is not applicable.
Please move to the next section.
You must check the E-3 checkbox on page one in order to populate this section.
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Department Information:
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Information about the Position:
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Type of Appointment: *
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Offered Yearly Salary: *
$
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Status Requested: *
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PR Questions
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The PR section is not applicable.
Please move to the next section.
You must check the PR checkbox on page one in order to populate this section.
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Will department funds be used to pay for or reimburse any costs associated with this petition? *
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Will provided department funds be used only for PERM Labor Certification? *
If a PERM Labor Certification is required, the department must pay all the costs associated with the PERM Labor Certification process.
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A special link to resume the form will be sent to your email address.
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