You must provide USC evidence of adequate financial support for your stay in the U.S. USC estimates the minimum cost of living to be $2,267 USD per month for the J-1 scholar, plus $555 per month for the first accompanying J-2 dependent and $444 for each additional J-2 dependent. You also must show proof of health insurance that means J-1 minimums.

Certification may come from a scholarship or fellowship, personal savings, a salary from USC, other verified funding, or a combination thereof. If you will be paid by USC, the salary will count towards the total certification amount.  

• If your funding comes from USC, the hiring department must determine appropriate compensation and issue an offer letter accordingly.
• If your funding comes from sources outside of USC, the host department will appoint you as a non-salaried affiliate per policy UNIV 2.50.
• Scholars supported by an organization other than USC must submit a signed letter of financial award on official stationary from their home institution or sponsoring agency; the award letter must include the name of the recipient, the funding time period and the amount of support in U.S. Dollars that will be provided.
• Scholars supported by personal funds must submit an official bank letter verifying funds available in U.S. dollars. Documents not in English must be accompanied by a translation. Scholars should keep a copy of financial documents to submit to the U.S. consulate during the visa application process. 

NOTE: You may need additional funding to pay out-of-pocket health care and/or health insurance expenses for yourself/your family members.  

Eligibility Requirements:

• The Scholar has a Bachelor’s degree (which matches their research objectives at USC) in hand at the time of application. If there is a question as to whether the Exchange Visitor’s degree is the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree, a third-party credentials evaluation may be necessary.
• The Scholar can provide proof of sufficient funding for the duration of their stay ($2,267 per month, $555 per month for the first dependent, $444 per month for each additional dependent.) The funding may be personal, third party, or come from UofSC
• Health insurance is mandatory for the principal and dependents throughout the duration of the DS-2019. More information about the requirements for health insurance is available here.
• The Scholar has a USC supervisor for the entire duration of their stay.
• The Scholar is eligible for an HR appointment, which must be temporary in nature, within the department.
• Proof of the Scholar’s English language proficiency has been provided to ISSS.
• The activity must be temporary with an emphasis on research, observation, or consultation, and may include teaching responsibilities (Research Scholar). The activity must be temporary with an emphasis on teaching and may include research, observation, or consultation (Professor).

Important notes:
The length of stay for Research Scholar is anywhere between 3 weeks and 5 years. No extension beyond 5 years is possible.

Eligibility for Repeat Participation: Once an Exchange Visitor ends his or her J-1 program in the Professor or Research Scholar categories (including J-2 dependents), regardless of the program’s duration, the Scholar will be subject to a 24-month bar on repeat participation in the Research Scholar or Professor categories. The 24-month bar does not go into effect if a Research Scholar transfers between institutions within the U.S. to continue their current J-1 program.

Eligibility Requirements:

• The Scholar has a Bachelor’s degree (which matches their research objectives at USC) in hand at the time of application. If there is a question as to whether the Exchange Visitor’s degree is the equivalent of a Bachelor’s degree, a third-party credentials evaluation may be necessary.
• The Scholar can provide proof of sufficient funding for the duration of their stay ($2,267 per month, $555 per month for the first dependent, $444 per month for each additional dependent.) The funding may be personal, third party, or come from USC.
• Health insurance is mandatory for the principal and dependents throughout the duration of the DS-2019. More information about the requirements for health insurance is available here.
• The Scholar has an USC Faculty supervisor for the entire duration of their stay.
• The Scholar is eligible for an HR appointment, which must be temporary in nature, within the department.
• Proof of the Scholar’s English language proficiency has been provided to ISSS.
• The activity must be temporary and may include research, observation, consultation, and teaching.

Important notes:
The length of stay for a short-term Scholar is up to 6 months. There is no possibility of extension beyond these 6 months.

Eligibility for Repeat Participation: Regulations do not prohibit an Exchange Visitor who has participated as a J-1 short-term scholar from making future visits to the U.S. in J-1 status to engage in a new program or activity. Departments that invite Exchange Visitors for 6 months or less but anticipate extending their stay beyond 6 months should request either the Professor or Research Scholar category instead of the short-term Scholar category. Departments that invite Exchange Visitors for 6 months or less and do not plan to extend them beyond 6 months should request the short-term Scholar category, especially if future visits to the U.S. in J-1 visa status are anticipated within the next two years.

The J-1 Student Intern category facilitates temporary, full-time internship opportunities for international students who are studying at one of our overseas partner universities or are invited to do an internship on campus with a USC faculty supervisor. 

Length of stay: Internships can last anywhere from 3 weeks to 12 months. 12 months is the maximum duration of stay for this category.

Eligibility for repeat participation: If the Student Intern is in the U.S. for more than 6 months, they automatically become subject to the 12-month bar on repeat participation. This bar entails that the student is not eligible to come to the U.S. in the J-1 Research Scholar or Professor category for 12 months after completion of their program.

Please note:  Some J-1 Exchange Visitors will be subject to the 212(e) 2 year home residency requirement. This requirement entails that after completion of their J-1 program, they have to return to their home country for 2 years before they are eligible for an employment visa or other more permanent immigration status in the U.S. Exchange visitors who are subject are ineligible to change their status in the U.S. to any other immigration status. Whether or not an Exchange Visitor is subject is determined by the Consular Officer and depends on three main factors:  (1) If the Exchange Visitor’s participation in an exchange program was financed directly by the United States government or a foreign government for the purpose of exchange, (2) if the skills that the exchange visitor is coming to develop or exercise are in a field which the Exchange Visitor’s home government requested be included on the State Department “skills list”, (3) if the Exchange Visitor comes to the United States to receive graduate medical education or training (not applicable for Exchange Visitors coming to USC).

USC enrolls a limited number of J-1 students, including those sponsored by their home government (though some sponsored students still come as F-1 visa holders). Most students are F-1. Questions about admission can be directed to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and the Graduate School.