HEALTH INSURANCE REQUIREMENT FOR ALL EXCHANGE VISITORS (J VISAS)

ISSP will be checking more often with J Exchange Visitors to present proof of health insurance for themselves and any dependents accompanying them in the U.S.
 
All Exchange Visitors (J-1 and J-2) must have health insurance that meets the requirements as established by the U.S. Department of State.   If you have insurance as a student or an employee through the University, you can be assured that it meets the requirements.   Also, if you have the T.W. Lord Insurance recommended by ISSP, you can be assured that it meets the requirements.
 You can read a list of the rules for insurance on the ISSP website at:  http://www.emory.edu/ISSP/scholars/j1/insurance.htm to determine if your insurance meets the minimum requirements.  

Violation of the insurance requirement is a serious matter for which the U.S. Department of State will not accept a request to reinstate to legal status.  A scholar who is found to have willfully ignored these requirements is required to be terminated from the Exchange Visitor Program immediately thereafter and is expected to return home.  Consequences of a termination from the Exchange Visitor Program may lead to the inability to return to the U.S. in another Exchange Program or even another immigration status in the future.

ISSP has taken many steps to assist scholars in knowing about this requirement prior to their arrival and after coming to Emory.   It is highly unlikely that a scholar can attend ISSP’s orientation and walk away without knowing the serious consequences of breaking the law surrounding the Exchange Visitor participation.    Below is a list of materials that are provided for both the scholar and the hosting department that reiterate the insurance requirement for both the scholar and any dependents. 

• Reference to the written Code of Federal Regulations pertaining to the insurance rule in the pre-arrival booklet to the scholar
• Compliance Form signed by the scholar’s supervisor for the J-1 Request
• Copy of  ISSP web page for scholar’s information on insurance rule
• Copy of PDF on web page for hosting department’s review for training purposes
• Copy of Cover Letter to the scholar in the pre-arrival packet
• Copy of Notification of Reporting Requirement memo sent to the supervisor
• U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program Brochure
• Copy of Welcome Booklet sent to the scholar (This has recently been updated also.)
• Copy of Memorandum of Understanding, which was carefully reviewed AND discussed at the ISSP orientation with the scholar
• Copy of Orientation Checklist, which is used as a topic guideline during the orientation, and a second point of discussion during the orientation to emphasize the insurance rule

If you have questions regarding the insurance requirement for J Exchange Visitors, please contact our Exchange Visitor Program coordinator, Joan Lindsey, at JLinds2@emory.edu.