SPECIALIST

DEFINITION

“An expert in a field of specialized knowledge or skill seeking to travel to U.S. for observing, consulting, or demonstrating the special knowledge or skill.”

Emory University reserves this category for experts in their field coming to Emory only for the purpose of observing, consulting, or demonstrating. This category is not meant for Exchange Visitors who will participate in the program mainly to do research or teach, and should not be used for postdoctoral positions.

LIMITATIONS

There is no minimum stay, and the maximum duration is 1 year. No extensions are allowed following a one-year stay.

SHORT-TERM SCHOLAR

DEFINITION

“Professors, research scholar, specialists or person with similar education or accomplishments coming to U.S. on a short-term visit for the purpose of lecturing, observing, consulting, training or demonstrating special skills at corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, post-secondary educational institutions or similar types of institutions.”

LIMITATIONS

There is no minimum stay and the maximum duration is 6 months. However, Short-Term Scholars may exit the U.S. and return for repeat participation. Careful consideration should be given to the selection of this category to determine if the scholar will indeed leave the U.S. following the short stay.

RESEARCH SCHOLAR

DEFINITION

“Primarily conducting research, observing or consulting in connection with a research project at research institutions, corporate research facilities, museums, libraries, post-secondary educational institutions or similar types of institutions.” Research Scholar may also teach.

LIMITATIONS

• The minimum duration of stay is 3 weeks, and the maximum stay is up to 5 years. Scholars in this category may hold active status. This establishes a fixed 5-year eligibility window, during which an alien can participate in one or more programs. The maximum of 5 years as a Professor or Research Scholar is counted continuously during any uninterrupted stay, regardless of how many programs the visitor participates in, or for how long he or she actually participates in them.
• Cannot hold tenure or be placed in a position "on a tenure track."
• One-Year Bar on Repeat Participation: Time spent in the United States in any J status (including J-2 status) during the 12-month period preceding the prospective professor or research scholar's program begin date may affect the alien's eligibility for participation as a Professor or Research Scholar.
• Two-Year Bar on Repeat Participation: An individual who participates in the Exchange Visitor Program as a Professor or Research Scholar becomes subject to a 24-month bar on "repeat participation" in those categories after completing his or her program. Under DOS's interpretation, the 24-month bar applies under two circumstances:
  1. If the Professor or Research Scholar completes a full five years of program participation with one or more sponsors; or
  2. If, before the full five-year period is over, the Professor or Research Scholar completes his or her program. In this case, the continuity of the five-year period is broken, the five-year window is "closed," the individual is not eligible to access the remaining unused time, and the individual must wait for two years before beginning a new program as a J Professor or Research Scholar.

PROFESSOR

DEFINITION

“Primarily teaching, lecturing, observing or consulting at post-secondary educational institutions, museums, libraries or similar types of institutions.” May also conduct research.

LIMITATIONS

• The minimum duration of stay is 3 weeks, and the maximum stay is up to 5 years. Scholars in this category may hold active status. This establishes a fixed 5-year eligibility window, during which an alien can participate in one or more programs. The maximum of 5 years as a Professor or Research Scholar is counted continuously during any uninterrupted stay, regardless of how many programs the visitor participates in, or for how long he or she actually participates in them.
• Cannot hold tenure or be placed in a position "on a tenure track."
• One-Year Bar on Repeat Participation: Time spent in the United States in any J status (including J-2 status) during the 12-month period preceding the prospective professor or research scholar's program begin date may affect the alien's eligibility for participation as a Professor or Research Scholar.
• Two-Year Bar on Repeat Participation: An individual who participates in the Exchange Visitor Program as a Professor or Research Scholar becomes subject to a 24-month bar on "repeat participation" in those categories after completing his or her program. Under DOS's interpretation, the 24-month bar applies under two circumstances:
  1. If the Professor or Research Scholar completes a full five years of program participation with one or more sponsors; or
  2. If, before the full five-year period is over, the Professor or Research Scholar completes his or her program. In this case, the continuity of the five-year period is broken, the five-year window is "closed," the individual is not eligible to access the remaining unused time, and the individual must wait for two years before beginning a new program as a J Professor or Research Scholar.

PRESCRIBED COURSE OF STUDY: NON-DEGREE STUDENT

DEFINITION

Emory University uses this category for scholars who have not yet met degree qualifications for the Research Scholar or Professors categories. Typically, this may be a student who needs to do an internship, research, or a combination of research and courses to fulfill a degree requirement in his/her home country.

LIMITATIONS

This category is limited to a 2-year stay with no extensions. If the scholar does not meet eligibility requirements for any other category (e.g. lack of advanced degree); will not be enrolling full-time in coursework; will participate in a non-degree academic program; such course of study may include classroom instruction and research projects. Written description of activity is required with the request.

Activity or combination of activities must be equivalent to full-time. Include the following in the description:

• title of Prescribed Course of Study
• specific educational objective
• minimum educational requirements
• summary of activities
• detailed description of activities to be performed
• desired outcome of the prescribed course of study
• method of evaluation