J Scholar FAQs for Departments

Visit the Terms to Know for the explanations to these and other important and commonly used terms.

Between two and four months before the expected start date

Four weeks.

Transfer applications should be submitted to ISSS at least 3 weeks prior to the scholar's UMN start date.

Transfer processing timelines can vary between institutions. Please contact [email protected] if you have questions about the transfer process.

• $485 ISSS Administrative Processing Fee (charged to department EFS account after Initial Request for DS-2019 application is submitted to ISSS)
• $220 SEVIS fee (required by Department of Homeland Security; scholar must show proof at the visa interview that this has already been paid)
• $160 J visa application fee (required by U.S. Department of State; paid by the scholar when they apply for their J-1 visa)

The start date that will be written in the Initial Request for DS-2019 application will be the start date on the DS-2019 that ISSS will process through the SEVIS system. The start date and end date must match the start and end dates stated in the department’s invitation/offer letter to the scholar being invited.

Yes, up to 30 days before the start date on their DS-2019.

Yes, but no later than 25 days after the start date on their DS-2019. The scholar must also have completed their ISSS Scholar Check-In within 25 days after the start date. This is because ISSS is required to report the scholar’s arrival in the SEVIS government database within 30 days of the scholar’s start date.

• To request new program dates, please complete the J-1 Amendment Request on MyISSS.
• Be prepared to provide a new start date (and new end date, if needed). If a record is not amended as needed, serious consequences could result for the scholar and their SEVIS record.
• Please also inform ISSS if a scholar has been denied a visa or wishes to cancel their program.

• International scholars visiting the UMN for more than 31 days are required to enroll in the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan for International Scholars unless they are already enrolled in a U.S.-based employer-sponsored group health plan or the University-sponsored Graduate Assistant Health Plan. For more information about this policy, and for information on how to obtain a waiver, please contact the Office of Student Health Benefits.
• Scholars visiting the University for 31 days or less may choose to purchase the Student Health Benefit Plan, but are not required to do so. Scholars choosing not to enroll in the University-sponsored Student Health Benefit Plan are required to carry their own health insurance plan for the duration of their visit to the University. A scholar's health insurance plan must meet J-1 U.S. Federal regulation requirements (“Insurance”).

What happens if scholars do not have UMN health insurance, such as the University Employee Benefits Health Insurance or the UMN Student Health Benefit Plan (SHBP)?

They forfeit valuable ISSS services.

What happens if scholars have neither UMN health insurance nor other insurance that meets the federal requirements?

This is reason to terminate a scholar’s J-1 program and they will need to depart the U.S. immediately.

No, they do not need this and the UMN J program does not issue these documents. This form is only for J-1 Interns and J-1 Trainees. UMN J-1 scholars will only be one of the following: Research Scholar, Professor, or Short Term Scholar. 

(Note: MAST J-1 Trainees are not under the jurisdiction of ISSS. Please contact CFANS for more information about MAST).

Yes. Please have them review the J-1 and J-2 travel guidelines on the ISSS website and complete the necessary tasks applicable to them (for example, obtain a valid travel signature).

Once the Extension Request application is submitted, processing time is approximately one to two weeks. Remind scholars that they must extend their UMN health insurance coverage as well. If employed, scholars must present their newly extended DS-2019 to Payroll. 

$485. This is the ISSS administrative fee. This fee is the same for all extensions regardless of length and cannot be adjusted.

Yes, this is possible. If the funding will be ongoing or if the amount given to the scholar will be more than 25% of their minimum living expense requirements ($1300/month), then the scholar should request an updated DS-2019 to reflect the new/additional funding. To do this, they must submit to an ISSS advisor a letter from the department explaining the amount and reason for the funding and the J-1 Scholar DS-2019 Request Form.

If the amount of funding will be less than 25% of the scholar’s minimum living expense requirements, only a letter from the department explaining the amount and reason for the funding will suffice. Please send a copy of this signed letter to Julie Halfen.

The scholar is allowed such activity, with prior ISSS authorization for occasional lectures and short-term consultations.