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Smith College has been designated by the Department of State and USIA as a sponsor of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. The purpose of this program is to promote international education exchanges and collaboration among universities around the world. Under this program the College is permitted to sponsor visitors in the following categories: professor, research scholar, short-term scholar or student.
Certain criteria must be met in order for the college to sponsor a visitor in any one of the categories mentioned above. This office will make a decision on the appropriate category by reviewing the official appointment or invitation letter issued by the Office of the Provost/Dean of Faculty and will issue the visa application form DS2019.
All J-1 program participants are required to pursue the objectives stated in the DS2019 form which is based on their appointment letters from Smith.
For new incoming J-1-Professor/research scholars: Participants are subject to the following conditions: 1) participant may be in a tenure-track position as long as s/he is not a candidate for tenure, 2) participant has not been physically present in the U.S. in any J status for more than 6 months of the previous 12 months. In most cases J-1 holders may not accept paid employment outside Smith College unless it is an integral part of the program described in form DS2019
Extensions for Professor/research scholars: Initial programs for this category must not exceed 3 years. Extensions of up to 6 months are permitted for the purpose of completing a specific project or research activity.
Transfers: Professors/research scholars may transfer from or to Smith College if the purpose of the transfer is to complete the initial objective for which they were admitted, provided they remain in the same J category. Permission to transfer is given by the sponsoring institution.
Short-term Scholar: This category is used for faculty who are invited to teach and/or conduct research for a period of (6) months or less. No extensions are permitted under this category.
CANADA & MEXICO
TN Visa
The TN program is part of the NAFTA agreement between the United States, Canada and Mexico and it allows citizens of those countries to be admitted to the U.S. to engage in paid employment at a professional level in certain fields. TN visa may be extended indefinitely in one-year increments. Please note: The application procedure for TN status for Mexicans is similar to H-1b processing and classification and may take much longer.
The procedures for Canadian citizens for initial TN visa application as well as extensions are done at the border/airport at the time of entry to the U.S. The spouse and unmarried children under 21 of TN visa holders are eligible for TD status, however they are NOT permitted to engage in any employment.
Accompanying Family Members of J-1 Visa holders: Spouses and unmarried minor children (under the age of 21) of an exchange visitor are issued J-2 visas. The primary holder of the J-1 visa must show evidence of adequate funding for the support of the dependent children and spouse. J-2 visa holders may apply to BCIS for work permission after arriving in the United States.
Mandatory Health Insurance: All exchange visitors and their dependents must have health insurance coverage for illness and accidents during the entire period of time they are on the J visas. Smith College will supplement any private or governmental insurance policy for the primary J-1 visa holder with a U.S. insurance policy during their stay at Smith. Insurance coverage for dependents is the responsibility of the primary J-1 holder.
Please Note: It is not possible to change from one category of the J-1 visa to another category within the United States.
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