Incoming J-1 Scholars
This page provides important information to incoming scholars to assist in their pre-arrival arrangements.
- Contacting the right persons at WSU to help you
- Obtaining your entry visa
- Transportation
- Housing
- Security Advisory Opinion
- About SEVIS and SEVIS fee
- Finances
- Medical Insurance and Medical Evacuation/Repatriation Insurance
- Tax Information for WSU Employed J-1 Scholars Only
- Temporary Travel Outside the U.S. and J-2 Dependent(s)
- Health Concerns
- Termination of J-1 Sponsorship
Contacting the right persons at WSU to help you
There is a team of professionals at WSU that will make your experience in overcoming the challenges of arranging your visit a bit easier. Understanding the role of each team member will be helpful:
- Host supervisor/professor: this is the person with whom you will work most directly in conducting your program at WSU. Questions about the research project, employment expectations, and facilities for work including laboratory and office space should be directed toward this person.
- Contact person (in the host department): this is an administrative support person in the host department. This person is usually responsible for providing the necessary information to the OISS for creation of your DS-2019, for preparing the university employment papers (if appropriate), assigning a university ID number, etc. They know a lot about how the university works and are a valuable resource.
- The International Scholar Advisor/Responsible Officer: this person is responsible for managing the Exchange Visitor Program for the university within the Office of Students and Scholars (OISS). The ISA prepares the DS-2019 Eligibility Certificate for J-1 status, processes extensions, transfers, and generally answers questions about your visa status. You must meet with the ISA for an initial orientation meeting after you arrive. The ISA can be reached at 509-335-4508 during regular business hours (M-F 8:00am-5:00pm PST/PDT).
Obtaining your entry visa
Although it is possible to schedule your preparations differently, we suggest you follow the order below for obtaining your entry visa to the U.S
- Receipt of information packet from WSU including DS-2019 Eligibility Certificate for J-1 Status
- Pay SEVIS fee to the U. S. Department of Homeland. This $100 fee is separate from the $100 visa processing fee. You will need your DS-2019 before you pay the SEVIS fee. See SEVIS fee below.
- Make an appointment to obtain J-1 visa at the nearest U.S. consulate or embassy. See below.
- Fill in visa processing forms, including payment for visa stamp, and attend visa interview.
- Make travel plans
SEVIS fee payment form requires a SEVIS ID number which is found in the upper right hand corner of the form DS-2019. This MUST be done before you attend the visa interview. It is highly recommended that you bring a receipt of payment with you to the visa appointment, although the proof of payment information is available electronically to the visa issuer. You can pay with a check by mail or with a credit card via the Internet. DHS (Department of Homeland Security) also will accept fee payment from a third party, either in the United States or abroad.
Visa application: it is highly advisable to visit the website of your nearest U.S. consulate or embassy to obtain the most updated information. Information about locations of the closest visa issuing location, as well as instructions, and forms can be located online
Transportation
WSU is located in the town of Pullman, Washington in the northwest corner of the United States, and should not be confused with Washington D.C., which is located in the eastern side of the U.S. (over 3,500km away). There is a small airport that serves the university community called Moscow/Pullman Regional Airport. Its symbol is PUW, and can only be accessed through other U.S. airports such as Seattle/Tacoma International (SeaTac), Washington. It is also possible to fly to Spokane International Airport (GEG) and drive by automobile or shuttle to Pullman (75 minutes drive). Daily airport shuttle service between the Spokane Airport and the WSU campus is available through Wheatland Shuttle for a charge of $35US. Reservations can be made by contacting: http://www.wheatlandexpress.com/airport.htm.
Housing
To inquire about university housing, you may contact: Housing Services, P.O. Box 641726, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-1726, U.S.A., phone; (509)335-4577, or e-mail: housing@wsu.edu. Please visit their web address: http://www.livingat.wsu.edu/hdrl/ For assistance in locating other off-campus housing options, contact your host department at WSU or check this website: http://www.pullman-wa.com/housing/mapapts.htm For more information about Pullman, please also check: http://pullman-wa.com/
Security Advisory Opinion
Following the events of Sept. 11, 2001, the U.S. government instituted a number of measures to tighten security with regard to the issuance of visas. First, all visa applicants’ names will be checked during the application process. Information resulting from the name-check, or if the field of study listed on Form DS-2019 involves a dual use technology (i.e. technologies that have both civilian and military applications), a Security Advisory Opinion (SAO) may be required. The SAO is forwarded to Washington D.C. and can take one or more months to complete. Our office does not have the authority to request an SAO be expedited. Only if your visa applications that have been pending for more than 30 days can our office inquire about the case.
It may be helpful to check visa wait times [http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/tempvisitors_wait.php] to determine how long it will take you to obtain your visa.
About SEVIS and SEVIS fee
The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is the U.S. government internet-based system that our university is required to use to track international visitor to the U.S. in J-1 and F-1 visa categories. For details about SEVIS, please check the USICS (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Dept. of Homeland Security) website at: http://www.ice.gov/graphics/sevis/index.htm
Finances
For information about the costs of participating in a J-1 exchange visitor program see the following internet web site: coming to WSU-as-a J 1 scholar.
Please bring at least $1000 with you when you arrive at your work site at WSU for settling-down expenses to cover housing, food, telephone and electricity costs. If you are to be paid by WSU, do not expect that you will be paid immediately when you arrive at your work site. Usually, you would have to wait for at least two weeks to get your first paycheck.
Medical Insurance and Medical Evacuation/Repatriation Insurance
Medical/Health Insurance is required for J-1 scholars and their family members for the duration of their program, and evidence of your medical insurance certificate or contract must be presented to the Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS) after your arrival at WSU. This information appears in our web site at: http://www.ip.wsu.edu/oiss/faculty-and-scholars/J-1-scholars/medical-insurance.shtml.
Medical care is extremely expensive in the United States. It is, therefore, essential that a foreign scholar and accompanying family members have adequate health insurance while in the United States. For example, the average daily room charge at Pullman Memorial Hospital is $510, and depending on the reason for hospitalization and the use of emergency services, can more $1200 per day. Surgeries or other types of physician care would be additional expenses for which the patient is responsible.
This cost is usually borne by the scholar, but may be paid by WSU if agreed to by the host department)
• For scholars covered by a WSU medical insurance plan: (this means scholars who are employed by WSU and the department has agreed to pay for the coverage). Note: presently, no participating WSU plan covers medical evacuation and repatriation. Unless your WSU host department agrees to pay for this you will need to spend around $30 per year per person for the evacuation and repatriation insurance.
• For scholars who are not covered by a WSU medical insurance plan: you are expected to purchase your own medical insurance. Prices vary depending on age and policy features (at a minimum $50-150 per month); more or better benefits costs more. Medical insurance which includes repatriation and evacuation policies can be purchased from many travel insurance companies whose information is posted on the Internet: here is one to start with: http://www.insuremytrip.com/
• Please realize that the least expensive contracts offered as “travel medical insurance” usually do not cover costs of child birth, elective dental care, elective eye care or medicines. Be sure to check the benefits of the policy you purchase.
Tax Information for WSU Employed J-1 Scholars Only
If you will be employed and paid by WSU, the university’s Payroll Office must know your immigration status for taxation purposes. It will be helpful to work with your host department contact person to process the necessary employment documents, such as a W-9 and W-4 forms. You should fill out a Tax determine Questionnaire available through the Payroll Services Office website at: http://www.wsu.edu/payroll/nonUS/nonUS.htm, or meet with a Payroll Office representative. After each calendar year, you must make a report of your U.S.-source income called a tax return. Help with this process can be obtained through the OISS after you arrive.
Temporary Travel Outside the U.S. and J-2 Dependent(s)
If you travel outside the U.S. for an extended period of time (e.g. 30 days or more) you should take your J-2 dependent(s) along with you. The J-2 visa status is derived from that of the J-1 scholar. By leaving your dependents alone in the U.S. you put yourself at risk of negative consequences, such as the refusal of a request for a visa renewal for abandoning your family, and misuse of program.
Health Concerns
Please check the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention web page for updated information about health risks and immunization for visiting North America
Termination of J-1 Sponsorship
Please note that it is your responsibility to be aware of and comply with the regulations of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) and the USDOS. It is important to realize that a sponsor shall terminate an exchange visitor’s participation in its program when the exchange visitor:
(1) Fails to pursue the activities for which he or she was admitted to the United States;
(2) Is unable to continue, unless otherwise exempted pursuant to these regulations;
(3) Violates the Exchange Visitor Program regulations and/or the sponsor’s rules governing the program, if, in the sponsor’s opinion, termination is warranted;
(4) Willfully fails to maintain the insurance coverage required under these regulations.
Please note that an exchange visitor who engages in unauthorized employment shall be deemed to be in violation of his or her program status and is subject to termination as a participant in an exchange visitor program. Following your arrival, the Office of International Students and Scholars will the rules and regulations with which a J 1 alien must comply to maintain lawful J 1 status while in the United States.
Page Updated: May 12, 2008
