Faculty and Research Scholar Orientation

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Faculty and Research Scholar Orientation
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Slutzker Center for International Services
(SCIS)

• http//international.syr.edu
• Support and Resources Available
• Slutzker Center Basics
• - Mon-Fri 830am-5pm
• - Scheduled appointments, advisor
  on-call, seminars, programming
• Weekly Slutzker Center Newsletter
  (SCISNEWS)
• - Immigration updates, campus
  community events announcements
• Important Links
• - http//www.travel.state.gov/
• - http//usembassy.state.gov/
• - http//www.uscis.gov/graphics/index.htm
• University Information

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SEVIS

• Student and Exchange Visitor Information System
• - A web-based database of all J-1 status
  individuals shared by U.S.
• Institutions of Higher Ed. and
  Immigration-related Government
• Offices.
• -- http//www.ice.gov/sevis/students/in
  dex.htm
• Change of address must be reported within 10 days
  of a move
• - Notify the Slutzker Center of an address
  change by electronically
• submitting the address update form, found
  on our website
• at http//international.syr.edu/address_upda
  te_j1scholars.htm
• Consult with an Alternate Responsible Officer
  (ARO) at Slutzker Center before completing your
  program and departing Syracuse University

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Immigration Documents Regulations

• DS-2019
• Extensions Notify the Slutzker Center 1-2 months
  before expiration
• Transfers Plan ahead and coordinate with other
  institution
• Extensions and transfers can only be done
  before DS-2019 expires
• Passport
• For re-entry, must be valid 6 months beyond date
  of return
• Visa
• May expire while in the U.S.
• Must be valid to re-enter the U.S.
• I-94

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I-94 Card
Date of Entry
Non-Immigrant Status
J-1
Length of Stay
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J-1 Specifics

• Two year home residency requirement
• - Applicable for you and your J-2 dependents
  if you are sponsored by home
• or U.S. government
• - Applicable if your country and field of
  expertise is on the Exchange Visitor Skills
  List
• - Should be noted on your visa and/or DS-2019
• Waiver of home residency requirement
• 12 month bar
• - Applicable if present in the United States in
  J-1 or J-2 status for 6 months
• or more in the 12-month period immediately
  preceding the desired start
• date of a new appointment, unless your
  presence in the United States was
• as a short term scholar.

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J-1 Specifics (continued)

• Change of visa category
• If you are subject to the 2 year requirement you
  are not eligible to change your status to H, L, K
  unless you have fulfilled it or had it waived.
• Green cards
• Not eligible to adjust your status to
  Permanent Resident if your two-year requirement
  has not been satisfied or waived.
• In most cases, you are not able to adjust to PR
  status from the J status.

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Health Insurance

• Health Insurance is required for each J-1and J-2
  exchange visitors during the duration of your
  program with the following minimum benefits
• - Medical benefits of at least 50,000 per
  accident or illness
• Repatriation of remains in the amount of 7,500
• Expenses associated with the medical evacuation
  of the exchange visitor to his or her home
  country in the amount of 10,000
• - A deductible not to exceed 500 per accident
  or illness.
• If not included in your policy, medical
  evacuation and repatriation must be purchased
  separately.
• - Med/Evac insurance coverage can be obtained
  for 24/year
• - Applications available at the Slutzker
  Center

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Travel Absence less than 5 months

• Travel Signature
• - Must obtain a travel signature from a
  Slutzker Center ARO to re-
• enter the U.S. after international
  travel.
• - Signature is valid for one year.
• - You must provide proof of health insurance.
• Travel Documents
• - Valid passport, visa, I-94 card, DS-2019,
  appointment letter, SU ID
• Check if you will need additional visas (e.g.,
  tourist, transit)
• Travel to Canada, Mexico, and Adjacent Islands
• Automatic Visa Revalidation to re-enter the U.S.
  from a contiguous
• country or adjacent island on expired visa if you
  meet the requirements
• posted on the Immigration and Customs website.

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Traveling to Renew Visa

• It is recommended that you verify visa
  application procedures at
• your foreign U.S. consulate and schedule a visa
  appointment
• well in advance and prior to exiting the U.S.
  since visa wait times
• may be considerable.
• Required Documents for J-1 Visa Applications
• Passportvalid 6 months beyond the date you plan
  to re-enter the U.S.
• DS-2019 with current travel signature
• Current 2x2 photograph (passport-sized)
• Completed visa application forms (online)
• Form DS-156 (Non-Immigrant Visa Application)
• Form DS-158 (Contact Information and Work History
  for Non-Immigrant Visa Applicant)
• Visa processing fee receipt or payment
• I-901 SEVIS fee receipt or payment if for initial
  attendance (if applicable)
• Embassy interview
• Biometric procedures Finger-scan and digital
  picture

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Dependents

• Travel
• - May travel with or without J-1 primary
• - Require current travel signature on DS-2019
• - Must carry passport, visa, I-94 card,
  DS-2019, and proof of J-1s status
• - May remain in the U.S. without the
  primary as long as the J-1 maintains current
• status and will return after a temporary absence
  using the same SEVIS ID
• Visa Status
• - J-1/J-2s must be in compliance with
  J-exchange visitor immigration regulations
• Employment Eligibility
• - May work in the U.S. if authorized by
  USCIS
• - Must submit Form I-765
• Eligibility for Educational Benefits in the U.S.
• - May study in the U.S. on a J-2 visa
  without being required to apply for a student
• (F-1) visa.

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U.S. Government and Exchange Visitor Websites

• General U.S. Government Websites
• - U.S. Customs and Immigration Services
• - Immigration and Customs Enforcement
• - Department of Homeland Security
• - U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• - U.S. Department of State
• - Bureau of Consular Affairs
• - U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic
  Missions

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Community Resources

• Syracuse University website for maps, campus
  events, more
• - http//www.syr.edu
• International Center of Syracuse
• - http//www.icsyracuse.org/
• English Language Conversation Groups
• - http//international.syr.edu/english_program
  .htm
• Transportation (Bus and Train Schedules)
• - http//www.centro.org
• Medical University Hospital
• - 750 E. Adams St, 1-877-464-5540,
  http//www.upstate.edu/uh/
• Childcare
• - http//childcaresyracuse.org

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Slutzker Center Contact Information

• Slutzker Center Phone [phone]
• Patricia A. Burak paburak_at_syr.edu
• Andrea Godfread-Brown agodfrea_at_syr.edu
• Skip Greenblatt slgreenb_at_syr.edu
• Kevin J. OKeefe kjokeefe_at_syr.edu
• Rika McKenna rkmckenn_at_syr.edu
• Lynn A. Dunyk ladunyk_at_syr.edu
• Slutzker Center lescis_at_syr.edu
• Slutzker Center Fax [phone]