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
• - Mon-Fri 830am-5pm (during academic
  year)
• - Mon- Fri 8 am- 430 pm
  (summer)
• - Scheduled appointments, advisor
  on-call, seminars, programming
• - 315-443-2457 / lescis_at_syr.edu
• Weekly Slutzker Center Newsletter
  (SCISNEWS)
• - Immigration updates, campus
  community events announcements
• University Information
• - Public Safety 711 (on-campus) / (315)
  443-2224 (off-campus)

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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 Education and
  immigration-related government offices.
• Change of name and address must be reported
  within 10 days of change
• - Notify the Slutzker Center of an update by
  electronically
• submitting the address update form on our
  Updating your Address and Data webpage
• Schedule an Exit Interview 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 Maximum of
  5 years of continuous participation in J program
• 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,
• preferably 6 months beyond program end date
• 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

• Maximum Participation
• - Continuous 5 year perioduse or lose basis
• 12 Month Bar
• Not eligible to begin a new Professor/Research
  Scholar program if physically
• present in the US for all or part of 12
  month period prior to new program start
• date
• Exceptions J-1 transfer presence in US less
  than 6 months was in US as a
  short term scholar
• 24 Month Bar
• -Two year bar on repeat participation in the J
  Professor or Research Scholar
• category
• - Begins at the end of a J program (shortened
  or completed)

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J-1 Specifics (continued)

• 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
• Individual petition, not filed by the Slutzker
  Center
• 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.
• Permanent Residency
• 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 by federal law for
  all
• J-1 and J-2 exchange visitors for the duration of
  their
• program. Must meet 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 and online
• Health insurance coverage must be lapse-free.
  Submit
• an updated copy of your new insurance plan/card
  to the
• SCIS upon renewal.

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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 or until the
  end of your program, which ever is shorter.
• - You must provide proof of health insurance,
  and show your original passport, visa, and
  I-94 card in order to receive a travel signature
• Travel Documents
• - Valid passport, visa, I-94 card, DS-2019,
  appointment letter, SU ID,
• and proof of funding (letter of financial
  support, bank statements)
• 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

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Travel Outside the US for Research

• If you will be traveling outside the US for an
• extended period of time for research related to
  your
• J-1 exchange visitor program, please provide the
• following information to the Slutzker Center
• Letter of support from your academic
  department indicating
• Research abroad is related to J program
• Duration of time outside the country
• The address of your residence abroad
• The Slutzker Center will update your SEVIS record
  
• to reflect this the 5 month rule will not apply.

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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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Occasional Lecture or Consultations at Another
Institution

• Advance permission is required from SCIS. Consult
  
• with a J- scholar advisor before
  accepting/pursuing any
• employment outside of Syracuse University.
• Must be directly related to your J-1 program
  objectives
• Incidental to primary J-1 program activities
• Will not delay completion of program
• To receive authorization, submit
• - A letter of support from your academic
  department (addressing
• bullet points above) to the SCIS.
• - A letter from your offeror indicating terms of
  offer of hours, duration,
• field/subject amount of compensation and
  description of the activity
• Authorization will come in the form of a letter
  issued by a Slutzker
• Center ARO.

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Social Security and Taxes

• Social Security Number
• Anyone earning wages must have a social security
  number for tax purposes.
• - To apply for a social security number, you
  will need your appointment letter, original
  immigration documents, and a SSN memo if your
  department will complete it.
• Taxes
• Tax information is available on the SCIS website
• Resources, downloadable forms, and access to the
  CINTAX federal tax preparation software
• SCIS advisors are NOT tax experts and can not
  provide any tax advice or counseling.

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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 Employment Authorization
  Application including Form I-765,
• supporting documents, and 340 fee
• 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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Slutzker Center Contact Information

• Slutzker Center Phone [phone]
• Patricia A. Burak paburak_at_syr.edu
• Lynn A. Dunyk ladunyk_at_syr.edu
• Carolyn Salter cmsalter_at_syr.edu
• Mary Schlarb mschlarb_at_syr.edu
• Slutzker Center lescis_at_syr.edu
• Slutzker Center Fax [phone]

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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