DOS Guidance on J Professors and Researchers

A May 24, 2007, letter from the Department of State to NAFSA provides guidance on the five-year participation and 24-month bar rules for J Professors and Research Scholars, and gives updates on other SEVIS and regulatory matters.

• DOS has taken the position that the 24-month bar also applies to J-2 dependents of J-1 Professors or Research Scholars. Despite NAFSA’s argument to DOS that the regulatory wording does not support this interpretation, the May 24, 2007, guidance continues to maintain that the 24-month bar also applies to J-2 dependents of a J-1 Research Scholar or Professor. DOS has created a chart that expresses that position.
• DOS provides a SEVIS work-around while it is evaluating the possibility of creating an "out of country" function in SEVIS, for J-1 Professors and Research Scholars who are actively participating in their exchange program at a location outside the United States.
• SEVIS Release 5.7, scheduled for release in summer 2007, will include a Message Board feature that will allow DOS and DHS to broadcast messages to SEVIS users based on their user role.
• New Trainee/Intern regulations are being readied.
• A new Student Intern regulation is being planned.
• New sanction, termination, and revocation regulations are being planned.
• New Exchange Visitor Program fees will soon be proposed.