Immigration

Our Human Resources office is responsible for all immigration activity at as it relates to employment authorization.  We are designated by the Department of State as a J-1 Exchange Visitor Program and as such enables its scientific investigators to bring international scholars to the Institute to conduct research. Our office issues J-1 visas, facilitates the H1-B visa process, performs employment verifications, and provides general information and guidance on a wide range of visa related topics including regulations and compliance issues, employment of spouses, health insurance, and taxes.

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  • J-1 Cultural Exchange Visa

    We are designated by the Department of State as an official J-1 Cultural Exchange Sponsor. As such, we provide research opportunities, lecturing and mentoring in the various fields of instruction and research areas. The program is intended to promote the general interest of international educational and cultural exchange to those eligible foreign research scholars and short-term scholars only. To date, our J-1 program remains an integral part of our research endeavors and therefore serves as the primary visa sponsored by the institute.

    • Overview: Instructions and Information for J-1 Exchange Visitor (PDF)
    • The Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement - 212(e) (PDF)
    • Q & A: The Two-Year Home Country Physical Presence Requirement (PDF)
    • The Waiver Process: Two Year Home Residency Requirement- 212(e) (PDF)
    • J-1 Scholar Extension (PDF)
    • The Exchange Visitor Health Insurance Requirement (PDF)
    • Work Permission for J-2 Dependents (PDF)
    • Ten Tips for the Successful J-1 Visa Application? (PDF)
    • What is SEVIS? (PDF)

  • Immigration Advisory

    Our office complies with the regulations set forth by the various governmental agencies such as the U.S.C.I.S, I.R.S, D.O.S, D.O.L., and D.H.S. We are authorized and versed at working within the regulations provided to us by these agencies, but do not function as attorneys. This section will provide information that you need as a Foreign Scholar here at the Institute in your role in achieving and maintaining your legal immigration status. Issues such as taxes and change of address, just to state a few, are serious and often complicated elements to your approved status. Therefore, the organization provides advisories on these matters with the EXPECTATION that you undersand that any action or inaction you take on these matters is your responsibility in the end. We will not advise beyond our expected roles and you should not take action beyond your status parameters.

    • Travel Advisory (PDF)
    • Tips for Maintaining your Immigration Status (PDF)
    • Change of Address Requirement (PDF)
    • General Tax Information (PDF)
    • J-1 vs. H1-B (PDF)
    • The Graduate Student (PDF)