Important
Information for J-1 Visa Holders
Immigration and
Visa Services
Office of
(518)
International cooperation among peoples, institutions, and
nations is increasingly essential for advancing the future of our common world.
Your unique knowledge, skills, and culture further strengthen UAlbany's community of faculty, staff, and students. In our
common pursuit of knowledge, tolerance, and understanding, we hope that while
you undertake your teaching and/or research program, you will enrich our
endeavors toward social, cultural, and international cooperation. We hope your
stay will be a productive and happy one.
Please read through this brochure carefully. It is
intended to provide you with information about important issues that you must be
aware of during your stay in the
The Immigration and Visa Services Section of the Office of Human
Resources Management (OHRM), supports and enhances UAlbany's
international goals and objectives. These goals include increasing international
opportunities for faculty and research scholars and improving the climate for
all international faculty, students, and staff. OHRM helps faculty, foreign
scholars, and nonimmigrant visa holders employed by UAlbany
to comply with federal laws, rules, and regulations permitting the employment
of foreign nationals. In this capacity, OHRM is responsible for coordinating
and managing the entire process involved in the employment of non-U.S. workers
in teaching and research positions. OHRM also administers the legal process for
any change of status of foreign nationals. Foreign scholars employed by UAlbany are requested to maintain systematic contact with
OHRM.
Compliance with all federal regulations increases UAlbany's credibility and ensures that its faculty and
foreign national scholars are able to concentrate on their teaching and
research efforts. Compliance upholds opportunities for all internationalists at
UAlbany.
You have been granted a nonimmigrant visa to accept an
assignment or participate in a program of research or teaching at UAlbany.
SEVIS I-901 Fee
Effective
You can fill in the Form I-901 online at www.fmjfee.com
or send a paper version to:
By Mail
I-901
Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee
By Courier (to expedite delivery to SEVP)
I-901
Student/Exchange Visitor Processing Fee
1005 Convention Plaza
Phone Number:
If you have Internet access, completing the form online will
help ensure that you provide all the information in the correct format. This
helps speed processing.
Paper forms are scanned and read by machine. If information is
missing or hard to read, the form will be manually reviewed. SEVP will attempt
to fill in missing or hard-to-read information. This could cause a short delay
in processing your form or could result in the form being returned to you for correction. When using a
paper form, please print clearly. Your SEVIS ID number, last name (surname or family
name) and date of birth are critical data elements. These are needed to match
the information on your Form I-20 or DS-2019.
Payment Options
You can pay your fee by credit or debit card if you are submitting
your form online. If you pay by credit
or debit card, you should print out a receipt if you need one
immediately and cannot wait to receive a receipt through the mail. See the
section on credit and debit
cards for more information about the cards SEVP will accept.
You can pay by international money order or check drawn on a
financial institution in the
Checks are accepted subject to collection. If the bank on which it
is drawn does not honor the check, you will be charged a $30 fee.
Upon your arrival and within three days of beginning your stay
at UAlbany, you must take part in a check-in session with the appropriate Responsible or Alternate Responsible Officer at the University. Please note that under Department of State regulations, failure to check-in within 30 days of arrival will result in cancellation of your exchange visitor status and may subject you to deportation. In addition, as a paid exchange visitor, you must complete tax forms and the Form I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification). Research Foundation employees (DS-2019 signed by ARO Cheryl Yagelski) may contact The Research Foundation for a check-in session appointment: 518-437-4500. UAlbany employees (DS-2019 signed by ARO Kate Thies) may contact Human Resources for a check-in session appointment: 518-437-3830.
Check-in Session
The purpose of the check-in session is to provide you with
information about:
a) living and working in the
b) your visa status and your rights, duties,
and responsibilities;
c) the duties and responsibilities of your
sponsor, or responsible person.
Completion of tax forms and Form I-9:
For your tax file, please bring the following documents:
a) Your passport;
b) Form I-94 (Arrival/Departure Record);
c) and Form DS-2019.
For the Form I-9 you must present documents that establish both your identity and your eligibility to work in the U.S. The documents listed above are sufficient for this purpose, but you may bring any documents included in List A, or List B and List C (see the last page of the Form I-9).
You have been admitted to the
If you have any questions or problems
concerning your stay at UAlbany or the conditions and
terms of your visa status, you should contact OHRM at
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Exchange Visitor Program |
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Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs |
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United States Department of State |
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SA-44, Room 734 |
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301 |
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Telephone: |
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Fax: |
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Email: |
In the
Remember, you must file a tax return regardless of the amount of
your income or whether your income is exempt from
The University is required by the United
States Department of State to require all J-1 visa holders and any accompanying
dependents to obtain health and accident insurance, which includes the
following minimum coverage: (1) medical benefits of at least $50,000 per person
per accident or illness; (2) repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500;
and (3) expenses associated with medical evacuation in the amount of
$10,000. SUNY requires program participants to purchase this insurance
through the University. The exchange visitor must report to
the Office of International Student Services (Science Library G-40) to arrange
for insurance immediately upon arrival. This insurance is required of all
program participants regardless of other coverage provided through the
University or outside agency unless the Office of International Student
Services has approved a specific exemption.
Individual exchange visitors here for one term only:
$414.50 Fall Term (August 15, 2009 – January 14, 2010)
$580.50 Spring/Summer 2010 Term (January 15, 2010-August 14, 2009)
$414.50 Spring Term (January 15, 2010 – June 14, 2010)
Individual monthly charges:
$83.00 per month for exchange visitors
$178.00 per month for spouses
$96.00 per month per child
MEDEX (Medical & Security Evacuation & Repatriation):
$6.00 per month
$30 Fall Term
$42 for the Spring/Summer 2010 Term
The International Medical Health Insurance covers a wide variety of medical treatments, from hospital visits, prescriptions and surgery to mental health treatment. The benefits brochure contains more information about what is covered and can be downloaded here.
The visitor may be able to obtain a
waiver of the requirement to purchase this insurance if they can provide
documentation that they already have a policy that provides equivalent medical
and repatriation coverage as stated above.
However, even if the visitor qualifies for a waiver, they must purchase
medical evacuation coverage (MEDEX), which has a monthly premium of $6.00.
While in the
—The total time allowed in J-l
scholar status is five years—no exceptions! Short-term scholars have a maximum
time of six months—no exceptions.
—An exchange visitor (J-l visa holder) is not
eligible to change categories, i.e., from "scholar" to
"student." Remember, you have been admitted to the
—If your financial support comes totally or in part from the
—The two-year home residency requirement and other important
conditions of the J-1 visa are explained on page 2 of the DS-2019 form. Please
read them carefully. You are responsible for meeting all conditions of your
visa.
If you are eligible for, and wish to request, an extension of
stay, the following actions must be taken no later than thirty (30) days prior
to the expiration date shown on your Form DS-2019. There is no exception to
this rule.
You are exempt from Social Security (FICA) and Medicare taxes on
your earnings for the first two years of your visit, even if you have a social
security number. However, if your stay
continues beyond two years, your earnings are subject to both FICA and Medicare
taxes. Also, a spouse or child granted
permission to accept employment is required to pay Social Security and Medicare
taxes starting on the initial date of their employment in the
a) Employment (if applicable)
J-l Visa Holders—Your spouse and/or
children have been admitted on J-2 visas. They are not permitted to accept
employment unless they have received written permission from the USCIS before
starting to work.
The Office of Human Resources
Management (UAB-300) will assist and advise your spouse and/or children on
receiving permission to accept employment. However, there is no guarantee that
permission will be granted by the USCIS. Employment without specific permission
subjects your spouse and/or children and yourself to deportation proceedings.
b) Health Insurance
You are responsible for complying
with health insurance requirements for your dependent(s). The Office of Human
Resources Management (UAB-300) will be pleased to provide you information on
U.S. Department of State health insurance requirements. You may also contact
the the Office of International Student Services (LI-85)
for additional insurance information.
Return to Immigration and Visa
Services