Prepare students for careers in an increasingly global workforce.
For post-secondary academic institutions where students may have fewer opportunities to study or travel abroad, a visiting international faculty member can be transformative. International professors enrich academic experience by bringing a diversity of thought, cultural perspectives, and scholarly traditions that deepen students’ engagement with their field and the world beyond it.
The J-1 Professor category is designed for foreign nationals whose primary purpose is to teach, lecture, observe, or consult at accredited colleges, universities, museums, libraries, or similar institutions. Professors may also conduct research, engage in cross-cultural activities, and collaborate with American colleagues to share knowledge and deepen their expertise in their respective fields.
J-1 Professors must not be on a tenure track and can be based in the U.S. for 3 weeks to 5 years.
International faculty enrich the curriculum with perspectives, traditions, and approaches to scholarship that may be difficult to replicate at home.
International Exposure
International faculty provide students with direct global exposure, preparing them for careers in an increasingly interconnected world.
Global Collaboration
International faculty bring established global networks and a diversity of thought that can unlock research collaborations and partnerships beyond U.S. borders.
Program Details
The U.S. Department of State and Cultural Vistas have established criteria that must be met to be eligible to participate in a J-1 exchange program.
J-1 Professors are foreign nationals whose primary purpose is teaching, lecturing, observing, or consulting at post-secondary accredited academic institutions, museums, libraries, or similar institutions. Professors may also conduct some research.
Candidates for the J-1 Professor program must have at least a relevant bachelor’s degree plus 18 months of full-time work experience, or a Master’s/PhD degree. The program must be full-time, in-person or hybrid (min. 3 days in person, up to 2 days remote), and not on a tenure track.
To host a J-1 Professor, the host must be an accredited post-secondary academic institution, museum, library, or similar institution with a physical U.S. location. The program must be full-time, in-person or hybrid (min. 3 days in person, up to 2 days remote).
J-1 professors cannot be on a tenure track.
J-1 Research Scholars, Short-Term Scholars, Professors, & Specialists
Program Length
Fee
Programs 0 – 3 months
$1,100
Programs 3 – 6 months
$1,400
Programs 6 – 12 months
$1,700
Programs 12 – 24 months
$2,100
Programs 24 – 36 months
$2,500
Programs 36 – 48 months
$2,900
Programs 48 – 60 months
$3,300
Health Insurance
Participants are required to have insurance through Cultural Vistas. We offer three options for individual health insurance: Standard Lite for $60/month, Enhanced for $100/month, and Family Lite for $120/month. Accompanying family members on a J-2 visa may select either Standard Lite for $60/month or Family Lite for $120/month.
Included with the health insurance plans is access to Telus’s confidential and anonymous online counseling services. Telus is a virtual emotional wellness and mental health support service designed to help eligible participants with emotional, cultural, and mental health challenges. Participants are encouraged to utilize this free, confidential, virtual therapy service. Telus can be accessed through the Healthcare Zone.
SEVIS I-901: $220
The SEVIS I-901 fee is a federally mandated fee that supports SEVIS, an automated system that tracks exchange visitors’ activity in the United States. Cultural Vistas pays the fee on behalf of the exchange visitor and issues a copy of the receipt. The receipt is then shared with the exchange visitor along with their other visa documents.
Other Fees + Services
New Host Institution: $300
Academic institutions working with Cultural Vistas for the first time (or after a 3-year hosting gap) must pay a one-time orientation fee. This fee covers vetting for eligibility and suitability and ensures that your institution meets the standards outlined by the U.S. Department of State for all J-1 Visa hosts. This fee is non-refundable and cannot be paid by the J-1 candidate. This is to ensure that academic institutions understand their responsibilities as U.S. hosts for a J-1 Visa holder. Once an institution has hosted a successful J-1 program, its registration is considered complete, and it can host subsequent programs. (A successful program is defined as a program during which both the mid-term and final evaluations were completed as required.)
Optional Expedited Processing Fees
All complete applications are processed in 4 – 6 weeks. Application evaluations can be completed in five or ten business days by choosing “expedited service” on the individual or host company application form.
Five business days: $1,500 Ten business days: $1,350
All exchange visitors traveling outside the United States, Canada, Mexico, or U.S.-adjacent islands during their program must obtain a travel validation signature on their DS-2019 before departure. Travel validation requests submitted less than 48 hours before the planned travel date may be subject to the expedited processing fee.
DS-2019 Replacement: $100
This fee applies to amendments and replacement of the DS-2019 form.
Program Extension
This fee applies if you request to extend the length of an active program.
Program Extension Length
Fee
per extension (up to maximum program duration)
$650
Expedited Program Extension: If an program extension application is submitted fewer than 10 business days prior to the original program end date, an additional $750 expedited fee will be incurred.
J-2 Application Fee: $750
This is the application fee for issuance of the DS-2019 Form for dependents of J-1 applicants. Extensions are available on a case-by-case basis.
J-2 Health Insurance: $60/month or $120/month
Health insurance coverage is required for J-2 dependents. Accompanying family members on a J-2 visa may select either Standard Lite for $60/month or Family Lite for $120/month.
Both the J-1 candidate and the host institution must apply to Cultural Vistas. Please begin the process here.
Once submitted, Cultural Vistas will review both applications for eligibility to participate in these expertise-sharing programs. Our standard application processing time is 4-6 weeks. Additionally, CV offers 2 tiers of expedited processing: 5 and 10 business days.
If deemed eligible for sponsorship, Cultural Vistas will schedule a host institution orientation call to discuss the details and answer any questions.
Cultural Vistas will then issue the necessary sponsorship documents and guide the parties through the subsequent steps.
A $300 one-time fee applies to host institutions new to Cultural Vistas to cover the cost of the evaluation and vetting process. Please see Cost and Fees for more details.
For additional questions regarding the application process, program eligibility requirements, or fees and refund policies, host institutions and J-1 candidates for scholars, specialists, and professors can contact us at bd@culturalvistas.org.
Discover how an international student exchange program can connect you with others, increase global skills, and drive positive change in the world.
