Postdocs & Scholars
Information about studying, researching, teaching and working in the United States as a postdoctoral candidate, researcher, or scholar from another country.
Featured Resources
A straightforward guide to transferring your J-1 exchange visitor program from one designated sponsor to another.
Postdocs face choices that other scholars don't — especially J-1 vs H-1B and how those choices might affect a future green card. Here's what to weigh.
FAQs
Helpful Guides
A straightforward guide to transferring your J-1 exchange visitor program from one designated sponsor to another.
The most common employment green cards for graduates with a U.S. job offer, plus the National Interest Waiver, which can skip the job offer entirely.
Your eligible family members can join you in the U.S. on J-2 visas, tied to your J-1 status. Learn what you need to know in this overview of J-2 Dependent Visas for spouses and children.
Your J-1 category is chosen by your sponsor based on your qualifications, role, activities, and length of stay. Here's how the academic and research categories compare.
The J-1 program is the U.S. Department of State's framework for international educational and cultural exchange. This overview explains what it is and how it's run, then links to the details.
Keeping J-1 status means meeting reporting obligations to your sponsor and handling program changes the right way. Learn about the landscape for scholars in this overview for maintaining J-1 Status and program changes.
Three separate J-1 rules are often confused: the 212(e) two-year home-country residency requirement, the 24-month bar, and the 12-month bar. This guide explains each and how they differ.
Before and just after you arrive, your sponsor must give you certain orientation and arrival information and confirm that you meet a few requirements. Learn what to expect in this overview for pre-arrival, orientation, English, and health insurance while in the United States.
Postdocs face choices that other scholars don't — especially J-1 vs H-1B and how those choices might affect a future green card. Here's what to weigh.
Once your sponsor issues your DS-2019, you can apply for your J-1 visa. The core process matches the student J-1 process, with a few scholar-specific funding points.
While holding J-1 visa status in the U.S., your activities must center on your program objectives, and most work opportunities will need your RO/ARO's prior written approval. Here's the framework, with real scenarios.