May 12, 2016

The J-1 Exchange Program law requires that the sponsors establish minimum funding requirements for hosting J-1 scholars. Before issuing DS-2019s, ISSS is required to collect documents evidencing funding that meets or exceed the minimum requirements.

The new J-1 regulation places an additional emphasis on the wellbeing of J-1 scholars and their J-2 dependents. Increases in costs of living, health insurance, health care costs, and childcare costs have necessitated we increase the J-1 scholar minimum funding level. We will work with relevant offices on campus to review and adjust the minimum funding requirements for J-1 scholars on an annual basis. The annual adjustments will be announced in February/March of each year and will be required of any J-1 scholar requests submitted in ISSS Link on or after October 1 of that year.

Requests received prior to October 1, 2016 must include evidence of a minimum of:

• J-1 Scholar (all except in the School of Medicine): $2,000/month or $24,000/year
• J-1 Scholar in the School of Medicine
  • Visiting Faculty and Post-docs: minimum amount is set by NIH 0 Year funding levels as published by the SOM Office of Postdoctoral Education
  • All others: $24,000 per year (or $2,000/month)

Please add the following amounts to the minimum funding requirement for J-1 scholars for their dependent spouses and children:

• J-1 Spouse: $8,400 per year (or $700/month)
• Each J-1 Child: $4,200 per year (or $350/month)

Beginning October 1, 2016 all new and extension/amendment J-1 scholar requests should include evidence of a minimum of the financial support listed below:

• J-1 Scholar (all except in the School of Medicine): $30,000 per year (or $2,500/month)
• J-1 Scholar in the School of Medicine
  • Visiting Faculty and Post-docs: minimum amount is set by NIH 0 Year funding levels as published by the SOM Office of Postdoctoral Education
  • All others: $30,000 per year (or $2,500/month)

Please add the following amounts to the minimum funding requirement for J-1 scholars for their dependent spouses and children:

• J-1 Spouse: $8,400 per year (or $700/month)
• Each J-1 Child: $7,200 per year (or $600/month)

It is Emory’s responsibility to ensure that the J-1 program is being used to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges. Thus, J-1 scholars should have sufficient funding to do their educational and cultural exchange activities in the US. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.