Sponsoring an Exchange Visitor

When a KUMC department wishes to invite an applicant to participate in our exchange program, the department will submit a Request for DS2019 to the Office of International Programs to issue a document for intial entry into the U.S. If appropriate, International Programs will issue the DS2019 and send it to the department, which will then forward it to the applicant. Please see the J-1 vs H-1B Comparison Chart.

The applicant traveling from outside the U.S. must use the DS2019 to apply for a J-1 visa and, if dependents have also been issued their own DS2019s, they may apply for J-2 visas. After the J-1 visa has been granted, the visitor and eligible dependents may enter the U.S. to begin a program at KUMC. Applicants already in the US, but not in J-1 status must apply for and be granted a change of status before being permitted to commence activity. This process takes several additional months.

Note that the J-1 classification prohibits patient care and is inappropriate for many types of clinical activity at KUMC. Individuals intending to participate in a program with a clinical component must obtain a visa classification other than "J."