- Department Host Information
- Pre-Arrival Information前到來資訊
- Visiting Scholar Residences
- J-1 Responsibilities 責任
- Health Insurance Requirements
- 2-Year Home Physical Presence
- J-2 Employment
- J-2 Dependents
- Kentucky Driver's Manual
- Change of Address
- Prospective F1 Students
- Current F1 Students
- International Employee Services
- iOffice Online Services Portal
welcome J-1 scholars!
The staff of the Western Kentucky University Office of International Student and Scholar Services is pleased that you will be visiting our campus community in the near future. At WKU, you will be part of a community of over 500 foreign students and faculty members from over 60 countries. We value you as a future J-1 for the diversity you bring and encourage you to share your unique culture with all of us on “The Hill” and with our Bowling Green community. We encourage you to explore our website to gain valuable insight about your J-1 status and services available to you.
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Change of Address:
As a J-1 you are required to notify ISSS of any change of your physical address within 10 days. Please fill out the CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORM below. You will also need to update your address on TOPNET.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS FORM
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Health Insurance Requirements:
The United States Department of State requires health, accident, repatriation, and medical evacuation insurance for participation in the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program. Western Kentucky University (the sponsor) must require each exchange visitor to have current insurance that covers the exchange visitor (and accompanying dependents) during the period of time that the exchange visitor participates in the sponsor's exchange visitor program.
Western Kentucky University has a contract with Academic Health Plans. This health insurance plan meets the Department of State’s requirements for health care coverage. All J’s and their dependents are required to purchase health insurance upon arrival to the USA at the Office of International Student & Scholar Services. The purchase of insurance must cover the entire length of their DS-2019.
AHP Health Insurance Enrollment Form for J Scholars
Department of State’s Health Insurance Requirements:
1. Medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness;
2. Repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500;
3. Expenses associated with medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $10,000; and
4. A deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness.
AHP Prices as of Fall 2009:
J-1: $84 per month
Spouse: $248 per month
Child: $182 per month
WARNING:
An exchange visitor who willfully fails to maintain the insurance coverage set forth above while a participant in an exchange visitor program, or who makes a material misrepresentation to the sponsor concerning such coverage, shall be deemed to be in violation of these regulations and shall be subject to termination as a participant. A sponsor shall terminate an exchange visitor's participation in its program if the sponsor determines that the exchange visitor or any accompanying dependent willfully fails to remain in compliance with insurance requirements (22CFR 514.14 of the Federal Regulations Covering the Exchange Visitor Program).
Recommended Bowling Green Health Care Locations:
To best utilize your Health Insurance, we recommend visiting WKU's Health Services located on campus. Health Services proudly staffs two Board Certified Physicians and a Nurse Practitioner within a brand new, modern facility. Their services range from routine physicals and doctor visits to lab work, x-rays, immunizations, urgent care, sports medicine, health counseling, and annual exams. They even house their own pharmacy. WKU's Health Services provides outstanding care to the WKU Campus Community.
HEALTH SERVICES POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
Greenview Regional Hospital
1801 Ashley Cir
Bowling Green, KY 42104
(270) 781-4330
Greenwood Urgent Care
4863 Scottsville Rd # B
Bowling Green, KY 42104
(270) 843-5662
Medical Center Urgent Care
Hartland Medical Plaza
1225 Fairway Street
Bowling Green, KY 42103
Open 7 days a week, with no appointment, 8am to 9pm
(270) 781-3910
Barren River District Health Department
1109 State St
Bowling Green, KY 42101
(270) 781-8039
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Two Year Home County Physical Presence Requirement [212(E)]
Some Exchange Visitor Program participants and family members who were admitted to the U.S. or who adjusted their visa status to J after admission must return home for a minimum of two years after completing their educational or cultural exchange program before they can change or adjust their status. This requirement applies to those whose:
- Exchange program was financed to some extent by the U.S. Government or your home country government;
- Skill appears in the Exchange Visitor Skills List as identified by their home country government; or
- Purpose in coming to the United States was to receive graduate medical education or training. For details see [(22 CFR 62.44 (e)] or contact your responsible officer.
NOTE: J-1 Exchange Visitor(s) who are subject to (212E) may still leave the U.S. and apply for a new visa in any category other than H or L, for example, an F-1 or O-1 visa even though they may not change status to F-1 or O-1 within the U.S. Entering the U.S. with a new visa does not relieve the Exchange Visitor or the obligation to fulfill the two year requirement at a later date.
To comply with the 212E home residence requirement, a subject Exchange Visitor must spend two years physically present in his or her country of citizenship or last legal permanent residence. Time spent does not have to be continuous.
Waiver Information: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/info/info_1296.html
Responsibilities:
Scholars in J-1 status are responsible for understanding & complying with U.S. federal laws & regulations governing the J Exchange Program. Failure to do so will violate the J-1 legal status in the U.S.
- Report Address Changes to the ISSS in care of DHS. U.S. Federal regulations require all J-1 scholars to report a change of address within 10 days of the address change.
- Report Departure Date and Reason to ISSS. Periodically, scholars leave the university early or unexpectedly due to a variety of reasons. U.S. federal regulations require all J-1 scholars to inform their advisor at OIP if they plan to leave the university before the expiration date of their DS-2019 form as well as the reason for doing so.
- Apply for an Extension Prior to the DS-2019 Expiration. J-1 Scholars must apply for an extension BEFORE their DS-2019 from expires if they intend to stay at WKU. Scholars in the Research Scholar or Professor categories have a maximum of 3 years to complete their J-1 program. Short-term scholars have 6 months.
- Report Changes in Program to ISSS. Scholars must notify ISSS whenever there is a change in their academic program due to additional lectures, courses auditing, consultancies, or a change in program dates.
- Maintain Adequate Health Insurance. J-1 Scholars must maintain health insurance for themselves and any dependents in J-2 status throughout their stay in the U.S. AHP Health Insurance is contracted through WKU and all J-1’s and their dependents are required to purchase health insurance with AHP. See the Health Insurance link for more information.
- Abide by Employment Regulations. J-1 Scholars must conduct research or teach only at WKU unless specifically authorized ahead of time by the advisors at ISSS to give a lecture or consult at another institution.
- Receive Transfer Authorization Prior to Leaving WKU. J-1 Scholars must receive authorization from the advisors at ISSS BEFORE leaving WKU in order to transfer to another institution. J-1 Research Scholars are allowed to transfer to another institution. Only the Immigration Advisors at ISSS can authorize this transfer. You must make an appointment at ISSS at least one-two months BEFORE you will be permitted to transfer out. For a TRANSFER FORM please click the following link:
- Depart the U.S. within the 30-Day Grace Period. J-1 Scholars must depart the U.S. within 30 days of the DS-2019 expiration date or program end date, whichever is earlier, unless they have applied for a change of status with the DHS.
- Obtain Travel Signature Prior to Departing the U.S. J-1 Scholars must have their DS-2019 signed by the advisors at ISSS prior to travelling outside the U.S.
Dependents:
If you would like to bring a spouse or child to the U.S. you must
Children As Dependents In The U.S.:
Please remember that there are many federal and local laws for children. If you have children that are above the age of # you must enroll them in school. For more information about enrolling your child/children in school or for Doctor referrals feel free to contact a J Advisor at ISSS.
J-2 EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
You must be in valid J-2 Status, and the J-1 Exchange Visitor must be in valid status, as shown on your I-94 cards and DS-2019s.
Your income may not be used to support your J-1 spouse or parent.
You may work part-time or full-time, at any job, for any employer (except that you may not practice medicine, even if you have a license). There is no legal limit to the amount that you may earn.
DHS can authorize J-2 employment for as long as the J-1 Exchange Visitor has permission to stay. Most often EADs are issued in one-year increments.
Permission to stay expires on the J-1’s DS-2019 program completion date or upon earlier completion of the J-1 program.
HOW TO APPLY:
Collect the following documents with the exception of the form I-765 (this will be filled out during your appointment). E-mail your employment request letter to a J adviser and make an appointment.
- FORM I-765 with US$340 made payable to DHS filing fee attached
- Two photos with applicant names on back
- Copy of J-2 applicant’s current DS-2019
- Letter from J-2 stating why employment is desired.
Letter must state that income from J-2 employment will not be used for support of the J-1 Exchange Visitor. - Verification of J-2’s health insurance
- Verification of J-2’s valid status in United States:
Copy of I-94 card from last legal entry to US
Passport ID pages with expiration date circled
Copy of J-2’s visa
Copy of Marriage Certificate & English Translation (if spouse)
Birth Certificate & English Translation (if child) - Verification of valid status of J-1in United States:
Copy of J-1’s current DS-2019
Copy of J-1’s I-94 card from last legal entry to US
Passport ID pages with expiration date circled
Copy of J-1’s Visa
Verification of J-1’s health insurance
Office of International Student and Scholar Services
Zuheir Sofia-Dero Downing International Center
1906 College Heights Blvd #11066
Bowling Green, KY 42101-1066
Phone: 270.745.4857
Fax: 270.745.6144
Email: isss@wku.edu