We are delighted that you are interested in participating in J-1 exchange visitor program with The State University of New York Polytechnic Institute. The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program provides the opportunity for SUNY Polytechnic Institute to sponsor the following categories of exchange visitors: student, professor, research scholar, short-term scholars, and specialist.

Eligibility Requirements

The following are required of all J-1 Exchange Visitors:

• Intent to pursue appropriate activity (e.g. pursue studies, research or teaching)
• Intent to return to home country, as this is a non-immigrant visa (to be determined by consular officer in home country at time of visa application)
• Sufficient funding for program
• Appropriate background for program activity
• Adequate English proficiency
• Health insurance in effect at the start of their program that covers the Exchange Visitor for sickness and accidents during the period of time they participate in the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program.
  • Adequate health insurance coverage can also be purchased through the host Institutions’ HTH International Health Insurance and Emergency Assistance and Evacuation Insurance at a cost of $108.50 per month. Please contact International Student Services at iss@sunypoly.edu for more information.

Students must also meet one of the following four criteria at some point during their studies:

• Student or program is financed directly or indirectly by U.S. Government, student’s home country government, or an international organization;
• Program is an agreement between the U.S. government and a foreign government;
• Program is pursuant to a written agreement between American & foreign educational institutions, American education institution & a foreign government, or a U.S. state or local government & foreign government; OR
• Student is supported substantially by funding from any source other than personal or family funds

Scholar categories (e.g. Research Scholar and Professor) are expected to have the appropriate academic or similar credentials for the exchange activity. This is generally expected to be a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with the appropriate experience in the field of activity. Scholars cannot hold a tenure track position.

Research Scholar and Professor categories are subject to the 12 and 24 month bars at the completion of their J-1 Exchange Visitor program.

All J-1 Exchange Visitor categories are subject to a 2 year home residency requirement, upon completion of their Exchange Visitor Program, unless waiver eligible and approved by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services USCIS.

Application Process

SUNY Poly will submit a J-1 Exchange Visitor hosting request to SUNY Poly Human Resources at hr@sunypoly.edu. To allow ample time to prepare a J-1 Exchange Visitor to receive a DS-2019, obtain a visa and make timely arrival plans, please submit a J-1 Exchange visitor request in a minimum of 3 months before the anticipated program start date. The fee to sponsor a J-1 Exchange Visitor is $150 per request.

The following documents need to be submitted order to initiate a J-1 Exchange Visitor Request.

Exchange Visitor Request form (doc)
Export Control Certification with PI Supplement (doc)
Export Control info with checklist (doc)
Visiting Scientist Agreement (for non-employment requests) (doc)

SPECIAL NOTE: DS-2019s will be issued for a maximum of one year with the ability to extend on a yearly basis as allowed by the J-1 Exchange category. This will assist with efforts to ensure continued funding and participation in appropriate program activity.

All J-1 Exchange Visitor requests are subject to review and approval by SUNY Polytechnic Institute, in advance.