Department Guide for Hosting a J-1 Exhange Visitor
Category
Refer to the J-1 Exchange Visitor Classification page to determine what category is appropriate for the Exchange Visitor you wish to host. (Professor, Research Scholar or Short-Term Scholar). Go to the J-1 Exchange Visitor Classification page.
Pre-Approval
If an Exchange Visitor (EV) will be employed and paid by UToledo, the first step is to contact HR for approval and to determine an appropriate start date (at least 60 days out) according to their scheduled orientation (orientation date should be used as start date).
If an EV will not be employed and paid by UToledo, the department can immediately submit a request to OISSS.
The Exchange Visitor's arrival date and start date are not the same. Scholars may arrive up to 30 days before the start of their program and must arrive at least 2 weeks early for screening if they are an employee at the Health Science Campus.
OISSS Request
Departments must submit a J-1 Application for a New Exchange Visitor to OISSS using the International Rocket Portal, aka iRocket Portal. It is a web browser-based interface that allows users to electronically submit data and requests to the Office of International Students and Scholars Services’ electronic database.
The iRocket Portal allows departments to submit applications for J-1 Exchange Visitors and provides Exchange Visitors the ability to access and update their information as needed while participating in their exchange program at UToledo.
J-1 Application for a New Exchange Visitor requests require the Dean’s approval and do not show up in our queue to approve until the Dean has approved it first. Once we receive it, we require 3-5 business days to approve it.
If you submit a request and do not get a response from our office within two weeks, please call our office to check on the status of your request.
Go to INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING A J-1 APPLICATION FOR A NEW EXCHANGE VISITOR.
OISSS Approval
When OISSS approves the J-1 Application for a New Exchange Visitor, we provide the following via email:
- DS-2019, Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status, for the J-1 exchange visitor and all J-2 Dependents
- Visa Support Letter
- Next Steps Guidance
Please note:
The termination of an exchange visitor's position due to performance issues has severe implications for an exchange visitor. It is important that both the department and exchange visitor work together to avoid such a circumstance, if possible. In the case of a potential termination due to performance issues, please contact OISSS for guidance.