Department Guide for J-1 Exchange Visitors: Visiting Professors, Researchers & Short-term Scholars

Department Guide for J-1 Exchange Visitors: Visiting Professors, Researchers & Short-term Scholars International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) University of Massachusetts Boston 2nd Floor, Campus Center 100 Morrissey Boulevard Boston, MA 02125-3963 T: 617.287.5586 F: 617.287.3963 1

OVERVIEW J-1 Exchange Visitors (EV) Each year UMASS Boston hosts international researchers and professors from around the world. Visiting scholars may be graduate students or faculty conducting research, guest instructors and/or lecturers, and many others individuals who come to the university to share their knowledge and expertise for mutual benefit. The J-1 scholar program is an important and integral part of the UMB international community. International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) is the immigration services unit for the UMASS Boston campus. The main role of ISSS is to facilitate compliance with the federal regulations that govern the stay of international students and scholars while in the United States and assist with employment benefits related to student and scholar visa classifications. We support host departments by managing the immigration procedures involved in admitting international researchers and visiting professors, and advising departments and scholars on current immigration policy. Please take the time to read the information and materials on our scholar services webpage: http://www.umb.edu/academics/oita/isss/scholar_services Hosting Department Responsibilities UMB academic departments are the primary sponsors for visiting scholars scholars are issued visa documents at the invitation and request of a specific faculty host or host department. When inviting a visiting scholar to the University, the host department and faculty take on certain responsibilities in support of the objectives and standards of the exchange program, and for the general welfare of their visiting scholar. Objective of the J-1 Program for Researchers & Professors The J Exchange Visitor Program was developed to implement the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (the Fulbright-Hayes Act) of 1961. The purpose of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is to foster the mutual exchange of ideas between Americans and foreign nationals and to stimulate international collaborative teaching and research efforts. The exchange of research scholars and professors promotes interchange, mutual enrichment and linkages between research and educational institutions in the United States and those of other countries. THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS Introduction to Visa Sponsorship Departments offering invitations/employment to visitors must request assistance from ISSS to obtain the necessary documents the visitor will require to obtain a visa to enter the U.S. or for 2

obtaining the correct legal status to allow employment at UMB. In general, the type of activity and the purpose of the visit will determine the visa that will be required. The decision regarding the most appropriate type of visa is the responsibility of ISSS office. The most common international scholar visa type is J-1 (Exchange Visitor), and most of the information in this guide is geared towards this visa type. However, other visa types are occasionally more appropriate. ISSS immigration specialists are trained to determine the best visa type for international visitors, and advisors may be consulted if it is unclear what type of visa sponsorship is required. Determining the Correct Visa Type: The J-1 Visa About the J-1 visa: The first step in hosting a visitor is to determine the correct visa type for them. This is typically, but not always, the J-1 visa. Generally, it is used for research scholars, professors and short term scholars coming to the U.S. to teach or conduct research temporarily. The duration of the visit can be between three weeks and five years, so the J-1 visa offers great flexibility. This category of sponsorship can be used to hire scholars (paid by UMB) or to host scholars who have separate, external sources of funding. Additionally, the visitor s spouse and children (defined as dependents under 21 years of age) may be eligible to obtain J-2 visas. The Short-Term J-1 visa: If a department wishes to bring in a scholar for six months or less, the J-1 Short Term Scholar DS2019 could be an appropriate option. The advantage of the J-1 Short Term Scholar is that there is no 12 or 24 month bar (see below) which would prevent a future visit under the Research Scholar/Professor category. It also may be possible to return again in the J-1 Short Term Scholar visa category, providing there is a substantial break between visits (at least six months), and that each visit has a new and unique objective. The disadvantage of using the J-1 Short Term Scholar category is that it is limited to a maximum time of 6 months with no options for extension, transfer or change of visa status inside the U.S. J-1 Temporary Bar: If the planned employment or position meets the above criteria, an immigration specialist must next determine if the scholar is eligible. This will involve a review of the person s immigration history in the U.S., and specifically whether the person has been in the U.S. on a J-type visa (such as J-2 dependent, J-1 Student) anytime during the last 12 months before the requested program start date, and also whether they have just completed a previous J-1 scholar or professor/researcher program in the U.S. If either of these applies, the scholar may be temporarily barred (12 to 24 months depending in J category) from entering the U.S. on a new J visa. An immigration specialist can provide more information on these temporary bars, or you may visit our website. J-1 Home Residency Requirement: The two-year home residency requirement (called 212e) is a different rule from the 12 or 24 month temporary bar. Specifically, some J-1 Exchange Visitors must return to their home country for at least two years at the end of their exchange program prior to being eligible for U.S. permanent residency, additional J sponsorship or a U.S. foreign worker visa. The home residency requirement can apply to an exchange visitor if: The visitor participated in a government funded exchange program; that is, the exchange visitor s program was financed (in part or fully) by the U.S. government or the visitor s home country. 3

The visitor s field of research or teaching is considered a specialized knowledge or skill, and the exchange visitor is a national or a permanent resident of a country which has deemed his/her field of specialized knowledge as necessary to that country s development. The exchange visitor has been in the U.S. receiving clinical medical training. It is advisable to make potential exchange visitors aware of this possible residence requirement early on during the application process, as departments are the first contacts. This factor may affect their decision whether or not to come to the U.S. ISSS generates information on this topic with the first contact with a potential incoming exchange visitor. There is also an information sheet about 212e on our scholar services webpage. Additionally, the J-1 sponsorship from UMB may not be used for the following: The employment of persons in nonacademic staff positions Tenure-track or tenured faculty appointments English Language Ability: As the sponsoring department, you must determine that the visitor has the English language skills necessary for the activities he/she will participate in at UMB. Proof of Funding: proof of funding must cover the entire period of the exchange visitor s program. The minimum amount needed per month is $1,500 for one visitor alone, plus $4,500 for a spouse and $2,000 per child on top of the total sum of funding required. Support may come from UMB or from an outside source. Exchange visitors must provide adequate proof of funding to the ISSS office in order to process the immigration documents required for the visa interview. These documents will also be reviewed by a consular officer during the visa interview. Proof of Health Insurance: All J-1 and accompanying J-2 family members are required to obtain health, accident, medical evacuation and repatriation of remains insurance coverage while in the United States. They must maintain medical insurance coverage for the duration of their program. Failure to purchase and maintain such insurance may lead to loss of legal immigration status and termination from the exchange visitor s J sponsorship at UMB. The University of Massachusetts offers the UMASS Scholar Insurance plan (which is a separate plan from the UHS student insurance plan). This plan is negotiated yearly via the President s office and covers all Department of State requirements. Incoming scholars are issued information regarding this plan, which is one option available to them. Limitations on Employment: Departments should be aware that the J visa is not an employment visa. Although EVs are allowed to work on campus, this can only be in the field specified in item 4 of the DS2019. EVs are allowed to partake in an occasional lecture or short-term consultation off-campus. The term occasional embodies the concept of a single event rather than an ongoing activity. ISSS should be informed of any off-campus activity the scholar may be engaged in. Unauthorized employment is grounds for termination of the scholar s program at UMB. THE J-1 SPONSORSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS Reviews and Approvals of Scholar Requests If the prospective international visitor meets the above criteria, he or she is eligible to apply for the J-1 visa. This section provides information on how to complete the J-1 scholar request process. If the visitor 4

will require a different visa type, skip down to Other Visa Types below and contact an immigration specialist for assistance. The Scholar Request Form: In order to initiate the J-1 sponsorship paperwork, the department should submit the Scholar Request Form, the invitation letter (based on the template found on our website), and the potential exchange visitor CV. Hosting departments should submit scholar requests to ISSS 3-4 months in advance, but no later than 6 weeks in advance, or the scholar will not have enough time to obtain an entry visa. Scholar Requests undergo two reviews: immigration review: an immigration specialist will review the application to ensure that the proposed exchange visitor is eligible for J-1 sponsorship; Export Control Review: if your area of research is deemed subject to export control review, your scholar request will be reviewed by an Export Control specialist. If you are not sure if your research is deemed an Export Control field or for information about Export Control, please contact Shemetra Owens in ORSP at shemetra.owens@umb.edu. Upon approval of all reviews, departments will receive notification that the scholar request is being processed. At this point the incoming exchange visitor will be contacted directly by a scholar advisor with further instructions relevant to the visa application process. An immigration advisor will contact the sponsoring department if additional information is needed. Form DS-2019: Once the scholar advisor has completed the immigration review s/he will issue the Form DS-2019, which is a Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status. The sponsoring department is responsible for picking up this original DS2019 from ISSS and sending the certificate and any accompanying documents to the prospective exchange visitor via certified mail. Departments must provide the EV with a tracking number. Upon receipt of the Form DS-2019, the prospective exchange visitor will use the DS-2019 to make a visa interview appointment at a U.S. Embassy or consulate in his/her home country and to pay the required SEVIS fee of $180.00. Thorough visa application instructions and SEVIS fee payment instructions are provided to the EV in the scholar s Pre-Arrival Guide. Processing Times Initial Application: hosting departments should submit scholar requests to ISSS 3-4 months in advance, but no later than 6 weeks in advance. Once the application is submitted, is approved, and the EV has submitted all supporting documents, the visa paperwork will be processed in 5 business days; J visa processing times at the US consulate/embassy can be from two weeks to 3 months. Scholars and their host departments can check visa wait times at: http://travel.state.gov/visa/temp/wait/wait_4638.html It is important that hosting departments observe the time lines indicated above. There are a number of factors that may contribute to delays in visa issuance. (This is particularly important if the EV is coming in the professor category and must arrive in the US by the start of the semester.) Heightened security measures instituted after September 11, 2001 have resulted in delays in visa issuance abroad. 5

Security checks and interview requirements can cause extended delays. Additionally, students, faculty and researchers who are considered to be studying, researching or teaching in sensitive areas," as determined by the U.S. government, may also be required to undergo security clearances before a visa can be issued. J-1 Associated Costs Scholar Processing Fee: After a scholar request is approved the office automatically generates a charge of $450 to all incoming EVs, payable upon arrival (either by the exchange visitor or the hosting department) to the Office of International and Transnational Affairs (OITA). This fee must be paid before scholars can be registered in the SEVIS (government) database. Non-payment of this fee will result in SEVIS termination after 30 days from the program start date. OITA accepts American Express Travelers Checks or an officially certified check (attention to UMass Boston, OITA - J Visa Scholar Servicing Fee). For questions regarding fee payments, please contact Coretta Bates at coretta.bates@umb.edu. Visitors issued immigration documents by parties other than UMB (for instance the U.S. government, or Fulbright, and/or a third party host) are permitted to waive the scholar processing fee. This fee is also not applicable to scholars accepted into the OITA International Visiting Scholar Academy (IVSA) program. SEVIS I-901 Fee: Once the EV receives the DS-2019, s/he must pay the SEVIS (the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) fee prior to going to the U.S. Consulate for the visa interview. The EV should use the information on the DS-2019 to complete the information pertaining to the payment of the required SEVIS fee ($180). ISSS provides this information to the scholar. This fee pays for the maintenance of the scholar s electronic record in the DHS database (SEVIS), which monitors all nonimmigrants in F/M/J status in the United States. Visa Application Processing Fee: J scholars must pay a $160 visa application processing fee to the Department of State when they apply for non-immigrant visa. Shipping Costs: Departments are responsible cost associate with shipping visa documents. OTHER VISA TYPES Occasionally, visa types other than the J-1 are more appropriate for international visitors: H-1B: H-1B is a temporary worker visa. It is appropriate for international researchers, faculty, and staff members who are coming to UMB for purposes of academic employment. The duration of employment can be between one and six years and, in contrast to the J-1 visa, UMB can sometimes initiate a U.S. permanent residency sponsorship if the position is full-time and permanent. TN (Trade NAFTA): The TN status is available to Canadian or Mexican nationals working in specific jobs. E-3: The E-3 status is similar to the H-1B status, and is available to Australian nationals. It does not generally require an application to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, and so is sometimes faster than the H-1B. It usually does require the employee to apply for and receive the E-3 visa from a U.S. embassy directly. 6

O-1: the O-1 status is available to persons who are considered outstanding in their field of research or teaching. It is a difficult standard to achieve, and requires hard evidence of the employee s outstanding ability in several different categories of proof. PRE-ARRIVAL INFORMATION Determining an Arrival Date The exchange visitor may plan to enter the U.S. any time up to 30 days prior to the start date of his/her program as indicated on the Form DS-2019. If circumstances prevent him/her from entering the U.S. before the indicated start date, the sponsoring department must notify ISSS so that an immigration advisor can amend the start date. If the exchange visitor tries to enter the U.S. after the indicated start date, he/she could be denied entry. Note that the exchange visitor cannot begin his/her actual work, however, until the official program start date. Rather, s/he should use the time before the start date to settle in. The Departmental Liaison The sponsoring department should designate a UMB faculty or staff member who serves as the exchange visitor s sponsor. This liaison is normally the person who worked with the exchange visitor for his/her initial invitation/appointment. The liaison should work with the exchange visitor to assist with travel and arrival plans, complete all required department and Human Resources paperwork and help the scholar settle in. Remember that this is an exciting and stressful time for the exchange visitor, and s/he will greatly appreciate help settling into life in the U.S. The Scholar s Pre-Arrival and Orientation Guide In addition to all the information provided here, the immigration unit issues (to all incoming exchange visitors) a Pre-Arrival Guide and a Scholar Orientation Guide. Host departments would benefit from reading both these guides to have a fuller understanding of the exchange visitor requirements and responsibilities while in the US. Both guides are found on the Scholar Services webpage. Providing Program Information Program Terms and Obligations: The sponsoring department is responsible for providing to the exchange visitor, in writing, the terms and obligations of the program of work before arrival. These should be clearly laid out in the invitation/appointment letter issued to the scholar. This should include what is expected of the visitor and what resources the sponsoring department is able to provide. It may include financial or legal restrictions on research and/or teaching as well as resources available (e.g. laboratories, libraries, outside departments, and financial resources). (If the J-1 visitor will be paid by UMB, now is a good time to give them an estimate of what their likely take-home pay will be, so that 7

they may budget accordingly. Otherwise, the amount deducted from the first paycheck might be an unwelcome surprise.) Departmental Information: Although the department will conduct an in-person orientation upon arrival, it is helpful to inform the exchange visitor about the sponsoring department beforehand. This may include key aspects of the department s administrative structure and key people the exchange visitor will be interacting with. This information can be included in the written terms and obligations of the program in the invitation/appointment letter. Housing The sponsoring department should make every effort to assist their scholar in locating housing. As with many college towns, housing in Boston is in high demand, so it is recommended to begin securing housing as soon as the exchange visitor s visa paperwork has been approved and arrival/departure dates have been confirmed. Incoming EVs may use UMASS Boston Housing Office resources and scholars are issued information and tips on finding housing in their Pre-Arrival Guide. Near-Campus Apartments: There are many apartment complexes in the UMB area at various prices. However, since the majority of exchange visitors do not have access to a car, be sure that the apartment is conveniently situated near the UMB campus or bus/subway routes are within reasonable walking distance. ARRIVAL IN THE UNITED STATES Logan International Airport Sponsoring departments should assist the incoming scholar with transport to and from Logan International Airport. If it is not possible for a departmental liaison to meet the scholar in person at the airport, a department contact should ensure that the exchange visitor has information about shuttles/taxis/subway. (The scholar s Pre-Arrival Guide has transportation information listed.) Initial Arrival at UMB ISSS is required by law to verify each UMB Exchange Visitor s arrival, review all J-1 immigration documentation, provide an immigration orientation and subsequently record their arrival in SEVIS, the Department of Homeland Security s database. This must be completed within 30 days of the program start date as reflected on the Exchange Visitor s Form DS-2019 in order to preserve their legal status in the U.S. Failure to do so will result in the automatic cancellation of the Exchange Visitor s SEVIS record and termination of their exchange program at UMB, jeopardizing their J-1 status and future visits to the U.S. Host departments are responsible for ensuring that all new J-1 Exchange Visitors have made an appointment with ISSS for a mandatory scholar orientation shortly after arrival at UMB, but within 30 days of the DS-2019 start date as mandated by SEVIS regulations. A department liaison can call the main 8

number, 617.287.5586, to set an appointment for the scholar. Orientations take approximately 30 minutes and are by appointment only. Mandatory scholar orientations are held every Monday and Wednesday between 1-3 (Mon) and 10-12 and 1-3 (Wed.). Scholars are informed that they must meet with a scholar advisor for this mandatory orientation in their Pre-Arrival Guide. We recommend that exchange visitors first report to the sponsoring department to inform appropriate staff and faculty of their arrival and, if relevant, schedule an HR new employee orientation. Exchange visitors should then email isss@umb.edu to schedule an appointment, if they have not already done so. UMB Email / Internet Connectivity / Library Access / I.D. Cards The sponsoring department should ensure that the scholar fills out all required paperwork in order to set up his/her UMB email account, obtain an I.D. card, internet/library access, and access to HR online services such as online paystubs and W2 information, if employed. If the scholar will not be paid, departments should fill out the Contingent Worker forms and submit to Human Resources (this does not mean the scholar is an employee). PA forms should be filled for scholars who will be employed at UMB. For unpaid scholars, Contingent Worker forms should be submitted to Human Resources at least two weeks before the exchange visitor will arrive. This will ensure that the scholar can receive an ID, etc. upon arrival. Once all HR paperwork is processed, the department liaison should bring the exchange visitor to the 3 rd floor of the Campus Center to receive their UMB I.D. card. Social Security Number For exchange visitors who will work on campus, ISSS will issue the required paperwork to receive a SSN, along with further instructions, at scholar s orientation. Please be advised that scholars must wait at least 10 days after the Scholar Processing Fee is paid (and subsequent registration in the SEVIS database has occured) in order to apply for the SSN. Before that time, the scholar will not exist in the Social Security Administration database, as it takes approximately 10 days for the SEVIS database to filter information to the Social Security Administration database. Banking The sponsoring department should assist the exchange visitor to open a U.S. bank account, if necessary. Guidance on this is also in the Exchange Visitor s Pre-Arrival Guide. In particular, the exchange visitor may find a debit-card linked checking account convenient. If the scholar will be paid s/he may want to set up direct deposit with Human Resources. 9

Phone Service If needed, the sponsoring department should assist the exchange visitor in arranging telephone services. A more affordable option for calling abroad may be an online Skype account; computer-to-computer Skype calls are free, and Skype rates are affordable for calling phones in many countries. Massachusetts Driver s License Although most short-term visitors will likely not purchase a car, the exchange visitor still may wish to rent or borrow a car on occasion. Residents of other countries may generally drive in Massachusetts for up to one year on a valid international driver s license. If the exchange visitor already has a driver s license in his/her home country, an international license can be obtained for a reasonable fee before departing for the U.S. Exchange Visitor s should inquire at their home country s department of motor vehicles for information on obtaining an international driver s license. MA Registry of Motor Vehicles will ask the exchange visitor for their social security number when they apply for a license. If the scholar does not have a social security number, s/he must get what is called a denial letter from the Social Security Administration Office. They then bring this denial letter with them to the RMV with all their original immigration documents. MA I.D. Card: lastly, those who do not wish to drive in the U.S. may want to consider obtaining a MA Identification Card, which may be useful when requested to show a photo ID. More information can be found here: http://www.dmv.org/ma-massachusetts/id-cards.php YOUR EXCHANGE VISITOR S DEPENDENTS Schooling for Dependents The success of your exchange visitor and the progress of his/her collaboration with the department can be seriously impacted by how well his/her dependents are adapting to life in the U.S. Departments should inquire about family members that may accompany an exchange visitor. Dependent children of EV s holding J-2 status may attend public schools in the U.S. If the exchange visitor has children who will be attending school, information about Boston public schools, registration and classes, can be found at the BPS website: http://www.bostonpublicschools.org/. ISSS will send enrollment information to any scholar identifying school-aged children. English Classes for Adults If the exchange visitor is accompanied by a spouse whose first language is not English, the spouse may be interested in enrolling in English as a Second Language (ESL) courses. This is an excellent way for someone who otherwise might feel isolated and lonely to make friends and participate in a worthwhile 10

activity while in Boston. Classes are available at the College of Advancing and Professional Studies (CAPS). For more information, contact Stanley Wanucha at stanley.wanuch@umb.edu. Work Authorization for J-2 Dependents Please be aware that dependent spouses can work in the United States once they have applied for, and been granted, work authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). ISSS can assist any J-2 dependent interested in seeking employment authorization. DURING THE PROGRAM Sponsoring Department Orientation ISSS strongly encourages the sponsoring department to provide the exchange visitor with an in-person welcome and introduction to the department, including meeting the colleagues, staff, and students with whom the exchange visitor will be working. Please take the time to familiarize the scholar with the available resources in the department (e.g. laboratories, libraries), as listed in the program s written terms and obligations (the invitation/appointment letter). If the visitor will be working in a laboratory, please make certain that s/he has been thoroughly trained in all lab safety procedures and that they have completed any trainings required by UMB. The lab manager or principal investigator should know which trainings are necessary to complete. Later on in the program, it is also advisable to work with the exchange visitor to make academic connections in other departments or at other institutions, if useful. Ensuring that the visitor makes connections at UMB and beyond will make his/her stay in the United States more productive and enjoyable. Changes to the Program The sponsoring department should notify ISSS immediately if: The exchange visitor will be transferring his/her program to another university; There are any changes in the immigration status of the exchange visitor. Note that the processing time for a J-1 change of status from within the U.S. is 3-5 months, so it is advisable to begin the process in a timely manner. In addition, J-1 visa holders may require a 212e waiver which can take between 6-8 weeks to obtain; The exchange visitor will be departing from the program early; The exchange visitor needs to extend his/her stay. The sponsoring department should notify ISSS at least 30 days prior to the expiration date of the current DS-2019. The scholar will need to provide proof of funding and health insurance (including medical evacuation and repatriation). The maximum period of stay is five years. 11

Maintaining Legal Status In order to maintain his/her legal status in the US and avoid program termination, the exchange visitor should keep the following points in mind (and see Scholar Orientation Guide for more details): Maintain a valid passport and DS-2019; Maintain proof of health insurance; Engage only in activities listed on the DS-2019 form; Not be employed off-campus without authorization from ISSS; Report changes of address within 10 days to ISSS. Travel outside the U.S. International scholars may need to travel outside the U.S. during their stay at UMB. They must have a valid J visa to re-enter the U.S, and a travel signature on the Form DS-2019. Only an ISSS immigration advisor is authorized to sign the DS-2019 Form; departmental representatives may not sign the DS-2019 Form. The scholar should fill out the scholar travel signature request. The travel signature is good for one year from the date of signing. Visa application: The scholar should contact an ISSS immigration advisor for information regarding the renewal of the J visa, if it has expired. The visa application process can take anywhere from a few days to two months or longer if the applicant is subjected to a security clearance delays. Delays are not common, but possible. It can be helpful for the scholar to have a letter from the departmental supervisor confirming the position at UMB, and the field of research or teaching. Absences J-1 Research Scholars may travel abroad during their program for a period of more than 30 days only if the scholar s program activity requires the scholar to travel, and the travel abroad is in collaboration with the J academic activity of the host department. In such circumstances ISSS will maintain the exchange visitor s SEVIS record active. The Request for Temporary Leave of Absence (LOA) must be approved by the host faculty/department and submitted to ISSS prior to departing the U.S. ISSS will determine if the LOA is in accordance with the federal regulations pertaining to the J-1 exchange visitor category. If so, the LOA will be granted and the Out-of-County function will be assigned in SEVIS to keep the scholar s record active. Absences not required/related to the J-1 exchange visitors academic objective with the host department may not extend beyond a maximum of 30 days and may not be repetitive in nature. In accordance with federal regulations pertaining to the J-1 category, ISSS cannot maintain that an exchange visitor is in the U.S. actively engaged in the objective stated in item #4 on the DS2019 if the researcher is not in the US. Research scholars should be aware that termination of the SEVIS record subjects scholars to the 24-month bar on repeat participation. 12

Employment Visiting scholars and international faculty in J-1 visa status whose DS-2019s are issued by UMASS Boston are eligible for employment at UMASS Boston, but only in the field specified on the DS-2019 in item # 4 of the DS2019. Unauthorized employment will result in loss of valid J-1 status. Participants in the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program at the University of Massachusetts Boston in the Professor, Research Scholar and Short-Term Scholar category may be authorized by an ISSS scholar advisor to engage in occasional consultations/lectures for institutions other than the University of Massachusetts Boston. The proposed activity must be temporary and/or occasional and related to the original program objective. Scholars are only permitted to work off campus after receiving written approval from the ISSS office. Filing Income Taxes ISSS offers tax resources to J-1 exchange visitors: the WINSTAR Foreign National Tax Resource software. This software product assists non-immigrants with state and federal taxes. A qualifying individual has not accumulated presence (in any visa category, at any time) of more than five years in the U.S. EV s totaling more than five years in the US are considered residents for tax purposes. Hosting departments should ensure that visiting researchers and professors have all the required paperwork they need from Human Resources in order to file their taxes, and must contact Human Resources on the scholar s behalf if items are missing. Social Security Withholding: J-1 visa holders may not be required to pay social security tax, depending on whether or not they are a resident for tax purposes or not. ENDING THE PROGRAM Feedback ISSS Exit Interview: Although not required, ISSS strongly encourages exchange visitors to participate in an exit interview before departing. Information compiled from exit interviews is used to improve the quality of ISSS services for future exchange visitors in the professor, research scholar and short-term scholar categories and your opinions are greatly valud 13