International Student and Scholar Office



	International Student and Scholar Office ISSO

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General Visa Information

Students may choose to come to UAH on F-1 or J-1 visas. Federal regulations for the J-1 visa requires medical insurance.

The differences in visas are explained below.

Determining the Right Visa Type

F-1 Visa

Upon completion of a degree and qualifications, an F-1 student has the option to work in their field of study for twelve months. For information on how to obtain that work authorization, please contact Mrs. Reva Bailey 256-824-3592 or Marisa Atencio 256-824-2748.

H1-B1 Visa

An H1-B1 Visa is an employer held visa. That means that the visa is tied specifically to the employer for which the work is performed. our office will assist the department or center on campus with requesting this visa. With the assistance of our office, departments or research centers may download the Letter for Starting H-1B Process (Word | PDF will be available soon ) and Prevailing Wage for Faculty (Word | PDF will be available soon ) and/or Letter for Starting H-1B Process (Word | PDF will be available soon) and Prevailing Wage for Researcher (Word | PDF will be available soon) forms required by the Department of Labor.

J-1 Visa

The International Student and Scholar Office administers the Cultural Exchange Program at UAH for scholars, professors and students. Prospective visitors who indicate a desire to come to UAH on a J-1 visa will be issued a SEVIS generated DS-2019 Form which will be mailed to the visitor for visa application.

Students must be admitted to UAH first prior to mailing of the DS-2019 Form.

Departments/Research Centers who desire to bring in a visitor on J-1 visa may call the ISSO first for more information. Coordination with this office will determine if a J-1 Visa is appropriate for a prospective visitor. A REQUEST FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION Form will be needed to begin the process. A J-1 visa for scholars or professors provides work authorization for the duration of time on the DS-2019 Form.

Medical Insurance for J-1 Visa Holders

All individuals who receive a SEVIS generated DS-2019 (J-1 visa document) and enter the U.S. in J-1 Exchange visitor status are required to have medical insurance to cover themselves and any accompanying dependents (J-2 status) for the duration of their programs. Federal regulations are available on the Internet at http://exchanges.state.gov/education/jexchanges/. The requirement for this medical insurance is not negotiable. The UAH-chosen insurance carrier must be utilized. No other insurance carriers will be authorized. Willful failure to meet this requirement will result in the termination of the program. The following minimum coverage must be provided by this insurance:

Major Medical Coverage in the amount of $50,000
Medical Evacuation Coverage in the amount of $10,000
Coverage for Repatriation of Remains in the amount of $7,500

In addition to the mandatory insurance requirements for the J-1 visitor described above, medical insurance coverage for any accompanying spouse and children of J-1 visa holders must also be obtained. Cost per month of insurance at UAH is $65-principal, $185-spouse, $55-child per month.

Please bring your passport, Form I-94, and SEVIS generated DS-2019 form by our office so that we may assist you in obtaining this insurance coverage.

Dependent Visas

Immediate family members (spouses and children under the age of 21) are eligible to enter and remain in the United States during the principal visa holders program. Family members entering the U.S. separately will need a separate SEVIS generated DS-2019 (for a J-2 visa) or SEVIS generated I-20 (for an F-2 visa) form to apply for the visa and enter the U.S. If traveling separately forms SEVIS generated DS2019's or SEVIS generated I-20's for entry of family members may be requested from our office.

The dependent visa status becomes invalid if the principal visa holder departs permanently from the United States or allows the status to expire. When a J-1 visa holder leaves the United States for a short visit only, J-2 visa holders may be permitted to remain in the United States. Contact us for additional information.

While J-2 visa holders (dependents of J-1 Exchange Visitors) may apply for employment authorization after arrival in the U.S., F-2 visa holders (dependents of F-1 visa holders) and H-4 visa holders (dependents of H-1 temporary workers) are not authorized to accept employment. The period required for USCIS to process a J-2 employment authorization is generally 60 to 80 days. Processing of immigration documents for dependents must be provided by our office.

Transfers

Transfers must also be processed before the end date on the SEVIS generated DS-2019 form by the schools involved.

Change of Visa Status

Offers of employment and changes in current employment may require a change of visa status. Consult the ISSO staff well in advance regarding a change in visa status to enable continued employment. An application for a change in visa status may require several months for processing by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

The process of application for H1-B1 visas or change of status to Permanent Resident requires a minimum of several months to complete. Individual circumstances may influence procedure and processing time, so it is important to discuss such plans with our office.