Sponsor a J-1 Exchange Visitor
Human Resources, Office of International Services | Approved July 1, 2026
View related policies and procedures
Purpose
Sponsor a J-1 exchange visitor.
Applicability
Íøºì±¬ÁÏ, Baltimore (UMB) departments interested in inviting international researchers, faculty, or students who will be conducting research. These individuals may be funded either by UMB or by non-UMB sources. J-1 visa sponsorship is available for individuals who will be coming to UMB as:
- Scholar fellows (Postdoctoral Fellow or Research Fellow)
- Non-tenure track faculty
- Undergraduate students who will be conducting research with a UMB faculty member
For additional information and restrictions, please see the Office of International Services (OIS) website on .
Instructions
- Someone in your department will require access to Sunapsis, the online system for submitting visa sponsorship requests. Learn how to Become a Sunapsis User. Email ois-info@umaryland.edu to inquire if there is already a Sunapsis user in your department.
- Seek an academic appointment from the appropriate office in your school or department (scholar fellows or non-tenure track faculty).
- Log into and follow the instructions to Add a New Person in Sunapsis.
- Complete the J-1 New Scholar Request in Sunapsis.
- If a department is sponsoring a visiting student who has not yet earned an undergraduate degree, complete the J-1 Student Intern Request in Sunapsis.
- After all required forms are submitted, OIS will issue new DS-2019s (“Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor (J-1) Status”) for the incoming J-1 and any accompanying dependents within ten (10) business days.
- If application is incomplete or unclear, OIS will reach out to the department or scholar as needed.
- If the J-1 scholar will be unable to arrive at UMB by the start date on the DS-2019, complete the Change Start Date or Request Cancellation form, OIS will amend the incoming scholar's start date to ensure the SEVIS record will remain in good standing.
- After a J-1 scholar arrives on campus:
- All new J-1s at UMB must complete the Sunapsis check-in form upon their arrival; scholars receive automated, weekly e-mails with check-in instructions starting 30 days before their program start date.
- If the J-1 scholar fails to check-in with the OIS, they risk automatic inactivation of the J-1 SEVIS record.
- Enroll in the J-1 orientation offered monthly by OIS to assist all new J-1 researchers and professors with community resources. Exchange visitors will receive an email invitation from the OIS.
- All new J-1s at UMB must complete the Sunapsis check-in form upon their arrival; scholars receive automated, weekly e-mails with check-in instructions starting 30 days before their program start date.
- If the J-1 scholar will not be employed by UMB, the department is responsible for entering them into the so they can obtain a One Card. The OIS is not responsible for completing this process.