J-1 Overview

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The staff of the International Services office would like to congratulate you on your appointment and welcome you to the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ). The J-1 program is administered by the United States Department of State, and UMDNJ is one of many institutions which have been authorized as J-1 program sponsors. Designated International Services staff members serve as representatives, known as Responsible or Alternate Responsible Officers (RO/ARO), who help administer UMDNJ's Exchange Visitor's Program. It is our hope that we will be able to assist you in making a smooth transition to life in the U.S. and to UMDNJ.

J Orientation

In accordance with the Department of State's regulations, all new Exchange Visitors (EVs) are required to go through a J-1 orientation program. At UMDNJ, International Services is responsible for providing this service. All new EVs arriving at UMDNJ must attend a mandatory orientation program within ten (10) business days or two weeks of their arrival. J-2 dependents are encouraged to attend this program if they will be in the U.S. for more than one year. The J-1 orientation is conducted every two weeks on the Newark and New Brunswick campuses. On the Newark campus, orientation is conducted at the International Services office every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month and in New Brunswick, every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month. All orientation sessions begin at 10:00 a.m. Special arrangements will be made for any EV arriving at the New Brunswick and Stratford campuses. Please call International Services for further information.

J Orientation Schedule

J Orientation Registration Form

Please note that, regardless of the date you pick for orientation, you must inform International Services of your arrival at UMDNJ immediately.

Purpose of the J-1 Exchange Visitor's Program: The purpose of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program's (EVP) is to promote cultural and educational exchange in order to develop mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.

Exchange Visitor's Program Categories:
You are coming to the U.S. as an exchange visitor to pursue a specific program objective under a specific category. Although there are many other categories, UMDNJ-International Services is only authorized to sponsor EVs for the following: Professor, Research Scholar and Student. The International Services office has assigned you a category based on the description of the proposed activities provided to us by your sponsoring department. The primary activity/program objective for each of these categories is described below:

• Professor: Teaching, lecturing, observing or consulting. A professor may also conduct research unless the sponsor does not allow it.
• Research Scholar: Conducting research, observing or consulting in connection with a research project. The research scholar may also teach or lecture unless the sponsor does not allow it.
• Student: Full-time studies leading to a U.S. degree at a post-secondary accredited educational institution or full-time studies in a prescribed course/program leading to a degree earned at a foreign institution of higher learning.