J-1 Exchange Visitors Exchange Visitor Overview EV Categories Funding Insurance English Proficiency Repeat Participation Bars Home Country Requirement Sponsorship Process Transfers Dependents Mandatory Check In Maintaining Status Driver's License Travel Extensions Occasional Lectures Program End Open Full Site Menu Go to the home page Menu Toggle Menu MUSC Home J-1 Exchange Visitors Exchange Visitor Overview Repeat Participation Bars Contact MUSC Immigration Repeat Participation Bars The primary purpose of the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program is for cultural and educational exchange. A crucial part of the exchange is when the Exchange Visitor returns to his/her home country to share knowledge and experiences gained as part of the Exchange Visitor Program in the United States. To preserve the spirit of the program and support the true exchange, there are several restrictions on repeat participation in J programs. These restrictions most significantly impact the Professor and Research Scholar categories. 12-Month Bar An individual is not eligible to begin a new Exchange Visitor Program as a Professor or Research Scholar if he/she was physically present in any J status (including J‐2 status) for all or part of the 12-month period immediately preceding the program start date. There are three general exceptions to this rule: J‐1 transfers. The 12-month bar is not applicable to those who will transfer their current J-1 program to a new program sponsor under the transfer procedures of 22 CFR §H62.42H. Presence in J‐1 status of less than 6 months. The 12-month bar is not applicable to an individual whose prior physical presence in J status was less than six months in duration. Short‐Term Scholar category. No time spent in the J-1 Short‐Term Scholar category will trigger the 12-month bar (the Short-Term Scholar category is limited to 6 months). 24-Month Bar An individual who participates in the Exchange Visitor Program as a Professor or Research Scholar becomes subject to a 24‐month repeat participation bar after completing the program. The 24‐month bar prohibits the Exchange Visitor from returning to the US as a J-1 Professor or Research Scholar for 24 months from the date of completion of the prior program. The 24-month bar applies once a J-1 Professor or Research Scholar completes the program, regardless of whether or not the Exchange Visitor utilized the full five years of program eligibility. The 24-month bar is often confused with the two-year home country physical presence requirement. However, the 24‐month bar is not a home‐country residence requirement, as it does not require the individual to reside in his/her home country, nor does it require the individual to be out of the US. The 24-month bar requires only that the person not be in J‐1 Professor or Research Scholar status for two years before becoming eligible for a new period of program eligibility as a J‐1 Professor or Research Scholar. Note that an individual may be subject to both the 24-month bar on repeat participation and the two-year home country residency requirement. Contact Us 843-792-2300 Facebook social link Twitter social link Blog social link Skip Footer Utility Navigation About Us Careers Contact Us Find a Person Giving MUSC A to Z Public Affairs & Media Relations Wellness Center Our Services All Medical Services Education Alumni Apply Check My Application Colleges Degrees & Programs MUSC Libraries Research & Innovation Clinical Trials Research Offices SCTR Patient Care Schedule an Appointment Adult Medical Services Pediatric Medical Services Locations Find a Provider Patients & Visitors Patient Billing Health Professionals Jump back to top of page Confidential Hotline Patient Complaint or Concern © Medical University of South Carolina 171 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC 29425 Disclaimer Privacy Policy Web Accessibility Statement