Inviting a Research Scholar / Professor / Short-Term Scholar / Specialist

UCLA academic departments will need to submit the DS-2019 request through the online International Scholar Dossier (ISD) application. Only academic department personnel have the ability to initiate the DS-2019 request through ISD. Academic department personnel can contact dcissj1unit@saonet.ucla.edu to request access to ISD.

International Scholar Dossier (ISD)

DCISS needs at least 15 working days to process the DS-2019 form. Requests should be submitted at least 3 months prior to start date of program to give scholar enough time to apply for the J-1 visa at the U.S. Embassy and make travel arrangements. Documents required to be uploaded to ISD are listed below:

Item 1: DS-2019 Department Approval Form

Completed DS-2019 Department Approval Form . Requires signatures from:

• Faculty Advisor
• Chairperson of the department

Item 2: Copy of the Picture Page of Passports

Copy of the picture page of the passport for scholar and accompanying dependents if applicable.

Item 3: Evidence of Financial Support

Include documentary evidence of financial support in English. If supported by UCLA no additional documents are necessary. Acceptable financial documents include:

• Personal funds: A recent bank statement no older than 6 months verifying the required amount of money. Online print-outs and ATM receipts are not acceptable documents.
• Family funds from abroad: Bank statements, sponsorship letter, and/or bank letters verifying that EV will receive the required amount of money from their family during the term.
• Government or other sponsoring agency: A signed copy of the scholarship or award letter on official letterhead which states the amount and duration of the award.
• Home country institution/employer: Copy of signed letter from employer on official letterhead indicating the amount and continuation of salary payments during program participation.

Minimum required financial support is provided below:

• Scholar : $30,300 per year / $2525 per month
• Spouse : $6,000 per year / $500 per month
• Each Child : $2,667 per year / $222 per month

Item 4: Departmental Recharge Form

J-1 Fees: $300 visa services fee* + $40.00 processing fee per year of appointment . For example, the fee for an appointment over 1 year and less than 2 years will be $380. Scholars fully supported through UCLA 19900/20000 funds are exempt from the $300 fee.

Payment must be submitted through departmental recharge. DCISS cannot accept payment from the visitor.

J-2 Dependent Fees: $40.00 processing fee per year of appointment. Can be paid either through departmental recharge or through the DCISS website.

*The $300 visa processing fee cannot be paid by Contract and Grant (C&G) funds unless the funding source does not involve a federal agency. The fund range for C&G funds are provided on the chart below. Any recharge forms submitted for DS-2019 processing showing a fund that falls under the below ranges will be denied.

Please see FEE section below.

Item 5: Resume/CV of the Applicant

Resume/CV of the scholar outlining academic background and professional experience.

Item 6: Appointment Letter

Letter from the faculty supervisor, addressed to UCLA Exchange Visitor Program. Include the following in the letter:

• the exchange visitor’s name, title of UCLA appointment (if applicable)
• a detailed description of activities the EV will undertake, including breakdown of percentages of duties/activities, i.e., teaching, research, observation, training, attending conferences,
• the site where the research will take place, etc.
• For TRANSFER requests, the letter must verify that EV's program will be similar to previous program objectives.

DCISS also accepts Postdoc Offer Letters in place of memo.

Item 7: Certification of English Language Proficiency

Department sponsors need to determine English proficiency for J-1 Scholars in one of 5 ways:

• A UCLA recognized English language test;
• Certification by home academic institution where English is used;
• Certification by English Language School where English training was completed within the past 2 years;
• Copy of signed diploma or signed transcript from U.S. universities or universities in countries where English is the native language; or
• A documented interview conducted by the UCLA faculty advisor either in-person or by videoconferencing, or by telephone if videoconferencing is not a viable option.

The Certification of English Language Proficiency form must be included with all NEW and TRANSFER DS-2019 Requests. English Certification is not required for EXTENSION requests. An applicant whose first language is English and is a citizen of a country in which English is the primary spoken language of daily life (e.g., Australia, Barbados, Canada, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, United Kingdom) is exempt from this requirement.

Item 8: Copy of Previous DS-2019 Forms

Copies of scholar's previous DS-2019 forms are required if they have participated in a J-1 program within the past 2 years.