Sponsoring and Extending a J-1 Visiting Scholar

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The funding requirement for J-1 applicants increased to $3,000 per month on 01/01/2023.

Before You Sponsor
a scholar who is coming to Columbia to do independent, non-collaborative research only. See the University's description of a Visiting Scholar in the Faculty Handbook.
- a scholar conducting collaborative research. If collaborating, an officer-level research appointment is appropriate.
- a visitor coming to Columbia to perform a service for a very short period and leave—such as to conduct a workshop or give a lecture. If the visitor needs an immigration status allowing the visitor to be paid, contact us so we may determine which status is appropriate.
Visiting Scholar stay is normally limited to a year.
- You will first need to obtain written approval of the Office of the Vice-Provost for Academic Appointments for the Visiting Scholar designation.
- You will then apply to our office to obtain a DS-2019. We will issue the DS-2019 within 10 business days of a complete application
Submit application 3 months before the start date.
This allows time for the scholar to obtain a passport (if needed) and apply for a visa at a US Consulate.

How to Sponsor a J-1 Visiting Scholar
CUIMC departments should contact ISSO-CUIMC.
If your scholar is pursuing an undergraduate degree at their home institution, please proceed to the J-1 Student Intern webpage and follow its instructions.


Gather your documents
- ✓
- Document
- Cover Sheet
- Description
- ✓
- Document
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Description
- ✓
- Document
- Acceptable evidence to prove English language proficiency
- Description
- ✓
- Document
- ID page of the passport
- Description
- ✓
- Document
- ID Page of the passport for accompanying J-2 family members
- Description
- ✓
- Document
- Funding documentation showing ability to cover current estimates (Refer to the Funding Documents Checklist.)
- Description
- Scholar, $3,000 per month
- Spouse, $1,000 per month
- Each child, $500 per month
- ✓
- Document
- Online Visiting Scholar Administration Fee Payment receipt for the $500 Columbia University J-1 Visiting Scholar fee
- Description
- Required only if not being paid by the department
- ✓
- Document
- DS-2019 form(s) from previous J-1 programs
- Description
- If applicable
- ✓
- Document
- Provost’s Office approval of designation. See the Provost's Office Process for the Designation of Visiting Scholars/Scientists.
- Description
- Printout of the email from [email protected] confirming the dates for which the designation has been approved
- ✓
- Document
- Other
- Description
- e.g. invitation letter from department

Log in to the Scholar Sponsorship Portal (SSP) with your UNI and password to submit all three parts of your application
This application consists of 3 parts. All 3 parts must be completed before we receive your application. Contact us if you are a department administrator requesting access to the SSP.
- Part 1
- Completed by the department (contact us if your UNI and password isn't working).
- Part 2
- Completed by the scholar (per the scholar’s email address entered in Part 1).
- Part 3
- Completed by the department (the department user will get an email when the scholar completes Part 2).
Learn more about the SSP
To learn about the process and what each part covers, please visit our SSP Overview page.
For online help and tutorials, visit our SSP Department Guide.

We will contact you
Allow up to 5 business days for us to review and process your application. We will notify you by email when your scholar’s new DS-2019 has been shipped.
Keep in Mind
Do not put Visiting Scholar data into DIA! We authorize UNI creation and ID card issuance. Visiting Scholars do not appear in the Columbia University directory.

How to Extend a J-1 Visiting Scholar

Before You Extend
- Scholar Type
- Research Scholar under Visiting Scholar Designation
- Extension Duration
- Normally held for up to one year, and may be renewed for no more than one additional year.
- Scholar Type
- Short-term Visiting Scholar
- Extension Duration
- Limited to a total of 6 months.

How to Extend
CUIMC departments should contact ISSO-CUIMC.


Gather your documents
- ✓
- Document
- Cover Sheet
- Description
- ✓
- Document
- Funding documentation showing ability to cover current estimates for extended periods (Refer to the Funding Documents Checklist.)
- Description
- Your scholar’s dependents will be extended for the same duration.
- Scholar, $2,800 per month (increasing to $3,000 per month on 1/1/23)
- His/her spouse, $1,000 per month
- Each child, $500 per month
- ✓
- Document
- Online Visiting Scholar Administration Fee Payment receipt for the $500 Columbia University J-1 Visiting Scholar fee
- Description
- Required only if the extended period exceeds a 12-month total for the Visiting Scholar's program and if the new fee, if required, is not paid by the department.
- ✓
- Document
- Provost’s Office approval of extension
- Description
- Printout of the email from [email protected] confirming the dates for which the extension has been approved

Log in to the Scholar Sponsorship Portal (SSP) with your UNI and password to submit all three parts of your application
This application consists of 3 parts. All 3 parts must be completed before we receive your application. Contact us if you are a department administrator requesting access to the SSP.
- Part 1
- Completed by the department (contact us if your UNI and password isn't working).
- Part 2
- Completed by the scholar (per the scholar’s email address entered in Part 1).
- Part 3
- Completed by the department (the department user will get an email when the scholar completes Part 2).
Learn more about the SSP
To learn about the process and what each part covers, please visit our SSP Overview page.
For online help and tutorials, visit our SSP Department Guide.

We will contact you
Allow up to 5 business days for us to review and process your application. We will email your scholar when we have shipped the extended DS-2019. We will send a copy of the extended DS-2019 to you.
