Office of International Services (OIS) Procedures

Sponsor a J-1 Exchange Visitor

Human Resources, Office of International Services  |  Approved July 1, 2026

Purpose

Sponsor a J-1 exchange visitor.

Applicability

University of Maryland, 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 J-1 Sponsorship.

Instructions

1. 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.
2. Seek an academic appointment from the appropriate office in your school or department (scholar fellows or non-tenure track faculty).
3. Log into Sunapsis and follow the instructions to Add a New Person in Sunapsis.
4. Complete the J-1 New Scholar Request in Sunapsis.
   1. 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.
5. 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.
   1. If application is incomplete or unclear, OIS will reach out to the department or scholar as needed.
   2. 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.
6. After a J-1 scholar arrives on campus:
   1. 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.
   2. 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.
7. If the J-1 scholar will not be employed by UMB, the department is responsible for entering them into the Community System so they can obtain a One Card. The OIS is not responsible for completing this process.