OU's Approved J-1 Program Categories
Research Scholar
The Research Scholar exchange visitor must be engaged primarily in conducting research, observing or consulting in connection with a research project in research institutions, post secondary accredited educational institutions or similar types of institutions. They can not be a candidate for tenure-track appointments. The research scholar may also teach or lecture unless disallowed by the sponsor (OU). This program does not support academic or graduate medical education and/or training.
Short-Term Scholar
Short-term scholars may lecture, observe, consult, and participate in seminars, workshops, conferences, study tours, professional meetings, or other types of similar educational and professional activities. This cateogry provides foreign scholars the opportunity to exchange ideas with their American colleagues, participate in educational and professional programs, confer on common problems and projects, and promote professional relationships and communications.
Participants may also lecture or consult at institutions not listed on the Form DS-2019 if the Responsible Officer issues a written authorization for such activity. The authorization must be attached to the participant's Form DS-2019.
Professor
An individual primarily teaching, lecturing, observing, or consulting at post-secondary accredited educational institutions, museums, libraries, or similar types of institutions.
The participant cannot be a candidate for a tenure-track position.
A professor may also conduct research, unless disallowed by the sponsor (OU).
Specialist
An individual who is an expert in a field of specialized knowledge or skill coming to the United States for obeserving, consulting, or demonstrating special skills.
This category provides foreign specialists the opportunity to observe American institutions and methods of practice in their professional fields, and to share their specialized knowledge with their American colleagues.
