Scholars Pre-arrival information
Questions about the pre-arrival process?
Please let us know if you have any questions about your arrival at iss@uark.edu
J-1 Exchange Visitors
About the J-1 Exchange Visitor Program
The J-1 Exchange Visitor Program was established by the U.S. government to implement the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act (Fulbright-Hayes Act) of 1961. The overall purpose of that Act, and the objective of the Exchange Visitor category, is "to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries by means of educational and cultural exchanges." For more information, please see our J-1 Scholar page.
Be sure to download and read the Exchange Visitor Program Participant Welcome Brochure.
Getting Ready: J-1 Documents and Travel
Be sure that your passport is up to date before applying for your visa - your passport should be valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you plan to arrive in the United States. You will be issued a Form DS-2019 by your J-1 program sponsor (which will most likely be the University of Arkansas, but could be another organization), which you will use to apply for a J-1 visa. If you will be accompanied by dependents in J-2 status, they will need their own DS-2019s as well. For more details on applying for the visa and planning your travel to Arkansas, please see our Visa and Arrival page.
When You Arrive: Your Responsibilities and Resources
Once you arrive in Fayetteville, you must attend a J-1 Scholar Orientation Session at the International Students and Scholars office within 7 days of arrival. Please use our online scheduling system to reserve a time for your orientation session. When you come to the orientation session, you must bring your passport, DS-2019, I-94 (you can print this at the I-94 website after you enter the United States), and proof of satisfactory insurance coverage for yourself and any J-2 status dependents accompanying you.
When you attend orientation at ISS, we will notify the Department of Homeland Security that you have arrived to begin your program. This will "activate" your immigration record in the SEVIS system. Please DO NOT apply for a Social Security card, driver's license, or Arkansas state identification card until you have completed the scholar orientation session at ISS, since your SEVIS record must be verified as active before you can obtain these items.
During orientation, ISS will provide you with much more information about local community resources available to you and your rights and responsibilities as a J-1 exchange visitor. If you have dependents accompanying you in J-2 status, they are welcome to attend the orientation session with you.
Housing and Transportation in Fayetteville
The University of Arkansas does not have designated housing on campus for visiting scholars or employees. We recommend that you refer to the University's Off Campus Housing website for information about apartments and roommates in the area. Please be aware that most apartment rental contracts (leases) in the United States are for a minimum period of one year. If you will be here for a shorter period of time, you will need to ask the rental property specifically if they offer a shorter-term lease. Visit the following websites for more information about how Fayetteville ranks in livability, housing costs, etc.:
Most people in Northwest Arkansas drive their own cars for transportation; however, there is some public transportation available in the area. In Fayetteville, you can use Razorback Transit; in Fayetteville and the larger Northwest Arkansas area, you can also use Ozark Regional Transit. Please be aware that Razorback Transit operates less frequently (or not at all) during times when the University is not holding classes. There are a few taxi services in Northwest Arkansas; however, you will need to call the taxi company to request a cab - you cannot simply wait on the street for one to pass by. Some students and scholars buy a bicycle or "scooter" (moped) to help with transportation. If you will not be buying a car, you will want to choose your housing location carefully to be sure that you have adequate access to transportation for getting to campus, the grocery store, etc.
Health Care and Insurance for J-1s
We certainly hope that you do not become sick or injured while you are here; however, if it happens, you must be well-prepared with adequate medical insurance and a basic understanding of the U.S. health care system.
Watch a video about the U.S. health care system and view resources explaining how insurance works (courtesy of International Student Insurance)
As a J-1 exchange visitor, you MUST maintain adequate medical insurance for yourself and any J-2 dependents accompanying you for the duration of your J-1 program. This means that your insurance coverage must begin no later than the program start date on your DS-2019 and that you must ensure that your coverage continues without interruption until at least the program end date on your DS-2019. Ideally, your coverage should begin no later than the date you travel to the United States and continue until at least the date you depart the United States. You will be required to provide proof of sufficient insurance coverage to ISS at the time you attend a J-1 Scholar Orientation session. If you willfully fail to maintain adequate insurance coverage as required by the U.S. Department of State, your J-1 exchange program will be terminated.
Rights and Benefits in the United States
We believe you will have a positive and rewarding experience in the United States. However, we want you to know that if you do encounter any problems, you have rights and you can get help. Please do not hesitate to contact your J-1 advisors at ISS if you need assistance - you can reach them by phone at 479-575-5003, or by e-mail at mfreeman@uark.edu (Mr. Michael Freeman, ISS Director) or audra@uark.edu (Ms. Audra Johnston, ISS Associate Director).
The ISS office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday (with the exception of University holidays). If you have an urgent need to reach an ISS advisor outside of these hours, please call University Police at 479-575-2222. The Department of State also has a J-1 Visa Emergency Hotline available by phone 24 hours a day at 866-283-9090. If you are in immediate physical danger, you can immediately reach police, fire, and/or medical services anywhere in the United States by calling 911 (this number is ONLY for emergencies).
Learn more about your rights as a visitor/temporary worker in the United States at the Department of State's website.
H-1B Employees
About H-1B Status and Restrictions
H-1B status sponsored by the University of Arkansas ONLY permits you to be employed at the University of Arkansas, and only in the job/position specified in the H-1B petition as filed with USCIS. If your job duties, responsibilities, title, salary, assigned work location, or any other aspect of your position will change, you must notify ISS immediately, BEFORE the change occurs, since such changes may require the filing of a new or amended H-1B petition on your behalf.
Do NOT engage in any activities for compensation outside your regular University of Arkansas job duties. This includes receiving "honorarium" or similar payments. Unless you have received separate/additional employment authorization through other means (such as a "concurrent" H-1B petition with another employer), you may not engage in employment elsewhere. NOTE: You may be reimbursed for reasonable expenses such as transportation, etc., related to travel to other institutions, participation in conferences, etc.
Getting Ready: H-1B Documents and Travel
For more information on the H-1B visa application process and planning your travel to Arkansas, please refer to our H-1B Visa and Arrival page.
When entering the United States to begin or resume H-1B status, you should carry documents with you that verify your position with the University of Arkansas and the validity of the University of Arkansas' H-1B petition on your behalf. These documents include:
- The most recent original H-1B approval notice for your position (you may obtain this temporarily from the ISS office for your periods of travel)
- The letter of offer from your hiring department (or, if you are continuing employment, a letter from your department indicating this) - this letter should include your job title and annual wages
- A copy of the most recent I-129 (you can request this from ISS)
- A copy of the current Labor Condition Application (LCA)
- If continuing employment, copies of your last three months' pay statements
When you enter the United States for the first time to begin H-1B status, you may
not arrive more than 10 days before the H-1B petition begins. You may not begin working
until the date the petition begins.
When You Arrive: Orientation
When you arrive in Fayetteville for the first time as an H-1B employee of the University of Arkansas, you must check in with International Students and Scholars within seven days of arriving. Please use our online scheduling system to reserve an H-1B Consultation appointment. When you come to the office, you must bring the original H-1B approval notice to be returned to our files. Please also bring your passport and I-94 (you can retrieve this record from the I-94 website after entering the United States).
When arriving to the University of Arkansas for the first time as an employee, you will also need to attend New Employee Orientation. Please consult your hiring department for assistance in reserving a date/time to attend this program.
When returning to the University of Arkansas following travel outside the United States, you must return the original H-1B approval notice to the ISS office within 14 days of returning to Fayetteville. No appointment is required to do this. When returning the original approval notice, please also submit a copy of your most recent entry stamp (the date stamp in your passport from the immigration inspector at the port of entry) and your new I-94 record, as well as a copy of any new H-1B visa stamps you have been issued.
Housing and Transportation in Fayetteville
The University of Arkansas does not have designated housing on campus for visiting scholars or employees. We recommend that you refer to the University's Off Campus Housing website for information about apartments and roommates in the area. Please be aware that most apartment rental contracts (leases) in the United States are for a minimum period of one year. If you will be here for a shorter period of time, you will need to ask the rental property specifically if they offer a shorter-term lease. Visit the following websites for more information about how Fayetteville ranks in livability, housing costs, etc.:
NOTE: If you are applying for a mortgage loan to purchase a house, your lender may request
documentation verifying your H-1B immigration status. If you need a letter for this
purpose, please contact Michael Freeman at ISS and state that you are requesting an H-1B verification letter. You will need
to specify who the letter should be addressed to, and whether you would like the letter
sent to you, or directly to the person you have specified.
Most people in Northwest Arkansas drive their own cars for transportation; however, there is some public transportation available in the area. In Fayetteville, you can use Razorback Transit; in Fayetteville and the larger Northwest Arkansas area, you can also use Ozark Regional Transit. Please be aware that Razorback Transit operates less frequently (or not at all) during times when the University is not holding classes. There are a few taxi services in Northwest Arkansas; however, you will need to call the taxi company to request a cab - you cannot simply wait on the street for one to pass by. Some students and scholars buy a bicycle or "scooter" (moped) to help with transportation. If you will not be buying a car, you will want to choose your housing location carefully to be sure that you have adequate access to transportation for getting to campus, the grocery store, etc.
Health Care and Insurance for H-1Bs
When you attend New Employee Orientation, you will receive detailed information about University of Arkansas benefits such as medical insurance. Prior to your arrival, you can find more information about benefits on the Human Resources website.
We certainly hope that you do not become sick or injured while you are here; however, if it happens, you must be well-prepared with adequate medical insurance and a basic understanding of the U.S. health care system.
Watch a video about the U.S. health care system and view resources explaining how insurance works (courtesy of International Student Insurance)
Rights and Benefits in the United States
We believe you will have a positive and rewarding experience in the United States. However, we want you to know that if you do encounter any problems, you have rights and you can get help. Please feel free to contact your ISS H-1B advisor, Michael Freeman, if you have concerns or need assistance. As an employee, you can also find assistance through Human Resources.
You should definitely contact your ISS H-1B advisor immediately if any of the following occur:
- You are dismissed by the University for ANY reason BEFORE the end of your H-1B petition period;
- You decide to resign from your position with the University;
- The terms of your employment may change (i.e., you are offered a promotion/new job title, you will be given different duties/responsibilities, you will work in a different physical location, etc.)
- You believe you are receiving less than the salary amount promised to you in the H-1B petition
TN Employees
If you are a new employee in TN status, please schedule an appointment with a scholar advisor at International Students and Scholars upon your arrival to the University of Arkansas, so that we may review your immigration status documents and update our records for you. You may schedule an appointment by using our online scheduling system.