J-1 Funding Requirements

For all initial/extension DS-2019 requests submitted in Sunapsis with a program start date on or after July 1, 2024 will be subject to the following funding requirements:

Northern VA/DC Area

As a designated J-1 program sponsor, Virginia Tech is required by Department of State (DOS) regulations to establish minimum funding requirements that align with the current cost of living in the location of the J-1's “Site of Activity”.  In addition to adjustments to the existing two locations, a third location pertaining to the Tidewater area will be added.

Effective 5/1/2025, any initial/extension/transfer-in DS-2019 requests submitted with a program start date on or after July 1, 2025, will be subject to the following minimum funding requirements:

Northern VA/DC Area:

• $36,000 per year for J-1
• $14,400 per year for J-2 Spouse
• $7,200 per year for each J-2 child

Tidewater Area:

• $25,546 per year for J-1
• $10,218 per year for J-2 spouse
• $5,109 per year for each J-2 child

* Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, and Virginia Beach are subject.

Blacksburg/Roanoke:

• $25,056 per year for J-1
• $10,022 per year for J-2 spouse
• $5,011 per year for each J-1 child

The Blacksburg rate will be applied to locations that don’t belong to the first two tiers 

Important VT funding documentation change

DOS regulations and directive guidance require that J-1 exchange visitors participate in their programs on a full-time basis.  DOS does not define “full-time” but defers to the institution’s definition.  Virginia Tech’s HR department has informed us that 30 hours or more per week is considered full-time at Virginia Tech.  

For J-1 Scholars funded by Virginia Tech, GSS has in the past accepted HR Form P-14 as proof of adequate funding to meet the minimum funding requirement.  The P-14 form was recently revised and is now captioned “Part-Time Temporary Faculty Appointment Authorization for Payment.”  To avoid confusion in the event of an audit of our J-1 program by DOS, GSS will no longer accept Form P-14 as proof of VT funding for J-1 purposes because the form states explicitly that it is for “part-time” faculty appointments.  

In place of Form P-14, GSS will accept the following documents:

• Terms of Faculty Offer (ToFO) letter 
• Position offer letter where ToFO is not appropriate.  This letter must state: (i) that the position is full-time (or that the position will be for 30 or more hours per week), (ii) a monthly salary/wage level that meets the minimum funding requirement, and (iii) whether the scholar will be eligible for university health insurance benefits.  Please see template letter below:

*This change only applies for J-1 participants who receive funding from Virginia Tech. 

*J-1 Exchange Visitors who are self-funded or funded by their home institutions or other third parties must participate in their programs on a full-time basis and provide GSS evidence of that funding. 

*If the J-1 is receiving funding from multiple sources including VT, please submit a position offer letter stating the above together with funding document from other source(s).