Effective July 1st 2023, the U.S. Department of State Exchange Visitor Program (EVP) is ending it's previous policy that allowed for modifications of Exchange Visitor programs in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. All Exchange Visitors are expected to return to predominantly in-person activities, in order to comply with the U.S. Department of State Guidance Directive.
The guidance directive clarifies the amount of remote/virtual work that is allowed, depending on the specific J-1 category:
- New J-1 Exchange Visitors in the Research Scholar, Professor, Short-Term Scholar and Specialist categories are allowed to work remotely for no more than the equivalent of 40% of the time. This can be interpreted to mean that remote work is limited to two out of five days per week.
- New J-1 Exchange Visitors in the College and University Student categories may engage in a maximum of one online course per semester.
J-1 Exchange Visitors in active status on or before June 30th, 2023 may continue on their current hybrid program as is, until December 31st, 2023. Please contact ISS@ucmerced.edu with any questions or concerns
