12 and 24 Month "Bars"

这周二，China Law Center, Yale 的工作人员和我联系，开始准备办理相关的手续。但是，遇到的第一个问题就是如何转换法律身份，即从J-2转为J-1。
根据美国法律，要想获得耶鲁的访问学者资助，必须转换身份，或者以J-2的身份申请工作许可。而耶鲁当然希望前者。
然而，要想转换身份，就不得不考虑24-month Bar的问题。问了一些身边的人，大家理解不一。事后来看，很多人将这一问题与the two-year home country physical presence requirement混在了一起。于是，自己动手google。大体弄明白了。

24-month bar的适用条件如下：

第一，仅适用于J-1 的 “Research Scholar” 和 "Professor"，而不适用于 short-term scholar。因为前者访美时间最长可以长达5年，而后者最多只能是6个月。

第二，24个月内，必须前后访美必须都是“Research Scholar” 和 "Professor"。因此，如果前者是“Research Scholar” 和 "Professor"，24个月内，仍然可以以short-term scholar的J-1签证。

故此，该规则对我并无影响。万幸之下，突然想起，如果当时没有放弃PILI fellow。最终的结果可能将会是在该规则约束下，最终无法成行。如此看来，当时断然选择耶鲁也是一种无知之下的明智之举吧。

2008年5月23日补记


12 and 24 Month "Bars" on Repeat Participation

Time spent in the U.S. as a J-1 or J-2 dependent might affect eligibility for future J-1 status in the “Research Scholar” or “Professor” categories. These periods of ineligibility are referred to as the 24-month and 12-month “bars.” The 24-month and 12-month bars apply only to persons beginning an Exchange Visitor program in the categories of “Research Scholar” and "Professor." The bars do not affect eligibility for other J-1 categories, such as “Short-Term Scholar.”

24-Month Bar: Exchange Visitors in either the “Research Scholar” or "Professor" categories are subject to a 24-month bar on repeat participation in those categories if they completed their program on or after November 17, 2006, regardless of the previous program’s duration. No time spent in any other J-1 category triggers the 24-month bar. Note that the 24-month bar is not the same as the two-year home country physical presence requirement.

12-Month Bar: Exchange Visitors not subject to the 24-month bar might be subject to the 12-month bar. The 12-month bar prohibits Exchange Visitors from beginning a new program in the “Research Scholar” or "Professor" categories if they were in the U.S. in J status in any category (including J-2 dependent) for all or part of the twelve-month period immediately preceding the date of the new program's commencement. There are four exceptions:

J-1 Transfers. The 12-month bar is not applicable to those who are transferring to another institution in the U.S. to continue their current J-1 program.

Presence in J status of less than 6 months. A person whose prior J status was of less than six months duration (physical presence in the U.S.) is exempt from the 12-month bar.

Presence in J status in the "Short-Term Scholar" category. No time spent in the "Short-Term Scholar" category triggers the 12-month bar.

The 12-month bar does not apply to individuals who are subjected to the 24-month bar—in other words, individuals subject to the 24-month bar are not additionally subject to the 12-month bar.