J-1 Visa Research Assistant Jobs
Research Assistant positions in the United States are available to exchange visitors through the J-1 visa Research Scholar or Short-Term Scholar program category, administered by a State Department-designated sponsor organization that issues your DS-2019 and manages compliance. Finding a host institution willing to coordinate J-1 sponsorship is the critical first step, and Migrate Mate surfaces employers actively open to exchange visitors.
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Get Access To All JobsLocation: Edinburg, Texas
College: School of Social Work
Department: School of Social Work
Division: Provost - Academic Affairs
FTE: .5
Scope of Job
The Graduate Research Assistant will be supervised by the Associate Dean for Research and assigned to faculty to support research projects. The student will be mentored as they learn new tasks. This could involve conducting focus groups, qualitative interviews, data entry, data analysis, literature reviews, etc.
The Presidential Research Fellowship (PRF) is a prestigious award that provides full coverage of all mandatory tuition and fees for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. In addition to this financial support, recipients have the opportunity to work as Graduate Research Assistants, gaining valuable research experience. Award eligibility and continuation are contingent upon meeting the enrollment criteria outlined in the Minimum Qualifications.
This position is contingent upon budget availability and continued positive performance.
Discipline Specific Required Qualifications
Graduate Student from Social Work.
Preferred Qualifications
Social Work Student to be hired as a Presidential Research Fellow (PRF) recipient (competitive scholarship).
Salary
Number of Vacancies: 1
Desired Start Date: 09/01/2026
Open Date: 06/12/2026
EEO Statement
It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Dear Applicant,
Human Resources will not be held responsible for redacting any confidential information from the documents you attach with your application. The confidential information includes the following:
- Date of Birth
- Social Security Number
- Gender
- Ethnicity/Race
Please make sure that you omit this information prior to submission. We are advising that Human Resources will be forwarding your application to the department as per your submission.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reserves the right to discontinue accepting applications prior to the stated close date of this position, after meeting the posting requirement of three (3) calendar days.
Location: Edinburg, Texas
College: School of Social Work
Department: School of Social Work
Division: Provost - Academic Affairs
FTE: .5
Scope of Job
The Graduate Research Assistant will be supervised by the Associate Dean for Research and assigned to faculty to support research projects. The student will be mentored as they learn new tasks. This could involve conducting focus groups, qualitative interviews, data entry, data analysis, literature reviews, etc.
The Presidential Research Fellowship (PRF) is a prestigious award that provides full coverage of all mandatory tuition and fees for Fall 2026 and Spring 2027. In addition to this financial support, recipients have the opportunity to work as Graduate Research Assistants, gaining valuable research experience. Award eligibility and continuation are contingent upon meeting the enrollment criteria outlined in the Minimum Qualifications.
This position is contingent upon budget availability and continued positive performance.
Discipline Specific Required Qualifications
Graduate Student from Social Work.
Preferred Qualifications
Social Work Student to be hired as a Presidential Research Fellow (PRF) recipient (competitive scholarship).
Salary
Number of Vacancies: 1
Desired Start Date: 09/01/2026
Open Date: 06/12/2026
EEO Statement
It is the policy of The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley to promote and ensure equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, color, national origin, sex, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information or protected veteran status. In accordance with the requirements of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended, our University is committed to comply with all government requirements and ensures non-discrimination in its education programs and activities, including employment. We encourage women, minorities and differently abled persons to apply for employment positions of interest.
Special Instructions to Applicants
Dear Applicant,
Human Resources will not be held responsible for redacting any confidential information from the documents you attach with your application. The confidential information includes the following:
- Date of Birth
- Social Security Number
- Gender
- Ethnicity/Race
Please make sure that you omit this information prior to submission. We are advising that Human Resources will be forwarding your application to the department as per your submission.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley reserves the right to discontinue accepting applications prior to the stated close date of this position, after meeting the posting requirement of three (3) calendar days.
See all 37+ J-1 Visa Research Assistant Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new J-1 Visa Research Assistant Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding J-1 Visa Sponsorship as a Research Assistant
Match your credentials to the right J-1 category
Research Assistant roles fall under the Research Scholar category if you hold a degree and are conducting independent research, or the Intern category if you're currently enrolled. Applying under the wrong category can delay or void your DS-2019 issuance.
Target host institutions with active sponsor relationships
Universities, federal labs, and research hospitals are most likely to already work with a State Department-designated sponsor organization. Ask your prospective host directly whether they have an existing relationship with a sponsor before accepting any offer.
Use Migrate Mate to find J-1-open research roles
Search Migrate Mate to filter Research Assistant positions by employers that have hosted J-1 exchange visitors before. This narrows your list to institutions where the sponsorship infrastructure is already in place, saving weeks of discovery.
Clarify the two-year home residency requirement early
Research Scholar participants from certain countries or funded by their home government may face a two-year home residency requirement before changing to H-1B visa or green card status. Confirm whether your situation triggers this requirement before signing an offer letter.
Request the DS-2019 timeline from the sponsor organization
The designated sponsor, not your host employer, issues the DS-2019. Processing typically runs two to eight weeks depending on the sponsor organization. Ask your host to initiate the request well before your intended start date to avoid gaps.
Verify program duration limits fit your research timeline
Research Scholar J-1 status is granted for up to five years initially, with extensions possible. If your research project runs longer, confirm with the sponsor organization that an extension request can be filed before your current DS-2019 expires.
Research Assistant J-1 Visa: Frequently Asked Questions
Which J-1 program category applies to Research Assistant roles?
It depends on your academic status. Current degree students typically use the J-1 Intern category, which requires enrollment throughout the exchange. Degree holders conducting independent or postdoctoral research use the Research Scholar category. Short-term projects under six months may qualify under the Short-Term Scholar category. Your host institution and the designated sponsor organization will determine the correct category based on your specific situation.
Who is actually sponsoring my J-1 visa as a Research Assistant?
The visa sponsor is not your employer. It is a U.S. Department of State-designated sponsor organization, such as IIE, CIEE, or a university's own designated exchange program office. That organization issues your DS-2019, monitors your compliance, and remains your official point of contact with the State Department. Your research employer is the host, not the legal sponsor.
How do I find Research Assistant positions where the host institution is already set up for J-1 exchange visitors?
Start your search on Migrate Mate, which surfaces U.S. employers and research institutions open to hosting J-1 exchange visitors. Hosts that have previously worked with a designated sponsor organization have the institutional familiarity to move quickly once an offer is extended, which significantly reduces the time between acceptance and DS-2019 issuance.
Does a J-1 Research Scholar status affect my ability to apply for a green card later?
Potentially, yes. If the two-year home residency requirement applies to you, you must return to your home country for two years before changing to H-1B status or applying for a green card. This requirement is triggered by specific funding sources or home-country designations. USCIS and the State Department both enforce it, and it can be waived only through a formal waiver process.
Can my host employer extend my J-1 status if my research project takes longer than expected?
Your host cannot extend your status directly. Extensions must be requested through the designated sponsor organization before your current DS-2019 expires. Research Scholar status can be extended beyond the initial period, but the sponsor must approve the extension and submit updated program documentation. Plan extension requests at least 60 days before your DS-2019 end date to avoid a lapse.